NFL Defense vs Tight Ends 2026: TE Matchup Rankings

Compare every NFL defense vs tight ends using fantasy points, targets, receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns allowed per game. Use the 2026 TE defense rankings to identify favorable and difficult tight end matchups for fantasy football and NFL player prop research.

2026 Season • Updated as games are processed

Position

QB RB WR TE

Season Data

2026 NFL Season

Rank By

How to read the rankings: #1 allows the most production in the selected category. #32 allows the least. Higher-ranked defenses represent more favorable matchups for opposing TEs.


1	DET Detroit Lions 5 games	31.90	13.0	10.2	109.0	1.80
2	WAS Washington Commanders 6 games	21.52	8.2	6.2	73.5	1.33
3	KC Kansas City Chiefs 5 games	19.98	11.4	7.8	73.2	0.80
4	MIA Miami Dolphins 5 games	19.82	8.0	7.4	76.2	0.80
5	ARI Arizona Cardinals 6 games	19.45	7.8	6.5	69.3	0.83
6	LV Las Vegas Raiders 6 games	18.05	8.0	6.7	53.8	1.00
7	NO New Orleans Saints 6 games	17.58	9.5	7.0	75.8	0.50
8	CIN Cincinnati Bengals 5 games	16.24	9.4	7.2	90.2	0.00
9	CAR Carolina Panthers 5 games	15.96	9.2	5.6	55.6	0.80
10	ATL Atlanta Falcons 6 games	15.95	8.3	6.3	56.2	0.67
11	TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6 games	15.67	8.5	6.0	56.2	0.67
12	BUF Buffalo Bills 6 games	15.25	9.5	6.5	77.5	0.17
13	CLE Cleveland Browns 6 games	15.12	8.5	5.8	52.8	0.67
14	DEN Denver Broncos 6 games	13.48	7.3	5.0	54.8	0.50
15	IND Indianapolis Colts 6 games	13.27	7.3	4.8	44.2	0.67
16	DAL Dallas Cowboys 6 games	12.80	6.2	5.2	46.3	0.50
17	NYG New York Giants 6 games	12.32	8.3	5.8	44.8	0.33
18	JAX Jacksonville Jaguars 6 games	11.82	6.2	4.2	34.7	0.67
19	PIT Pittsburgh Steelers 6 games	11.73	5.7	4.2	45.5	0.33
20	PHI Philadelphia Eagles 6 games	11.68	6.7	4.8	48.3	0.33
21	LAC Los Angeles Chargers 6 games	11.42	6.3	4.7	57.5	0.17
22	HOU Houston Texans 6 games	10.55	6.5	4.8	46.8	0.17
23	CHI Chicago Bears 6 games	10.52	5.8	4.0	44.8	0.33
24	NE New England Patriots 6 games	10.52	6.8	4.8	46.5	0.17
25	TEN Tennessee Titans 6 games	10.47	6.7	4.5	29.2	0.33
26	BAL Baltimore Ravens 6 games	10.45	5.3	3.8	36.2	0.50
27	GB Green Bay Packers 6 games	9.80	6.5	4.3	34.7	0.33
28	NYJ New York Jets 6 games	9.53	6.5	4.5	40.3	0.17
29	SF San Francisco 49ers 6 games	9.52	7.5	5.3	41.8	0.00
30	SEA Seattle Seahawks 6 games	8.92	5.8	4.3	25.5	0.33
31	LA Los Angeles Rams 6 games	7.98	7.7	4.0	29.8	0.17
32	MIN Minnesota Vikings 5 games	7.62	6.2	3.2	44.2	0.00

Statistics represent per-game production allowed to the selected offensive position during the 2026 NFL regular season. Fantasy points use full-PPR scoring.

NFL Defense Rankings vs Tight Ends

The rankings above compare all 32 NFL defenses by the production they allow to tight ends. Sort the table by fantasy points, targets, receptions, receiving yards, or receiving touchdowns to evaluate different parts of a TE matchup.

A defense that allows significant target and reception volume to tight ends may create a different type of matchup than one that primarily allows touchdowns or explosive receiving production. Looking beyond a single overall ranking provides more context for fantasy football and player prop research.

How to Read NFL Defense vs TE Rankings

A ranking of #1 represents the defense allowing the most full-PPR fantasy production to tight ends, making it the most favorable matchup by this measure. A ranking of #32 represents the defense allowing the least production to the position.

Targets and receptions help measure opportunity allowed, while receiving yards and touchdowns show how much production opposing tight ends have generated from those opportunities. Click any column heading to sort the TE vs defense table by the statistic most relevant to your research.

Using TE vs Defense Stats for NFL Player Props

Defense vs tight end data can provide useful matchup context for receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown props. Start by identifying how much opportunity and production a defense has allowed to the position, then compare that matchup with the individual tight end's recent role.

Defense vs position should not be used by itself. Combine these rankings with snap share, targets, red-zone usage, recent player performance, injuries, game environment, and current sportsbook lines.

NFL Snap Counts NFL Red Zone Targets NFL Player Prop Trends All Defense vs Position Rankings

NFL Defense vs Tight Ends FAQ

Which NFL defenses allow the most production to tight ends?

The table above ranks all 32 defenses using full-PPR fantasy points allowed per game to tight ends. You can also sort by targets, receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns allowed.

What does defense vs TE mean?

Defense vs TE measures how opposing tight ends have performed against a defense. It can include targets, receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns, and fantasy points allowed to the tight end position.

How are the NFL defense vs tight end rankings calculated?

The default ranking orders defenses by full-PPR fantasy points allowed per game to tight ends. The table can also be sorted by the individual receiving statistics shown above.

Are defense vs tight end rankings useful for player props?

They can help provide matchup context for tight end receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown props. They are most useful when combined with player usage, recent performance, injuries, and current betting lines.

Defense vs position data is provided for research and informational purposes. Historical matchup results do not guarantee future player performance or betting outcomes.