#92 overall · LAC · 112.6 projected half-PPR pts · -7.3 Draft Value
Oronde Gadsden — 2026 Fantasy Outlook
The case for drafting him
Oronde Gadsden put up every receiving yard, reception, and touchdown in his three-year aggregate in a single 2025 season: 664 yards, 49 catches on 69 targets, and 3 receiving touchdowns. That is a clean, concentrated body of work at tight end for the Chargers. He handled a real target share, converted at a solid rate, and kept the ball secure, losing just one fumble across the year. For a position where reliable volume is hard to find, that 2025 season is a legitimate foundation.
What the model projects
The projection is 112.6 half-PPR fantasy points. His draft value sits at -7.3, placing him #92 overall and TE8 in Tier 9. A negative draft value means the projection lands below replacement level at the position in a 12-team half-PPR format, so the model is not treating him as a plug-and-play starter. He is a depth option at the position, not a foundational piece.
| Tgt | Rec | Rec yds | Rec TD | Fum | Half-PPR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 69 | 49 | 664 | 3 | 1 | 106.9 |
| 3-yr avg | 69 | 49 | 664 | 3 | 1 | 108.9 |
The range of outcomes
The simulated season band is wide. The bottom 10% of outcomes lands at 57.5 points, a figure that would make him a roster liability. The 25th percentile is 87.8 points, still below the projection. The median simulated season comes in at 123.1 points, slightly above the 112.6 point estimate. A strong season, the 75th percentile, reaches 145.5 points, and the top 10% of outcomes climbs to 173.0 points. That upper end is genuinely useful fantasy production. The gap between the floor and ceiling here is substantial, which means the outcome depends heavily on which version of the season materializes. His bye falls in Week 7.
(bottom 10%)
(median)
(top 10%)
our projection
How to draft him
Gadsden is not being drafted consistently enough across platforms to carry a market ADP, so there is no draft-slot anchor to work from. Treat him as a late-round or waiver-wire target depending on how your draft unfolds. At TE8 with a negative draft value, he is best framed as a handcuff or streaming option rather than a starter you build around. If you land a higher-tier tight end early, Gadsden is a reasonable depth add. If you are forced to start him, the 173.0-point ceiling shows the upside is real, but the 57.5-point floor is a genuine risk to carry into your lineup.
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Questions drafters ask
The model projects him at 112.6 points with a draft value of -7.3, which is below replacement level at the position. He ranks TE8 and #92 overall in Tier 9. That profile makes him a depth or streaming option rather than a reliable weekly starter.
He caught 49 of 69 targets for 664 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns in 2025, with 1 fumble lost. Notably, his three-year aggregate numbers are identical to his 2025 season alone, meaning 2025 was his only year of recorded production in this dataset.
The 90th-percentile simulated season lands at 173.0 half-PPR points. The 75th percentile is 145.5 points. Those figures represent genuine fantasy utility, but the 10th-percentile floor of 57.5 points shows the downside is equally real.
He does not have a market ADP, meaning he is not being drafted consistently enough across platforms to establish one. He is best targeted as a late-round depth add or a waiver-wire pickup rather than a planned draft investment.
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Beyond the numbers
The same names cash in your league every year
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