Ja'Tavion Sanders Fantasy outlook, stats and Week 4 start/sit for 2026
- Age
- 23
- Height / weight
- 6'4", 243 lb
- Experience
- 3rd season
- Drafted
- 2024 R4, #101
2025 Season
- PPR PPG
- 4.2
- Pos rank
- TE44
- Rostered
- —
Week 4 vs. Lions, Sun Oct 4, 8:20 PM ET 1st vs. TEs, favorable
Ja'Tavion Sanders Fantasy Football Stats & Analysis
Producing as
TE44 · Poor
Scoring rate
4.2 PPG
Played
13 games
Role
Depth
Trend
Cooling
Role Direction
| Usage | Season | Last 4 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target Share (Team) | 9.0% | 3.0% | -66% |
| Targets/G | 2.6 | 1.0 | -62% |
| Team Pass Att/Gteam | 29.8 | 31.8 | +6% |
Ja'Tavion Sanders's 2026 Season, Week by Week
The next four matchups include one of the league's softest pass defenses.
- Week 1, Loss,vs CHI,—,Did not play
- Week 2, Win,at ATL,—,Did not play
- Week 3, Loss,at CLE,—,Did not play
- Up next. Week 4, Oct 4,vs DET,FavorableLions vs. TEs
- Week 5,Bye,No game
- Week 6, Oct 18,at PHI,ToughEagles vs. TEs
- Week 7, Oct 25,vs TB,NeutralBuccaneers vs. TEs
Matchup rank is PPR points allowed to TEs through Week 4. 1st allows the most, 32nd the fewest.
Should You Start or Roster Ja'Tavion Sanders?
Sanders went the wrong way in 2025, slipping to TE52 after a TE34 finish the year prior. His efficiency cratered alongside the workload: yards per route run fell from 1.09 to 0.85, EPA per play sagged from 0.271 to 0.13, and his target share dipped to 7.1% across just 12 games before a December ankle break ended things. He did catch 85.3% of his looks and saw 10 red-zone targets, but with one touchdown and 190 yards, the volume simply isn't there.
The deeper problem is the timeshare with Tommy Tremble, who has matched him snap for snap and kept both from carrying weekly value. Sanders is moving well in his ankle rehab and projects for a healthy training camp, yet a TE39 ADP near pick 252 reflects the reality. He owns the better long-term profile, but until Carolina commits to him, he's a bench-stash dart throw, not a startable tight end.
Career Fantasy Stats by Season
| Season | Team | GP | Tgt | Rec | Rec yds | Rec TD | FPTS | PPG | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | CAR | 13 | 34 | 29 | 190 | 1 | 54.0 | 4.2 | TE50 |
| 2024 | CAR | 16 | 43 | 33 | 342 | 1 | 73.2 | 4.6 | TE36 |
| Career | 29 | 77 | 62 | 532 | 2 | 127.2 | 4.4 |
Rest-of-Season Outlook and Availability
Outlook
The deeper problem is the timeshare with Tommy Tremble, who has matched him snap for snap and kept both from carrying weekly value. Sanders is moving well in his ankle rehab and projects for a healthy training camp, yet a TE39 ADP near pick 252 reflects the reality. He owns the better long-term profile, but until Carolina commits to him, he's a bench-stash dart throw, not a startable tight end. Full outlook
Injury status
Active, no designation
TEs like Ja'Tavion Sanders
TE41Cole KmetBears4.9 PPG
TE42Darnell WashingtonSteelers4.6 PPG
TE43Isaiah LikelyGiants4.4 PPG
TE44You are hereJa'Tavion SandersPanthers4.2 PPG
TE45Terrance FergusonRams4.0 PPG
TE47Tommy TremblePanthers3.8 PPG
TE48Daniel BellingerTitans3.7 PPG
Ja'Tavion Sanders Fantasy Football FAQ
Should I start Ja'Tavion Sanders in Week 4?
Ja'Tavion Sanders plays Week 4 against the Lions. The Lions rank 1st in PPR points allowed to TEs, a favorable matchup. Get the start/sit call for Sanders.
Is Ja'Tavion Sanders worth rostering in fantasy football?
Yes, in the right league: Ja'Tavion Sanders is a bench stash in TE-premium leagues and waiver-wire material in 12-team and 10-team leagues.
What are Ja'Tavion Sanders's upcoming fantasy football matchups?
