Some tight ends these days are just over sized wide receivers. When it comes to drafting a tight end on your fantasy team, these are the guys you’re looking for. You want a guy who gets enough targets to make an impact, and is a definite target in the red zone. Here are my predictions for top fantasy tight ends in 2025, the guys I believe will meet those standards.
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1. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders – Bowers broke all-time rookie season records in both receptions (112) and receiving yards (1,194) with back up quality quarterbacks throwing him the ball all season. Now the Raiders have acquired QB Geno Smith, who has been a top 5 quarterback statistically over the past few years, finishing 4th last season in passing yards. I’m sure defenses will be game planning around Bowers next season, so he may not eclipse 112 receptions, but he may pick up some extra TDs, which is what Bowers fantasy owners will be hoping for.
2. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals – McBride finished the 2024 season with only 1 less reception than Bowers, with 1,146 receiving yards. So he’s clearly a big part of the Cardinal’s offense. Unfortunately for McBride fantasy owners, he didn’t score a TD until week 17. Had he been more of a target in the red zone, he may have finished the 2024 season as fantasy’s TE1. I do believe McBride will find the end zone more often in 2025, and have another big season eclipsing 100 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards.
3. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers – Kittle actually did finish the 2024 season as fantasy’s TE1. He averaged almost 4 yards more per reception than both Bowers and McBride, so he only needed 78 receptions to eclipse 1,100 receiving yards. Kittle has been very consistent his entire career. Other than missing half the season in 2020, Kittle has been available and productive week in and week out since 2018 and may be the safest pick among TEs in 2025.
4. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions – La Porta is only one season removed from his fantasy’s TE1 finish, mainly due to finding the end zone 10 times in 2023. Statistically, LaPorta took a step back in 2024 with 26 less receptions (60), 163 less receiving yards (726) and 3 less TDs (7) than his 2023 rookie campaign. I don’t think that reflects LaPorta as a tight end. He’s very capable of a TE1 finish again in 2025. Detroit is a weapons loaded, high octane offense, that puts up big numbers and scores a bunch, and I’m expecting LaPorta to have a huge bounce back fantasy season.
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5. (R) Tyler Warren, Penn State – Warren is projected to be the first TE off the board in the 2025 NFL draft. He should be a game 1 starter to which ever team drafts him, and with his versatility, should make an immediate impact. We saw LaPorta be a fantasy TE1 as a rookie in 2023, and Warren is capable of accomplishing similar feats.
6. Tucker Craft, Green Bay Packers – Kraft is a guy who is figuring out how to play in the NFL. He made a significant leap statistically from his rookie campaign in 2023 of 31 receptions for 355 yards and 2 TDs to 50 receptions for 707 yards and 7 TDs in 2024. The Packers are obviously looking to use him more in their offense and he’s got a quarterback in Jordan Love who can get him the ball. He has become a red zone target for Love, which is great for fantasy owners.
7. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns – We’re not sure yet who will be under center for the Browns come the start of the 2025 season, but Njoku is a top 10 TE regardless. In 2023, he finished 5th among TEs in total fantasy points scored. In 2024 he missed some time due to injury, but both years he finished 6th in fantasy points per game.
8. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings – Hock missed 7 games dealing with injury in 2024. Some fantasy owners may have forgotten how talented he still is. Just one season prior, Hock finished the season ranked 4th among TEs in total fantasy points with 95 receptions for 960 yards and 5 TDs, very respectable numbers for a tight end. Hock should be healthy to start the 2025 season, and is very capable of eclipsing his 2023 numbers.
9. Evan Engram, Denver Broncos – Engram is just 1 year removed from a 114 receptions for 963 yards and 4 TDs season. He missed a good amount of the 1st half of the season to injury, and never really got it going in 2024. He has now found a new home in Denver, where 2024 rookie sensation Bo Nix will be under center, and will certainly be anxious to get the ball to his new tight end. I foresee a strong fantasy season from Engram in 2025.
10. Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins – Smith had a fantasy career year in 2024 finishing with 88 receptions for 884 yards and 8 TDs, which ranked him 4th among TEs in total fantasy points. Smith had not yet eclipsed 50 receptions in his previous 7 seasons. Miami likes to play fast, spreading the ball around and scoring often. Smith has a chance of doing much better than 10th, but I want to see more than 1 solid year before I go all in on him.
Thanks for checking out my predicted top 10 TEs list for 2025. I’d love to hear your thoughts! Did I leave someone off the list? Let me know what you think. I will be periodically updating this list as things change in the off season, especially after draft. So until next time….peace.
Great breakdown! I think you nailed the top picks, especially with Bowers and McBride. Bowers looks like a monster already, and with Geno at QB, the upside is real. I’m curious to see how Hockenson bounces back , if he’s fully healthy, he could definitely crack the top 5 again. One name I might have added is Dalton Kincaid , depending on the Bills’ offensive direction this year, he might surprise a lot of people. Looking forward to your updated list after the draft.
