We saw signs of Tucker Kraft putting the pieces together in his fantasy football profile in 2024, his second as a pro, and a full-on breakout was in the works last season before the versatile pass catcher tore his ACL in November.
Fortunately, all signs are pointing to a full recovery ahead of the 2026 season, and that makes Kraft an interesting option for those not willing to pay the absolute premium for Tier 1 options at tight end.
Should You Draft Tucker Kraft in Fantasy Football?
Among tight ends who appeared in at least eight games last season, Kraft was TE4 at 14.7 PPR points per game, joining Brock Bowers and George Kittle in the second tier behind the one-man wrecking crew that was Trey McBride (18.6 PPG). His path to fantasy production wasn’t identical to peak Deebo Samuel, but it wasn’t much different.
10.8 yards per catch after the reception. The next best TE in that regard who averaged at least five targets a game last season was his NFC North brethren in Sam LaPorta … at 6.8. The gap between Kraft, admittedly in a shorter sample due to the injury, and TE2 in playmaking prowess with the ball in his hands was nearly the same as the difference between LaPorta and 35-year-old Zach Ertz.
START PREPARING: PFN’s FREE Fantasy Mock Draft Simulator
Kraft is a unique player, and this situation is unique in that the Packers have a quarterback they feel good about, but not a single receiver who has distanced himself from the group. It’s not hard to see a scenario where a fully healthy version of the tight end leads this team in most receiving categories, and that is what makes him a clear Tier 2 option.
The two tight ends in the top tier have an elite floor-and-ceiling combination. They can’t be touched, and it’s not as if Kraft is risk-free. There is the injury to navigate and the hope that Matthew Golden can make a leap in Year 2. That said, the limited target competition, combined with the physical tools, makes Kraft an easy click in the middle third of drafts and one I’m personally excited to make.
Kraft’s Dynasty Fantasy Football Value
Four times in the first half of the 2025 season, Kraft was a top-10 producer at the position, a rate that feels sticky for the coming seasons
Percentage of WR/TE Fantasy Points for Green Bay, Weeks 4-8
- Kraft: 25.7%
- Romeo Doubs: 19.5%
- Jayden Reed: 15.6%
- Dontayvion Wicks: 12.3%
- Christian Watson: 9.7%
- Matthew Golden: 5%
Wicks is in Philadelphia, and Doubs is in New England. With Josh Jacobs being another year older and Jordan Love continuing to mature, it’s not hard to see the Packers shifting their offense to a more aerial approach in the coming seasons.
FANTASY RANKINGS: PFN’s FREE Fantasy PPR, Half-PPR, and Non-PPR Rankings
Could the ACL tear have some worried about Kraft? It’s certainly possible, even with the generally positive reports from camp. I wouldn’t label him as the favorite to fill the TE3 role this season and for the next handful of years, but it is certainly within the range of outcomes, and that’s a great ceiling case given his cost.