Ja'Tavion Sanders's next three games are Week 4 vs. the Lions (1st in PPR points allowed to TEs, favorable), Week 6 at the Eagles (32nd in PPR points allowed to TEs, tough) and Week 7 vs. the Buccaneers (11th in PPR points allowed to TEs, neutral). One of them is favorable by points allowed to the position.
Ja'Tavion Sanders 2025 Stats
2025 final · Carolina PanthersTouchdowns accounted for 11% of his fantasy production, so his weekly output leaned on volume more than scoring.
Receiving
- Rec
- 29
- Yards
- 190
- TD
- 1
- Targets
- 34
6.6 Y/R85.3% Catch %
Fantasy (PPR)
- Points
- 54.0
- Pos rank
- TE50
12.4 Best Week 2 ARI0.0 Worst Week 17 SEA
Advanced Receiving Stats
Sanders is a short-area target (4.8 yards per target last season), with a 7.6% target share this season.
| Stat | 2025 12 games | |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | ||
| Yards per route run | 0.85 | 6th |
| Fantasy points per target | 0.74 | 8th |
| YAC per reception | 3.0 | 8th |
| Catch rate | 85.3% | 100th |
| Usage | ||
| Target share | 7.6% | 25th |
| Route participation | 43.6% | 31st |
| Air-yards share | 5.2% | 19th |
| Red-zone targets | 10 | 60th |
| Style | ||
| Average depth of target | 4.8 | 27th |
Percentiles: 2025 (12 games, weeks 1–17) among 53. Grey bars describe style, not quality.
Profile: Sanders catches what comes his way, but produces little per route and adds little after the catch.
For fantasy: his floor is his volume, 2.6 targets a game in 2025; efficiency decides how much of it becomes points.
Fantasy Points per Game, Every Season
4.2
Fantasy PPG
TE44
Fantasy finish
2.6
Targets/g
15
Rec yds/g
Ja'Tavion Sanders career stats by season
| Season | GP | Tgt | Rec | Rec yds | Rec TD | Rush yds | FPTS | PPG | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | 34 | 29 | 190 | 1 | 0 | 54.0 | 4.2 | TE50 |
| 2024 | 16 | 43 | 33 | 342 | 1 | 0 | 73.2 | 4.6 | TE36 |
| Career | 29 | 77 | 62 | 532 | 2 | 0 | 127.2 | 4.4 | — |
What His Career Numbers Say
4.4
Career PPG
29 games over 2 seasons
78%
Availability
Share of team games he played
10%
Top-12 weeks
Share of his games as a TE1
4.1
Weekly swing
Standard deviation, low
Sanders has averaged 4.4 fantasy points per game over 29 games and 2 seasons, without a top-12 finish.
In 2025 he averaged 4.2 per game, level with 2024. His volume has held at about 2.6 targets a game, so the output has too. His quarterback in 2025 was Bryce Young.
Career numbers describe the past; for what he is worth from here, see Sanders's rest-of-season rank and trade value in Redraft Command.
Career highs
- 342Rec yards2024
- 1Rec TD2025
- 73.2Fantasy pts2024 · TE36
- 532Career rec yds2024–2025
TEs like Ja'Tavion Sanders
TE41Cole KmetBears4.9 PPGTE42Darnell WashingtonSteelers4.6 PPGTE43Isaiah LikelyGiants4.4 PPGTE44You are hereJa'Tavion SandersPanthers4.2 PPGTE45Terrance FergusonRams4.0 PPGTE47Tommy TremblePanthers3.8 PPGTE48Daniel BellingerTitans3.7 PPGJa'Tavion Sanders Stats FAQ
What were Ja'Tavion Sanders's stats last season?
In 2025, Ja'Tavion Sanders caught 29 of 34 targets for 190 yards and 1 touchdown in 13 games. That was 54.0 PPR points (4.2 per game), a TE50 finish.
What are Ja'Tavion Sanders's career NFL stats?
Across 2 seasons and 29 games, Ja'Tavion Sanders has 62 catches for 532 yards and 2 touchdowns, for 127.2 PPR fantasy points (4.4 per game).
How many touchdowns does Ja'Tavion Sanders have in his career?
Ja'Tavion Sanders has 2 touchdowns in his NFL career: 0 rushing and 2 receiving, over 29 games.
How many career receiving yards does Ja'Tavion Sanders have?
Ja'Tavion Sanders has 532 career receiving yards over 2 seasons, on 62 catches.
