Dynasty Movement: Week 8

Week 7 showed just how quickly the NFL can change the picture. In one week, multiple organizations looked ready to change their starting quarterbacks, while teams with playoff aspirations added meaningful additions to their receiving groups. We asked Dynasty staffers Jason Wood, Dan Hindery, Maurile Tremblay, Matt Montgomery, Ryan Weisse, and Andy Hicks for their biggest movers in their rankings.

Dynasty Movement at Tight End

Oronde Gadsden, LA Chargers

Ryan Weisse: I liked Gadsden a lot coming out of college, but his low draft capital kept me cautious. That hesitation is now gone after two great weeks. He's clearly carved out a meaningful role in this offense and is already showing that his receiving skill set can translate to fantasy success. Gadsden looks like a player who could be relevant at tight end for a long time, especially attached to Justin Herbert.

Jason Wood: Gadsden entered the league as a fifth-round draft pick on a team with a coaching staff known for making rookies earn their snaps. With two experienced veterans in Will Dissly and Tyler Conklin ahead of him, Gadsden was viewed as a developmental prospect, someone who could catch passes but needed refinement in other aspects of the position. Fast forward to mid-October, and Gadsden has clearly arrived. His 28 targets exceed the combined total of Dissly, Conklin, and Tucker Fisk (15 targets), and he's quickly become one of Justin Herbert's go-to options despite the presence of three high-profile wideouts in Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Keenan Allen.

Maurile Tremblay: Gadsden had a breakout game against the Colts (7-164-1), a game that set the Chargers' rookie TE single-game receiving record and ranks among the top four such performances by a rookie tight end in NFL history. This wasn't a blip: he's now running routes on roughly three-quarters of dropbacks, effectively cementing TE1 usage in Los Angeles. With Justin Herbert at quarterback and Jim Harbaugh's staff deploying him more aggressively downfield, Gadsden's profile has shifted from speculative stash to ascending every-week starter.

Andy Hicks: With his father a long-time NFL wide receiver, Gadsden Jr. had eyes watching his fantasy progress. There was noticeable hype during training camp, but surely a fifth-round rookie tight end would need time to develop. Not so. Consecutive games with seven catches and the most recent effort of 7-164-1 against the Colts made everyone sit up and take notice. Short-term expectations may be disappointed. In the long term, he experiences a considerable rise in rankings as he ascends to become the clear number one with the Chargers. 

Dan Hindery: Since making his debut in Week 3, Gadsden ranks as the fantasy TE6, ahead of players like Sam LaPorta, Travis Kelce, and Tucker Kraft. The Chargers have plenty of weapons in the passing game, but that has not stopped Gadsden from earning 17 targets over the past two weeks. This feels like a situation with a wide range of possible outcomes. It would not be surprising if the past few weeks turn out to be an outlier in an otherwise modest career, but it also would not be shocking if Gadsden develops into one of the top fantasy tight ends and a key weapon for Justin Herbert. Given how rare difference-making tight ends are, I would rather be too high than too low on him.

Trey McBride, Arizona

Jason Wood: You might be wondering why McBride, a consensus member of the elite tier at his position, appears here. I wanted to highlight him because he's moved up one spot, from No. 2 to No. 1, surpassing Brock Bowers. This shift comes down to McBride being the more proven asset, showing greater durability than Bowers, and thriving despite an unsettled quarterback situation. When comparing the top two tight ends, any critique is splitting hairs, but at this point, I would trade Bowers straight up for the chance to roster McBride.

Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland

Jason Wood: Is a changing of the guard underway in Cleveland? Given the organization's history of instability, we can't be certain that David Njoku's future lies elsewhere. Still, Fannin has looked impressive enough in his rookie debut to project as a key offensive piece in whatever the Browns' rebuild looks like in 2026 and beyond.

Cole Kmet, Chicago

Maurile Tremblay: Chicago spent No. 10 on Colston Loveland and has redirected snaps and routes his way, with Kmet's usage dipping in Weeks 6-7 in an offense already lean on tight end volume under Ben Johnson. Kmet's red-zone role has trended down since 2023, and recent weeks point to Loveland as the preferred passing-down option. These trends make Kmet more of a short-term TE2 than a long-term dynasty asset.

Tyler Warren, Indianapolis

Andy Hicks: The previous held assertion that rookie tight ends are fantasy poison has been dispelled in recent seasons. This year's edition is sponsored by Warren. He has at least three catches in every game to date. He has three consecutive games with touchdowns and looks the primary threat in the Colts' passing game. I still can't get my head around rookie tight end production and am slow to the party. Moves near the top of fantasy rankings. 

Dynasty Movement at Quarterback