Payne Durham 2026 fantasy outlook and rest-of-season projection
- Age
- 26
- Height / weight
- 6'5", 255 lb
- Experience
- 4th season
- Drafted
- 2023 R5, #171
2026 Season
- PPR PPG
- 0.0
- Pos rank
- TE102
- Rostered
- —
Week 4 vs. Packers, Sun Oct 4, 1:00 PM ET 22nd vs. TEs, neutral
Payne Durham Rest-of-Season Outlook
depth TE for deep leagues only
Preseason Projection vs. Reality
He finished TE115 last season at 0.1 points per game.
Our Take After Week 4
Through 3 games he's TE102 at 0.0 PPR points per game, against 0.1 over 17 games last season (TE115). The role is producing the same fantasy output two years running.
Last season he ranked 71st of 81 in route participation (17.0%), 81st of 82 in target share (0.7%) and 80th of 82 in efficiency (0.11 yards per route run). Target share is the soft spot. Baker Mayfield is his quarterback.
He's TE2 on the depth chart, so his value depends on the players ahead of him.
The next favorable matchup is the Cowboys in Week 5 (8th against TEs).
Read our preseason outlook (June 2026)
Published June 17, 2026. Kept for reference; the take above replaces it.
Durham has never carved out a receiving role, and 2025 was his quietest yet: one catch on four targets for 11 yards across eight games, just 1.1 fantasy points and a TE109 rank on a 31.8 percent snap share. Even his modest 2024 ceiling, 11 grabs for 115 yards and two scores worth 23.5 points at TE61, came on only a 2.5 percent target share. The arrow points down, with route share sliding from 28 to 17 percent and a 0.7 percent target share that signals pure blocking duty.
The 2023 fifth-round Purdue pick is a competent in-line blocker, but Tampa Bay's passing game flows elsewhere and his minus-0.299 EPA per play on a tiny sample offers nothing for fantasy. With no volume and no red-zone equity beyond the occasional look, there is zero startable value here. He is a waiver-wire afterthought in every 2026 format, including deep dynasty.
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
- 4.0
- Drop rate
- 25.0%
- Red-zone targets
- 1
- Route participation
- 17.0%
- YAC per reception
- 11.0
What Could Change His Value
Upside
- A soft spotThe Cowboys in Week 5 is a top-10 matchup for TEs.Wk 4 GB, 22ndWk 5 DAL, 8thWk 6 PIT, 23rdWk 7 CAR, 14th
Risk
- RoleHe's TE2 on the depth chart.
- Limited route participation17.0% route participation, 71st of 81 TEs in 2025.
- A tough matchupThe Steelers in Week 6 (23rd) is among the stingiest defenses against TEs.
All Payne Durham stats & analysis
TEs like Payne Durham
Payne Durham Fantasy Outlook FAQ
What is Payne Durham's fantasy outlook for the rest of the 2026 season?
Payne Durham 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 target share (0.7% target share, 81st of 82 TEs in 2025) holds him back. See his live rank in Redraft Command.
What is Payne Durham's rest-of-season fantasy ranking?
Payne Durham is the TE102 in PPR points per game through Week 4. That puts him in depth TE territory, waiver-wire material in 12-team leagues.
What is Payne Durham's projected role going forward?
Payne Durham is TE2 on the depth chart, so a bigger role needs an injury or a change ahead of him.
Will Payne Durham get more targets?
Payne Durham'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 Payne Durham's fantasy football upside?
Payne Durham's upside: his ceiling this season is 0.0 PPR points (Week 1, TE85) and the Cowboys in Week 5 is a top-10 matchup for TEs.
What could hurt Payne Durham's fantasy value?
Payne Durham's risks: his target share (0.7% target share, 81st of 82 TEs in 2025) limits his scoring and the Steelers in Week 6 is a tough matchup. See his injury status and history.
How difficult is Payne Durham'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.