Ja'Tavion Sanders Game Log 2025
Games played
13
FPTS/G (PPR)
4.2
Targets/g
2.6
Rec/g
2.2
Rec yds/g
14.6
Yds/rec
6.6
Across 13 games in 2025, Ja'Tavion Sanders has averaged 2.6 targets, 2.2 receptions and 4.2 PPR fantasy points per game. Ja'Tavion Sanders has finished as a top-12 TE in 1 of those weeks, and inside the top 24 in 3. The best week was Week 2 against ARI (12.4 points); the lowest was Week 7 against NYJ (0.0).
| Wk | Opp | Result | FPTS | TGT | REC | REC YDS | REC TD | YPR | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JAX7th | L 10-26 | 4.7 | 3 | 2 | 27 | 0 | 13.5 | TE30 |
Week 1 · JAX · L 10-26 · 4.7 pts
How the 4.7 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 2 | ARI4th | L 22-27 | 12.4 | 9 | 7 | 54 | 0 | 7.7 | TE6 |
Week 2 · ARI · L 22-27 · 12.4 pts
How the 12.4 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 3 | ATL29th | W 30-0 | 3.1 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 5.5 | TE40 |
Week 3 · ATL · W 30-0 · 3.1 pts
How the 3.1 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 4 | Did not play | ||||||||
| 5 | Did not play | ||||||||
| 6 | Did not play | ||||||||
| 7 | NYJ12th | W 13-6 | 0.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | TE82 |
Week 7 · NYJ · W 13-6 · 0.0 pts
| |||||||||
| 8 | BUF32nd | L 9-40 | 4.9 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 6.3 | TE25 |
Week 8 · BUF · L 9-40 · 4.9 pts
How the 4.9 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 9 | GB24th | W 16-13 | 1.5 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5.0 | TE52 |
Week 9 · GB · W 16-13 · 1.5 pts
How the 1.5 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 10 | NO21st | L 7-17 | 8.2 | 5 | 5 | 32 | 0 | 6.4 | TE19 |
Week 10 · NO · L 7-17 · 8.2 pts
How the 8.2 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 11 | ATL29th | W 30-27 | 6.2 | 4 | 4 | 22 | 0 | 5.5 | TE25 |
Week 11 · ATL · W 30-27 · 6.2 pts
How the 6.2 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 12 | SF9th | L 9-20 | 1.6 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6.0 | TE50 |
Week 12 · SF · L 9-20 · 1.6 pts
How the 1.6 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 13 | LAR19th | W 31-28 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | TE92 |
Week 13 · LAR · W 31-28 · 0.0 pts
| |||||||||
| 14 | Bye week | ||||||||
| 15 | NO21st | L 17-20 | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2.5 | TE48 |
Week 15 · NO · L 17-20 · 2.5 pts
How the 2.5 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 16 | TB8th | W 23-20 | 8.9 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 4.5 | TE16 |
Week 16 · TB · W 23-20 · 8.9 pts
How the 8.9 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 17 | SEA10th | L 10-27 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | TE89 |
Week 17 · SEA · L 10-27 · 0.0 pts
| |||||||||
| 18 | Did not play | ||||||||
Opponent rank is fantasy points allowed to TEs across 2025: 1st allows the most, 32nd the fewest.
Where His Weeks Finished
One TE1 week, two TE2 weeks and 10 busts. For a tight end ranked TE44 overall, the spread matters more than the average: you get a top-12 ceiling and a waiver-wire floor.
Wk 1 TE30 · Wk 2 TE6 · Wk 3 TE40 · Wk 7 TE82 · Wk 8 TE25 · Wk 9 TE52 · Wk 10 TE19 · Wk 11 TE25 · Wk 12 TE50 · Wk 13 TE92 · Wk 15 TE48 · Wk 16 TE16 · Wk 17 TE89
Game-by-Game Breakdown
Shut down by Seattle
0/0, 0 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.
Steady in a win vs. Tampa Bay
2/2, 9 yds, 1 TD.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well above his season average.
Shut down by New Orleans
2/2, 5 yds.
Just 2.5 yards per target. A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.
Held in check by the Rams
0/0, 0 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.
Shut down by San Francisco
1/1, 6 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.
Held in check by Atlanta
4/4, 22 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well above his season average.
Steady in a loss vs. New Orleans
5/5, 32 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well above his season average.
Held in check by Green Bay
1/1, 5 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.
Shut down by Buffalo
3/3, 19 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well above his season average.
