Eli Stowers

Eli Stowers enters the 2026 fantasy season as one of the more interesting rookie tight ends, but the immediate redraft outlook is still pretty modest. Philadelphia selected him 54th overall in the 2026 draft, and recent reports consistently place him behind Dallas Goedert on the depth chart, with most projections labeling him a low-end TE3 or late-round flier in seasonal formats.

The biggest reason for optimism is the profile, not the 2026 box score projection. Stowers was a productive and highly athletic college pass-catcher, and evaluators have pointed to his size-adjusted athleticism and strong route-earning numbers as signs that he could eventually develop into a difference-maker at the position. That kind of draft capital from Philadelphia also matters, because the team is clearly investing in him as a long-term piece rather than a depth-only option.

For 2026 specifically, the path to consistent fantasy production is blocked by the presence of Goedert, and current fantasy projections reflect that reality. ESPN’s latest note says Stowers should have minimal fantasy value as a rookie while working behind Goedert, though it also flags him as a breakout candidate for 2027 and beyond. Other current projection sets have him in the TE30s range with roughly streamer-level seasonal output, which is fine for dynasty stashes but not enough to make him a must-draft redraft tight end.

There also does not appear to be any major new injury, trade, signing, or cut situation that changes the picture right now. The main health-related backdrop is his college injury history, including the torn labrum and knee issues noted in pre-draft coverage, but the most recent preseason outlooks still treat him as available and on track to begin his pro career in Philadelphia. In fantasy terms, that makes Stowers a classic patience play: worth monitoring and stashing in dynasty leagues, but mostly a wait-and-see option in 2026 redraft unless his role changes quickly.