Stephen Carlson Fantasy outlook, stats and Week 4 start/sit for 2026
- Age
- 29
- Height / weight
- 6'4", 248 lb
- Experience
- 8th season
2025 Season
- PPR PPG
- 0.0
- Pos rank
- TE120
- Rostered
- —
Week 4 vs. Jets, Sun Oct 4, 1:00 PM ET 28th vs. TEs, tough
Stephen Carlson Fantasy Football Stats & Analysis
Scoring rate
0.0 PPG
Played
2 games
Role
Depth
Trend
Stable
Stephen Carlson's 2026 Season, Week by Week
The next four matchups are a tough stretch ahead.
- Week 1, Win,at CAR,—,Did not play
- Week 2, Loss,vs MIN,—,Did not play
- Week 3, Win,vs PHI,—,Did not play
- Up next. Week 4, Oct 4,vs NYJ,ToughJets vs. TEs
- Week 5, Oct 11,at GB,NeutralPackers vs. TEs
- Week 6, Oct 18,at ATL,NeutralFalcons vs. TEs
- Week 7, Oct 22,vs NE,ToughPatriots 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 Stephen Carlson?
At 29 and listed at 6-4, 248, the Princeton product sits buried on Chicago's tight end depth chart, stuck behind Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet. Expert consensus pegs him near TE116 with no meaningful ADP, and he's rostered in essentially zero leagues. His path to snaps runs entirely through injuries ahead of him; absent that, the blocking-tilted role caps any receiving upside.
The schedule offers no rescue either, with Chicago's tight ends carrying one of the league's tougher slates. Until the depth chart thins out, Carlson is a deep-bench stash at best, the kind of name you monitor only if Kmet or Loveland misses time. Leave him on waivers in standard formats and revisit only when an opportunity actually opens. There's nothing here worth a draft pick in 2026.
Career Fantasy Stats by Season
| Season | Team | GP | Tgt | Rec | Rec yds | Rec TD | FPTS | PPG | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | CHI | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | TE120 |
| 2023 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | TE110 |
| 2021 | — | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | TE120 |
| 2020 | CLE | 16 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 4.1 | 0.3 | TE102 |
| 2019 | CLE | 9 | 7 | 5 | 51 | 1 | 16.1 | 1.8 | TE81 |
| Career | 30 | 9 | 6 | 62 | 1 | 20.2 | 0.7 |
Rest-of-Season Outlook and Availability
Outlook
The schedule offers no rescue either, with Chicago's tight ends carrying one of the league's tougher slates. Until the depth chart thins out, Carlson is a deep-bench stash at best, the kind of name you monitor only if Kmet or Loveland misses time. Leave him on waivers in standard formats and revisit only when an opportunity actually opens. Full outlook
Injury status
Active, no designation
TEs like Stephen Carlson
Stephen Carlson Fantasy Football FAQ
Should I start Stephen Carlson in Week 4?
Stephen Carlson plays Week 4 against the Jets. The Jets rank 28th in PPR points allowed to TEs, a tough matchup. Get the start/sit call for Carlson.
Is Stephen Carlson worth rostering in fantasy football?
Yes, in the right league: Stephen Carlson is a bench stash in TE-premium leagues and waiver-wire material in 12-team and 10-team leagues.
What are Stephen Carlson's upcoming fantasy football matchups?
Stephen Carlson's next three games are Week 4 vs. the Jets (28th in PPR points allowed to TEs, tough), Week 5 at the Packers (22nd in PPR points allowed to TEs, neutral) and Week 6 at the Falcons (12th in PPR points allowed to TEs, neutral). Zero of them are favorable by points allowed to the position.
