Gunnar Helm

Gunnar Helm enters the 2026 fantasy season as the clear starting tight end for Tennessee, and that gives him real late-round appeal in redraft leagues. Recent preseason reporting also noted that Chig Okonkwo is now in Washington, which leaves Helm set for the top job on the Titans’ tight end depth chart.

The biggest reason to be interested is volume. Helm showed he can earn targets as a rookie, finishing last season with 44 catches for 357 yards and two touchdowns, and 2026 projections have him around 49 receptions, 443 yards, and just over three scores. That kind of line won’t win leagues by itself, but it absolutely plays as a usable TE2 with streamer upside, especially in formats that reward catches.

There is still some caution here because Tennessee’s offense has to be better for Helm to take the next step. Several analysts view him as a sleeper or breakout candidate, but others still project him more as a low-end TE2 because the Titans’ passing game has been inconsistent and the weekly floor may be shaky. In other words, the role is promising, but the offense around him is still the main limiter.

The good news is that there are no current signs of a major injury or roster change hurting his outlook, and the most recent preseason notes point in the positive direction. In 2026 fantasy drafts, Helm looks like a smart late-round target if you want to wait on tight end: he has a realistic path to steady targets, touchdown upside, and enough role security to matter in deeper leagues.