Eli Stowers — 2026 Fantasy Outlook

Stowers lined up under center at New Mexico State in 2023, but his passing statistics were modest. He finished third on the team in catches (35) and receiving yards (366) with two touchdowns, while adding 28 carries for 108 yards and two rushing scores. The move to Vanderbilt unlocked his potential as a tight end, where Stowers posted back-to-back breakout seasons of 49 catches for 638 yards and five touchdowns, followed by 62 receptions for 769 yards and four scores. He saved two of his finest moments for late in 2025, going 7/146/2 against Texas and 12/122 against Auburn.

At 6'4" and 240 pounds with a 4.51 40-yard time, Stowers offers a rare athletic profile for the position. His limitations are real, but his receiving experience is still relatively thin, and the gaps in his game reflect that. Route running needs refinement, and he'll need to develop more physicality to hold his own against press coverage and win jump-ball situations against NFL-caliber defenders.

The most intriguing part of his projection is what his quarterback background unlocks after the catch. His instincts as a ball-carrier give him a natural feel for finding space and making defenders miss in the open field. Blocking remains a significant work in progress and will likely define how quickly he can earn every-down trust at the next level.