Thoughts on Tucker Kraft…

[makindollaz]

Seems like a wide range of opinions on him for 2026.  I play in keeper leagues on both ESPN & CBS platforms, and ESPN and their experts don’t seem to be as high on him.

He was looking like a breakout guy in 2025 before the injury.  Assuming that’s healed and he’s good to go, I’ve got him in that 2nd tier, behind Bowers & McBride, and on par with Loveland & Warren.  Too optimistic?

[Super Cubs]

If healthy he he's a good pick. Because GB Wr are questionable and he might be their best receiving option.  Again if healthy. Right now he's not a player I would reach for.

[Gepetto]

I like him and rank him right where you do. Don't sleep on Fannin. I'm keeping Colston because I had him last year and like his big play production. I see Tucker Kraft similarly. 

[makindollaz]

10 hours ago, Super Cubs said:

If healthy he he's a good pick. Because GB Wr are questionable and he might be their best receiving option.  Again if healthy. Right now he's not a player I would reach for.

So I’ve got Kraft in a 16 team league, where we keep 4.

Gibbs is my only no-brainer keeper.  I took over this team before last season, but totally gutted the roster (there wasn’t much after Gibbs) and built the team/made the semifinals with a bunch of guys with an ADP in the 60-100 range.

My other 3 keepers will be some combo of Pierce, Jameson Williams, Godwin or Kraft.  For our league scoring, CBS has Kraft around 75 overall.  16 teams, 4 keepers each, so in theory your keepers should be top 65’ish.  A little bit of a reach on Kraft, but not major.

[Ray_T]

Fannin and Kraft are both very good picks in Dynasty.

I like Krafts upside a bit more because Green bay has a better QB at the helm and Green Bay isnt the Dumpster fire that Cleveland is.

for Kraft its all about his health and coming off an ACL in November that is far from being resolved.

Hes a far better pickup in keeper/dynasty than he is in a redraft league.  (for whatever that is worth)   due to the injury I'd project him to get 600-700 yards with likely a bit less than his average number of TDs.  (so 5-6)

next year I'd project a fair bit more.    but you are asking about this year.

despite the dumpster fire in Cleveland, I'd bet Fanin puts up better numbers this year than Kraft.     this is solely based on Kraft's ACL injury.   you can come back to play in less than 12 months with an ACL but you wont likely be 100% until 18-24 months has passed and historically the year after an ACL surgery,  stats are down for WR by about 20-30%.   I'd assume roughly the same discount for TE coming back from the same surgery.

in his case because he got injured late in the year,  there is a very real possibility he misses a handful of games to start the year.   once you adjust further for that risk,  hes not a great pick for redraft this year. (despite how much I love the guy as a player)

but.   (there always is a but)  you may wish to keep an eye on the medical reports for the guy.   if it truly looks like he will play week 1 it may be worth your while to grab him.   Just dont overpay for him.   because of the injury, he should be a late round pick.  dont let anyone else tell you otherwise.

 

 

[weepaws]

I'll take him in the 11th rd, then I might drop him week 2 for a better match up.  Never fall in love with a te, look at how little bit of them offer sustainable reliability. 

[Ray_T]

it has been my experience that you can just play matchups all year long and take a late TE.   but usually about halfway through the year the players you are playing matchups with eventually end up on someones roster (usually as a result of a starter getting hurt or playing poorly) and the pickings get slim. 

not to say it cant be done, but when I play matchups early I do so with the thought that if one of my matchup plays breaks out and starts to perform consistently I think about hanging onto them.

I did this last year with Fanin.  I saw how they were using him in the offense and saw he was special as far as TE's go and decided to grab and hold him.

but that was an exceptional case.  he still had his ups and downs as he performed despite not being the starting TE and despite crappy QB play.   As the starter now, the sky is the limit.  Talent wise this guy is totally special.   but the Cleveland QB situation is sketchy at best and it sounds like they may wanna go back to Watson.   if this happens its difficult to predict how this will affect his numbers.   but it adds a significant element of risk to the pick.

 

 

[weepaws]

2 hours ago, Ray_T said:

it has been my experience that you can just play matchups all year long and take a late TE.   but usually about halfway through the year the players you are playing matchups with eventually end up on someones roster (usually as a result of a starter getting hurt or playing poorly) and the pickings get slim. 

not to say it cant be done, but when I play matchups early I do so with the thought that if one of my matchup plays breaks out and starts to perform consistently I think about hanging onto them.

I did this last year with Fanin.  I saw how they were using him in the offense and saw he was special as far as TE's go and decided to grab and hold him.

but that was an exceptional case.  he still had his ups and downs as he performed despite not being the starting TE and despite crappy QB play.   As the starter now, the sky is the limit.  Talent wise this guy is totally special.   but the Cleveland QB situation is sketchy at best and it sounds like they may wanna go back to Watson.   if this happens its difficult to predict how this will affect his numbers.   but it adds a significant element of risk to the pick.

 

 

That's the key, knowing when to hold  

[GobbleDog]

Kraft had 6 Tds in 7.5 games (left early 3rd quarter Wk 8). That's not sustainable. His average rec/gm slightly increased from 2.9 in '24, to 4.3 last yr. But without those crazy Tds his adp wouldn't be nearly where it is. Now off a serious knee injury... I'm not totally out on him, but I ain't in a hurry to get him at Te 8 - needs to fall a bit.

For comparison in '24 he finished Te 15 ppg (ppr).

For the record Kraft tore his ACL, but also had a "slight" meniscus tear and some LCL damage. Not that he can't recover from it, but it might cause a longer rehab. And the team might limit his snap count early in the season.

[Ray_T]

19 hours ago, GobbleDog said:

Kraft had 6 Tds in 7.5 games (left early 3rd quarter Wk 8). That's not sustainable. His average rec/gm slightly increased from 2.9 in '24, to 4.3 last yr. But without those crazy Tds his adp wouldn't be nearly where it is. Now off a serious knee injury... I'm not totally out on him, but I ain't in a hurry to get him at Te 8 - needs to fall a bit.

For comparison in '24 he finished Te 15 ppg (ppr).

For the record Kraft tore his ACL, but also had a "slight" meniscus tear and some LCL damage. Not that he can't recover from it, but it might cause a longer rehab. And the team might limit his snap count early in the season.

Longer rehab for sure.

I'd say it takes at least 6 more months on top of the normal rehab with those extra injuries