Held in check by the Jets
0/2, 0 yds.
Just 0.0 yards per target. A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.
Held in check by Atlanta
2/2, 11 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.
TE1 week at Arizona
7/9, 54 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well above his season average.
Shut down by Jacksonville
2/3, 27 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well above his season average.
Fantasy Points By Week
- Weekly points
- Season average (4.2)
Last Five Games
FPTS/G (PPR)
2.6
Weeks 12–17
High
8.9
Low
0.0
Targets/g
1.0
Rec/g
1.0
Upcoming Matchups
View matchup — Carolina Panthers vs Detroit Lions
View matchup — Carolina Panthers vs Philadelphia Eagles
View matchup — Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
View matchup — Carolina Panthers vs Green Bay Packers
Ja'Tavion Sanders career stats by season
| Season | GP | Tgt | Rec | Rec yds | Rec TD | Rush yds | FPTS | PPG | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | 34 | 29 | 190 | 1 | 0 | 54.0 | 4.2 | TE50 |
| 2024 | 16 | 43 | 33 | 342 | 1 | 0 | 73.2 | 4.6 | TE36 |
| Career | 29 | 77 | 62 | 532 | 2 | 0 | 127.2 | 4.4 | — |
Ja'Tavion Sanders Rest-of-Season Outlook
depth TE for deep leagues only
Preseason Projection vs. Reality
He finished TE50 last season at 4.2 points per game.
Our 2026 Preseason Outlook
Sanders went the wrong way in 2025, slipping to TE52 after a TE34 finish the year prior. His efficiency cratered alongside the workload: yards per route run fell from 1.09 to 0.85, EPA per play sagged from 0.271 to 0.13, and his target share dipped to 7.1% across just 12 games before a December ankle break ended things. He did catch 85.3% of his looks and saw 10 red-zone targets, but with one touchdown and 190 yards, the volume simply isn't there.
The deeper problem is the timeshare with Tommy Tremble, who has matched him snap for snap and kept both from carrying weekly value. Sanders is moving well in his ankle rehab and projects for a healthy training camp, yet a TE39 ADP near pick 252 reflects the reality. He owns the better long-term profile, but until Carolina commits to him, he's a bench-stash dart throw, not a startable tight end.
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
- 4.8
- Drop rate
- 2.9%
- Red-zone targets
- 10
- Route participation
- 40.9%
- YAC per reception
- 3.0
What Could Change His Value
The specific things that would move him up or down from here.
Upside
- A soft spotThe Lions in Week 4 is a top-10 matchup for TEs.Wk 4 DET, 1stWk 6 PHI, 32ndWk 7 TB, 11thWk 8 GB, 22nd
Risk
- RoleHe's TE5 on the depth chart.
- Weak efficiency0.85 yards per route run, 59th of 82 TEs in 2025.
- A tough matchupThe Eagles in Week 6 (32nd) is among the stingiest defenses against TEs.
TEs like Ja'Tavion Sanders
TE41Cole KmetBears4.9 PPGTE42Darnell WashingtonSteelers4.6 PPGTE43Isaiah LikelyGiants4.4 PPGTE44You are hereJa'Tavion SandersPanthers4.2 PPGTE45Terrance FergusonRams4.0 PPGTE47Tommy TremblePanthers3.8 PPGTE48Daniel BellingerTitans3.7 PPGJa'Tavion Sanders Fantasy Outlook FAQ
What is Ja'Tavion Sanders's fantasy outlook for the rest of the 2026 season?
Ja'Tavion Sanders 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 (0.85 yards per route run, 59th of 82 TEs in 2025) holds him back. See his live rank in Redraft Command.
What is Ja'Tavion Sanders's rest-of-season fantasy ranking?
Ja'Tavion Sanders is the TE50 in PPR points per game. That puts him in depth TE territory, waiver-wire material in 12-team leagues.
What is Ja'Tavion Sanders's projected role going forward?
Ja'Tavion Sanders is TE5 on the depth chart, so a bigger role needs an injury or a change ahead of him.
What is Ja'Tavion Sanders's fantasy football upside?
Ja'Tavion Sanders's upside: the Lions in Week 4 is a top-10 matchup for TEs.
What could hurt Ja'Tavion Sanders's fantasy value?
Ja'Tavion Sanders's risks: his efficiency (0.85 yards per route run, 59th of 82 TEs in 2025) limits his scoring and the Eagles in Week 6 is a tough matchup. See his injury status and history.
