Hunter Long 2026 fantasy outlook and rest-of-season projection
- Age
- 28
- Height / weight
- 6'5", 253 lb
- Experience
- 6th season
2026 Season
- PPR PPG
- 0.5
- Pos rank
- TE85
- Rostered
- —
Week 4 at Giants, Sun Oct 4, 1:00 PM ET 17th vs. TEs, neutral
Hunter Long Rest-of-Season Outlook
depth TE for deep leagues only
Preseason Projection vs. Reality
He finished TE63 last season at 3.6 points per game.
Our Take After Week 4
Through 3 games he's TE85 at 0.5 PPR points per game, against 3.6 over 9 games last season (TE63). He's running behind last season's pace.
Last season he ranked 65th of 81 in route participation (23.1%), 64th of 82 in target share (3.1%) and 70th of 82 in efficiency (0.61 yards per route run). Efficiency is the soft spot. Jacoby Brissett is his quarterback.
He's TE3 on the depth chart, so his value depends on the players ahead of him.
The next favorable matchup is the Lions in Week 5 (1st against TEs).
Read our preseason outlook (June 2026)
Published June 17, 2026. Kept for reference; the take above replaces it.
Long's 2025 advanced profile is a tale of efficiency wasted on volume. Across seven games he posted a strong 0.457 EPA per play and a 58.8% success rate, and his catchable-target rate held up enough to score two touchdowns on just 17 looks. But the underlying usage is microscopic: a 23.1% route share, 3.1% target share, and a 0.056 WOPR all scream backup. A 23.5% drop rate on four total drops further caps trust, and at 39.9% snaps he never controlled the formation.
The path forward stays narrow. Long sits behind Brenton Strange on Jacksonville's depth chart and profiles as the next-man-up only if Strange misses time. Projections of roughly five catches, 44 yards and one score for the full season confirm there's no standalone value here. Hip and knee issues have already clouded his availability. He's a desperation streamer at best until injury opens real snaps.
What Drives His Outlook
His 2025 rank among the 81 tight ends who played at least six games. Each bar is one tight end, best on the left; his is highlighted.
Route participation
Target share
Efficiency
- Average depth of target
- 3.9
- Drop rate
- 23.5%
- Red-zone targets
- 4
- Route participation
- 23.1%
- YAC per reception
- 2.6
What Could Change His Value
Upside
- A soft spotThe Lions in Week 5 is a top-10 matchup for TEs.Wk 4 NYG, 17thWk 5 DET, 1stWk 6 LAR, 29thWk 7 DEN, 13th
Risk
- RoleHe's TE3 on the depth chart.
- Limited route participation23.1% route participation, 65th of 81 TEs in 2025.
- A tough matchupThe Rams in Week 6 (29th) is among the stingiest defenses against TEs.
All Hunter Long stats & analysis
TEs like Hunter Long
Hunter Long Fantasy Outlook FAQ
What is Hunter Long's fantasy outlook for the rest of the 2026 season?
Hunter Long projects as a depth TE for deep leagues only for the rest of the 2026 season: a bench stash in TE-premium leagues and waiver-wire material in 12-team and 10-team leagues. His efficiency (0.61 yards per route run, 70th of 82 TEs in 2025) holds him back. See his live rank in Redraft Command.
What is Hunter Long's rest-of-season fantasy ranking?
Hunter Long is the TE85 in PPR points per game through Week 4. That puts him in depth TE territory, waiver-wire material in 12-team leagues.
What is Hunter Long's projected role going forward?
Hunter Long is TE3 on the depth chart, so a bigger role needs an injury or a change ahead of him.
Will Hunter Long get more targets?
Hunter Long's targets are holding steady: 0.5 a game over his last two games against 0.3 for the season. His share of the offense is what his fantasy value rides on.
What is Hunter Long's fantasy football upside?
Hunter Long's upside: his ceiling this season is 1.5 PPR points (Week 3, TE57) and the Lions in Week 5 is a top-10 matchup for TEs.
What could hurt Hunter Long's fantasy value?
Hunter Long's risks: his efficiency (0.61 yards per route run, 70th of 82 TEs in 2025) limits his scoring and the Rams in Week 6 is a tough matchup. See his injury status and history.
How difficult is Hunter Long's remaining fantasy schedule?
About average: of his next seven games, 2 come against a top-10 matchup for TEs and 2 against one of the stingiest defenses, by PPR points allowed to the position.