Stephen Carlson 2025 Stats
2025 final · Chicago Bears
Receiving
- Rec
- 0
- Yards
- 0
- TD
- 0
- Targets
- 0
— Y/R— Catch %
Fantasy (PPR)
- Points
- 0.0
- Pos rank
- TE126
0.0 Best Week 4 LV0.0 Worst Week 8 BAL
Fantasy Points per Game, Every Season
0.0
Fantasy PPG
0.0
Targets/g
0
Rec yds/g
Stephen Carlson career stats by season
| Season | GP | Tgt | Rec | Rec yds | Rec TD | Rush yds | FPTS | PPG | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | TE120 |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | TE110 |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | TE120 |
| 2020 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 4.1 | 0.3 | TE102 |
| 2019 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 51 | 1 | 0 | 16.1 | 1.8 | TE81 |
| Career | 30 | 9 | 6 | 62 | 1 | 0 | 20.2 | 0.7 | — |
What His Career Numbers Say
1.1
Career PPG
19 games over 3 seasons
16%
Availability
Share of team games he played
0%
Top-12 weeks
Share of his games as a TE1
2.0
Weekly swing
Standard deviation, low
Carlson has averaged 1.1 fantasy points per game over 19 games and 3 seasons, without a top-12 finish.
In 2025 he averaged 0.0 per game, level with 2020. His volume has held at about 0.0 targets a game, so the output has too. His quarterback in 2025 was Caleb Williams.
Career numbers describe the past; for what he is worth from here, see Carlson's rest-of-season rank and trade value in Redraft Command.
Career highs
- 51Rec yards2019
- 1Rec TD2019
- 16.1Fantasy pts2019 · TE82
- 62Career rec yds2019–2025
TEs like Stephen Carlson
Stephen Carlson Stats FAQ
What were Stephen Carlson's stats last season?
In 2025, Stephen Carlson caught 0 of no targets for 0 yards and no touchdowns in 2 games. That was 0.0 PPR points (0.0 per game), a TE120 finish.
What are Stephen Carlson's career NFL stats?
Across 5 seasons and 30 games, Stephen Carlson has 6 catches for 62 yards and 1 touchdown, for 20.2 PPR fantasy points (0.7 per game).
How many touchdowns does Stephen Carlson have in his career?
Stephen Carlson has 1 touchdown in his NFL career: 0 rushing and 1 receiving, over 30 games.
How many career receiving yards does Stephen Carlson have?
Stephen Carlson has 62 career receiving yards over 5 seasons, on 6 catches.
Stephen Carlson Game Log 2025
Games played
2
FPTS/G (PPR)
0.0
Targets/g
0.0
Rec/g
0.0
Rec yds/g
0.0
Yds/rec
0.0
Across 2 games in 2025, Stephen Carlson has averaged 0.0 targets, 0.0 receptions and 0.0 PPR fantasy points per game. Stephen Carlson has finished as a top-12 TE in 0 of those weeks, and inside the top 24 in 0.
| Wk | Opp | Result | FPTS | TGT | REC | REC YDS | REC TD | YPR | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Did not play | ||||||||
| 2 | Did not play | ||||||||
| 3 | Did not play | ||||||||
| 4 | LV30th | W 25-24 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | TE69 |
Week 4 · LV · W 25-24 · 0.0 pts
| |||||||||
| 5 | Bye week | ||||||||
| 6 | Did not play | ||||||||
| 7 | Did not play | ||||||||
| 8 | BAL25th | L 16-30 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | TE56 |
Week 8 · BAL · L 16-30 · 0.0 pts
| |||||||||
| 9 | Did not play | ||||||||
| 10 | Did not play | ||||||||
| 11 | Did not play | ||||||||
| 12 | Did not play | ||||||||
| 13 | Did not play | ||||||||
| 14 | Did not play | ||||||||
| 15 | Did not play | ||||||||
| 16 | Did not play | ||||||||
| 17 | Did not play | ||||||||
| 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
All two weeks outside the top 24. For a tight end ranked TE120 overall, his weeks cluster in a range you can plan around, between TE56 and TE69.
Game-by-Game Breakdown
Shut down by Baltimore
0/0, 0 yds.
Held in check by Las Vegas
0/0, 0 yds.