How difficult is Ja'Tavion Sanders's remaining fantasy schedule?
Favorable: of his next seven games, 2 come against a top-10 matchup for TEs and 1 against one of the stingiest defenses, by PPR points allowed to the position.
Latest Ja'Tavion Sanders News & Updates
Season Timeline
Every update this season, grouped by week, newest first.
Week 3Sep 27L 18–21 @ CLE
Game recap coming soon
Week 2Sep 20W 34–3 @ ATL
Game recap coming soon
Week 1Sep 13L 37–59 vs CHI
Game recap coming soon
No updates of this type yet this season.
Around the Panthers
Team reporting from panthers.com, Dynasty Command.
Ja'Tavion Sanders Bio
Ja'Tavion Sanders is a tight end for the Carolina Panthers. Born March 27, 2003, he attended Billy Ryan and played college football at Texas.
The Carolina Panthers selected Sanders in round 4, pick 101, of the 2024 NFL Draft.
In 29 regular-season games since 2024, he has caught 62 passes for 532 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Career Timeline
1 stop with 1 team in 3 seasons. Each block's width is the time he spent there.
What happened at each stop
Carolina Panthers Current team2024–present
Selected in round 4, pick 101, of the 2024 NFL Draft. He was a starter, playing at least half the offensive snaps in 18 of 29 games.
College: Texas
Transactions
- Placed on IRPlaced on injured reserve by the Carolina Panthers.
- SignedSigned with the Carolina Panthers.
- DraftedSelected by the Carolina Panthers in round 4, pick 101.
About Ja'Tavion Sanders: Bio FAQ
How old is Ja'Tavion Sanders?
Ja'Tavion Sanders is 23 years old. He was born on March 27, 2003. 2026 is his 3rd NFL season.
How tall is Ja'Tavion Sanders?
Ja'Tavion Sanders is 6 feet 4 inches tall (6'4"), listed at 243 pounds, and plays tight end for the Carolina Panthers.
How much does Ja'Tavion Sanders weigh?
Ja'Tavion Sanders weighs 243 pounds, his listed weight on the Carolina Panthers roster. He is listed at 6'4".
What position does Ja'Tavion Sanders play?
Ja'Tavion Sanders plays tight end for the Carolina Panthers. 2026 is his 3rd season in the NFL.
What team does Ja'Tavion Sanders play for?
Ja'Tavion Sanders plays for the Carolina Panthers as a tight end. He has been with the Panthers since 2024.
Where did Ja'Tavion Sanders go to college?
Ja'Tavion Sanders played college football at Texas, after attending Billy Ryan (TX). The Carolina Panthers drafted him out of Texas in 2024.
When was Ja'Tavion Sanders drafted?
The Carolina Panthers selected Ja'Tavion Sanders in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft with the 101st overall pick, out of Texas.
What round was Ja'Tavion Sanders drafted in?
Ja'Tavion Sanders was a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, taken 101st overall by the Carolina Panthers.
What pick was Ja'Tavion Sanders in the NFL Draft?
Ja'Tavion Sanders was the 101st overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fourth round.
Where is Ja'Tavion Sanders from?
Ja'Tavion Sanders went to high school in Texas, at Billy Ryan, before playing college football at Texas.
When is Ja'Tavion Sanders's birthday?
Ja'Tavion Sanders's birthday is March 27. He was born on March 27, 2003 and is 23 years old.
How long has Ja'Tavion Sanders been in the NFL?
2026 is Ja'Tavion Sanders's 3rd NFL season; he entered the league in 2024 as a fourth-round pick of the Carolina Panthers. View his career statistics.
What teams has Ja'Tavion Sanders played for?
Ja'Tavion Sanders has played for the Carolina Panthers. View his career statistics.
What year did Ja'Tavion Sanders enter the NFL?
Ja'Tavion Sanders entered the NFL in 2024, when the Carolina Panthers drafted him in the fourth round. 2026 is his 3rd season.
TEs like Ja'Tavion Sanders
TE41Cole KmetBears4.9 PPGTE42Darnell WashingtonSteelers4.6 PPGTE43Isaiah LikelyGiants4.4 PPGTE44You are hereJa'Tavion SandersPanthers4.2 PPGTE45Terrance FergusonRams4.0 PPGTE47Tommy TremblePanthers3.8 PPGTE48Daniel BellingerTitans3.7 PPG