T.J. Hockenson 2026 fantasy outlook and rest-of-season projection
- Age
- 29
- Height / weight
- 6'5", 248 lb
- Experience
- 8th season
- Drafted
- 2019 R1, #8
2026 Season
- PPR PPG
- 7.5
- Pos rank
- TE24
- Rostered
- 39%
Week 4 vs. Dolphins, Sun Oct 4, 4:05 PM ET 9th vs. TEs, favorable
T.J. Hockenson Rest-of-Season Outlook
Every-down TE2 worth a bench spot
Preseason Projection vs. Reality
He finished TE26 last season at 7.5 points per game.
Our Take After Week 4
Through 3 games he's TE24 at 7.5 PPR points per game, against 7.5 over 15 games last season (TE26). The role is producing the same fantasy output two years running.
Last season he ranked 11th of 81 in route participation (77.7%), 18th of 82 in target share (14.1%) and 51st of 82 in efficiency (1.04 yards per route run). His points come from his route participation. Efficiency is the soft spot. Carson Wentz is his quarterback.
The main risk is the job itself. He's the listed starter with Gavin Bartholomew next on the depth chart, and a benching or an injury would take his value to zero overnight.
The next favorable matchups are the Dolphins in Week 4 (9th against TEs) and the Saints in Week 5 (3rd against TEs).
Read our preseason outlook (June 2026)
Published June 17, 2026. Kept for reference; the take above replaces it.
Hockenson rebuilt his floor in 2025, playing 15 games on a 77.9 percent snap share with 422 routes, 66 targets, and a 14.1 percent target share that produced 51-438-3 and 61.8 points, good for TE26 by our rank. The catch rate climbed to 77.3 percent, but the air yards collapsed: just 4.98 per target and an 8.59 yards-per-reception that is a shadow of his 2023 peak (95-960-5, 124 points, 1.9 yards per route, TE4). His 1.04 yards per route in 2025 was among the weakest of his career.
The profile is now a high-volume, low-aDOT checkdown option rather than a difference-maker. Eleven red-zone targets keep modest touchdown upside alive, and 422 routes guarantee a target floor in an offense feeding him underneath. Fully recovered from the 2024 ACL recovery that limited him to 10 games, he is a reliable but unspectacular streaming TE1 in 12-team leagues, best valued as a back-end starter you can plug in weekly without expecting top-five weeks.
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
- 5.0
- Drop rate
- 4.5%
- Red-zone targets
- 11
- Route participation
- 77.7%
- YAC per reception
- 4.3
What Could Change His Value
Upside
- A soft stretchThe Dolphins in Week 4 and the Saints in Week 5 are top-10 matchups for TEs.Wk 4 MIA, 9thWk 5 NO, 3rdWk 7 IND, 7thWk 8 DET, 1st
- Every-down route participation77.7% route participation, 11th of 81 TEs in 2025.
- Heavy target share14.1% target share, 18th of 82 TEs in 2025.
Risk
- Job securityGavin Bartholomew is next on the depth chart; a benching or injury hands him the job.
All T.J. Hockenson stats & analysis
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T.J. Hockenson Fantasy Outlook FAQ
What is T.J. Hockenson's fantasy outlook for the rest of the 2026 season?
T.J. Hockenson projects as an every-down TE2 worth a bench spot for the rest of the 2026 season: a matchup play in TE-premium leagues, a bench stash in 12-team leagues and waiver-wire material in 10-team leagues. His route participation (77.7% route participation, 11th of 81 TEs in 2025) supports that. His efficiency (1.04 yards per route run, 51st of 82 TEs in 2025) holds him back. See his live rank in Redraft Command.
What is T.J. Hockenson's rest-of-season fantasy ranking?
T.J. Hockenson is the TE24 in PPR points per game through Week 4. That puts him in TE2 territory, a bench stash in 12-team leagues.
What is T.J. Hockenson's projected role going forward?
T.J. Hockenson is the listed starting TE, with Gavin Bartholomew next on the depth chart. Nothing on the chart threatens the job, so the role is his to lose on performance.
Will T.J. Hockenson get more targets?
T.J. Hockenson's targets are holding steady: 4.0 a game over his last two games against 4.3 for the season. His share of the offense is what his fantasy value rides on.
What is T.J. Hockenson's fantasy football upside?
T.J. Hockenson's upside: his ceiling this season is 13.6 PPR points (Week 1, TE9), his route participation (77.7% route participation, 11th of 81 TEs in 2025) gives him a weekly floor to build on and the Dolphins in Week 4 and the Saints in Week 5 are top-10 matchups for TEs.
What could hurt T.J. Hockenson's fantasy value?
T.J. Hockenson's risks: Gavin Bartholomew is next on the depth chart if he is benched or hurt and his efficiency (1.04 yards per route run, 51st of 82 TEs in 2025) limits his scoring. See his injury status and history.
How difficult is T.J. Hockenson's remaining fantasy schedule?
Favorable: of his next seven games, 4 come against a top-10 matchup for TEs and 1 against one of the stingiest defenses, by PPR points allowed to the position.