Upcoming Matchups
View matchup — Chicago Bears vs New York Jets
View matchup — Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers
View matchup — Chicago Bears vs Atlanta Falcons
View matchup — Chicago Bears vs New England Patriots
Stephen Carlson Game Log 2019
Games played
6
FPTS/G (PPR)
2.7
Targets/g
1.2
Rec/g
0.8
Rec yds/g
8.5
Yds/rec
10.2
Across 6 games in 2019, Stephen Carlson has averaged 1.2 targets, 0.8 receptions and 2.7 PPR fantasy points per game. Stephen Carlson has finished as a top-12 TE in 0 of those weeks, and inside the top 24 in 1. The best week was Week 11 against PIT (7.8 points); the lowest was Week 9 against DEN (0.0).
| Wk | Opp | FPTS | TGT | REC | REC YDS | REC TD | YPR | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Did not play | |||||||
| 2 | Did not play | |||||||
| 3 | Did not play | |||||||
| 4 | Did not play | |||||||
| 5 | Did not play | |||||||
| 6 | Did not play | |||||||
| 7 | Did not play | |||||||
| 8 | Did not play | |||||||
| 9 | DEN27th | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | TE54 |
Week 9 · DEN · 0.0 pts
| ||||||||
| 10 | Did not play | |||||||
| 11 | PIT24th | 7.8 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 8.0 | TE21 |
Week 11 · PIT · 7.8 pts
How the 7.8 points scored (PPR)
| ||||||||
| 12 | MIA14th | 1.8 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8.0 | TE34 |
Week 12 · MIA · 1.8 pts
How the 1.8 points scored (PPR)
| ||||||||
| 13 | PIT24th | 4.8 | 2 | 2 | 28 | 0 | 14.0 | TE31 |
Week 13 · PIT · 4.8 pts
How the 4.8 points scored (PPR)
| ||||||||
| 14 | CIN17th | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | TE67 |
Week 14 · CIN · 0.0 pts
| ||||||||
| 15 | Did not play | |||||||
| 16 | BAL32nd | 1.7 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7.0 | TE61 |
Week 16 · BAL · 1.7 pts
How the 1.7 points scored (PPR)
| ||||||||
| 17 | Did not play | |||||||
Opponent rank is fantasy points allowed to TEs across 2019: 1st allows the most, 32nd the fewest.
TEs like Stephen Carlson
Stephen Carlson Rest-of-Season Outlook
depth TE for deep leagues only
Preseason Projection vs. Reality
He finished TE126 last season at 0.0 points per game.
Our 2026 Preseason Outlook
At 29 and listed at 6-4, 248, the Princeton product sits buried on Chicago's tight end depth chart, stuck behind Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet. Expert consensus pegs him near TE116 with no meaningful ADP, and he's rostered in essentially zero leagues. His path to snaps runs entirely through injuries ahead of him; absent that, the blocking-tilted role caps any receiving upside.
The schedule offers no rescue either, with Chicago's tight ends carrying one of the league's tougher slates. Until the depth chart thins out, Carlson is a deep-bench stash at best, the kind of name you monitor only if Kmet or Loveland misses time. Leave him on waivers in standard formats and revisit only when an opportunity actually opens. There's nothing here worth a draft pick in 2026.
What Could Change His Value
Upside
- The scheduleNone of his next four opponents is a top-10 matchup for TEs.Wk 4 NYJ, 28thWk 5 GB, 22ndWk 6 ATL, 12thWk 7 NE, 31st
Risk
- Tough matchupsThe Jets in Week 4 (28th) and the Patriots in Week 7 (31st) are among the stingiest defenses against TEs.
TEs like Stephen Carlson
Stephen Carlson Fantasy Outlook FAQ
What is Stephen Carlson's fantasy outlook for the rest of the 2026 season?
Stephen Carlson 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. See his live rank in Redraft Command.
What is Stephen Carlson's rest-of-season fantasy ranking?
Stephen Carlson is the TE126 in PPR points per game. That puts him in depth TE territory, waiver-wire material in 12-team leagues.
What could hurt Stephen Carlson's fantasy value?
Stephen Carlson's risks: the Jets in Week 4 and the Patriots in Week 7 are tough matchups. See his injury status and history.
How difficult is Stephen Carlson's remaining fantasy schedule?
Difficult: of his next seven games, 1 comes against a top-10 matchup for TEs and 2 against one of the stingiest defenses, by PPR points allowed to the position.
Latest Stephen Carlson News & Updates
Season Timeline
Every update this season, grouped by week, newest first.