Hey Tony!
Thanks for your thoughts! I appreciate it!
I’m right there with you. Bill’s TE Dalton Kincaid is certainly talented enough to get on this list. Let’s see if he can stay healthy all season.
Other TE’s that might even make my list before the season starts are Raven’s TE Mark Andrews, Chief’s TE Travis Kelce, Eagle’s TE Dallas Goedert, and Commander’s TE Zach Ertz.
Loved the detailed breakdown of each TE. It’s clear a lot of thought and fantasy insight went into this list. Bowers and McBride seem like no-brainers, but I really liked that you included Jonnu Smith; he’s such an underrated pick with breakout potential. The context around each player’s QB situation adds so much value. Curious to know if Hockenson isn’t 100% by Week 1, who would be your next-best sleeper pick?
Hey Kavitha!
Thank you for leaving your thoughts! I appreciate it!
In a previous response I stated that Raven’s TE Mark Andrews could very easily, and maybe needs to be in my top 10. Other tight ends that also very well may have great production in 2025 are Chief’s TE Travis Kelce, Eagle’s TE Dallas Goedert, Bill’s TE Dalton Kincaid and Commander’s TE Zach Ertz.
There are actually a plethora of TE’s in the NFL these days that can get fantasy owners good production, so don’t get stuck on one guy.
This is a solid early look at the potential top fantasy tight ends for the 2025 season. I appreciate the reasoning behind each ranking, especially considering factors like quarterback changes (Bowers), potential for increased red-zone targets (McBride), and bounce-back potential (LaPorta, Engram).
It’s smart to highlight Brock Bowers at the top. His rookie season was undeniably impressive, and the acquisition of a more established quarterback like Geno Smith could certainly elevate his touchdown potential, even if his reception numbers slightly decrease due to defensive attention.
Trey McBride’s high reception and yardage totals in 2024 definitely warrant his high ranking. The analysis of his lack of touchdowns being a potential area for growth in 2025 seems accurate. If he becomes a more consistent red-zone threat, he could easily challenge for the TE1 spot.
George Kittle’s consistency is a major plus in fantasy football, and acknowledging his reliability makes him a safe pick. While his yardage per reception is excellent, fantasy owners will always hope for a few more touchdowns to solidify his top-tier status.
The optimism surrounding Sam LaPorta’s potential bounce-back is understandable. The Lions’ offense is potent, and a tight end with his talent should be a significant contributor. His rookie year touchdown numbers show his upside.
Including a rookie like Tyler Warren in the top 10 is a bold but potentially rewarding prediction. Rookie tight ends often take time to develop in the NFL, but the comparison to LaPorta’s rookie success suggests a belief in Warren’s immediate impact and receiving ability.
Tucker Kraft’s progression in his second year is encouraging, and the connection with Jordan Love makes him an intriguing option. His increased red-zone usage is a key factor for fantasy value.
David Njoku’s consistent performance despite quarterback uncertainty and injury makes him a reliable choice in the top 10. His efficiency on a per-game basis is a strong indicator of his talent.
T.J. Hockenson’s potential return to full health could make him a steal at his current ranking. His 2023 numbers demonstrate his high ceiling when healthy.
Evan Engram’s move to Denver and pairing with Bo Nix offers a fresh start and the potential for a significant target share. The comparison to his previous high-reception season provides a clear picture of his upside.
Jonnu Smith’s career year in 2024 makes him a justifiable top-10 pick, but the slight hesitation due to his prior inconsistency is a reasonable approach. Another strong season would solidify his status.
Overall, this list provides a well-reasoned starting point for fantasy tight end rankings in 2025. As the offseason progresses and the draft occurs, these predictions will undoubtedly evolve, but the initial analysis is insightful.
Are there any sleepers or late-round tight end targets you think could emerge as valuable fantasy options in 2025? Also, how much does the offensive scheme and quarterback play of a player’s team influence your tight end rankings?
-Phil
Hey Phil!
Thanks for the great feed back on my predictions! I think you talked me into feeling more confident about my rankings. Ha Ha!
The first name that jumps out at me not on the list is Raven’s TE Mark Andrews. I might need to plug him in somewhere in my next revised edition. The next names off the list that are possible to finish in the top 10 in 2025 are Chief’s TE Travis Kelce, Eagle’s TE Dallas Goedert, Bill’s TE Dalton Kincaid and Commander’s TE Zach Ertz. I don’t know about calling any of these guys “sleepers”, but definitely worth keeping an eye on.
There was a time when fantasy owners felt like they needed to draft a tight end early because there were only 2-3 guys who got much production. That’s not the case anymore. There are a number of tight ends racking up receiving yardage and TDs now, so wait on drafting your TE a little later in the draft. There are plenty to choose from.