Week 3Sep 28W 27–7 vs PHI
Game recap coming soon
Week 2Sep 20L 3–9 vs MIN
Game recap coming soon
Week 1Sep 13W 59–37 @ CAR
Game recap coming soon
No updates of this type yet this season.
Around the Bears
TEs like Stephen Carlson
Stephen Carlson Bio
Stephen Carlson is a tight end for the Chicago Bears, where he wears No. 88. Born December 12, 1996, in Jamestown, NY, he attended Jamestown and played college football at Princeton.
He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Cleveland Browns in 2019. Since then, Carlson joined the Chicago Bears in 2023.
In 19 regular-season games since 2019, he has caught 6 passes for 62 yards and 1 touchdowns.
Career Timeline
2 stops with 2 teams in 8 seasons. Each block's width is the time he spent there.
What happened at each stop
Most recent first.
Chicago Bears Current team2023–present
He was a reserve, playing less than a quarter of the offensive snaps in 3 of 3 games.
Cleveland Browns2019–2021
He was a reserve, playing less than a quarter of the offensive snaps in 17 of 25 games.
College: Princeton
Transactions
- ReleasedReleased by the Chicago Bears.
- SignedSigned with the Chicago Bears.
- SignedSigned to the active roster from the practice squad by the Chicago Bears.
- SignedSigned to the active roster from the practice squad by the Chicago Bears.
- SignedSigned to the active roster from the practice squad by the Chicago Bears.
- ReleasedReleased by the Chicago Bears.
- Re-signedRe-signed with the Chicago Bears.
- Placed on IRPlaced on injured reserve by the Chicago Bears.
- SignedSigned with the Chicago Bears.
- ReleasedReleased by the Chicago Bears.
- SignedSigned with the Chicago Bears.
- SignedSigned to the active roster from the practice squad by the Chicago Bears.
- SignedSigned to the active roster from the practice squad by the Chicago Bears.
- WaivedWaived by the Chicago Bears.
- SignedSigned with the Chicago Bears.
- Placed on IRPlaced on injured reserve by the Cleveland Browns.
- TenderSigned his exclusive-rights free-agent tender with the Cleveland Browns.
- TagTendered as a restricted or exclusive-rights free agent by the Cleveland Browns.
- SignedElevated from the Cleveland Browns' practice squad to the active roster.
- WaivedWaived by the Cleveland Browns.
- SignedSigned with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent.
- SignedSigned as an undrafted free agent with the Cleveland Browns.
TEs like Stephen Carlson
About Stephen Carlson: Bio FAQ
How old is Stephen Carlson?
Stephen Carlson is 29 years old. He was born on December 12, 1996. 2026 is his 8th NFL season.
How tall is Stephen Carlson?
Stephen Carlson is 6 feet 4 inches tall (6'4"), listed at 248 pounds, and plays tight end for the Chicago Bears.
How much does Stephen Carlson weigh?
Stephen Carlson weighs 248 pounds, his listed weight on the Chicago Bears roster. He is listed at 6'4".
What number does Stephen Carlson wear?
Stephen Carlson wears number 88 for the Chicago Bears. He plays tight end.
What position does Stephen Carlson play?
Stephen Carlson plays tight end for the Chicago Bears, wearing number 88. 2026 is his 8th season in the NFL.
What team does Stephen Carlson play for?
Stephen Carlson plays for the Chicago Bears as a tight end. He has been with the Bears since 2023.
Where did Stephen Carlson go to college?
Stephen Carlson played college football at Princeton, after attending Jamestown (NY).
Where is Stephen Carlson from?
Stephen Carlson went to high school in New York, at Jamestown, before playing college football at Princeton.
When is Stephen Carlson's birthday?
Stephen Carlson's birthday is December 12. He was born on December 12, 1996 and is 29 years old.
How long has Stephen Carlson been in the NFL?
2026 is Stephen Carlson's 8th NFL season; he entered the league in 2019. View his career statistics.
What teams has Stephen Carlson played for?
Stephen Carlson has played for the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears. View his career statistics.
What year did Stephen Carlson enter the NFL?
Stephen Carlson entered the NFL in 2019. 2026 is his 8th season.