If you’re still drafting Travis Kelce in the first two rounds, I’ve got some bad news. You’re living in 2022. The 2025 fantasy football tight end rankings look like a totally different sport than they did even two years ago. We used to beg for one guy who could catch more than four passes a game. Now? We have a literal logjam of elite, young talent that makes the "wait at tight end" strategy actually viable for the first time in a decade.
Brock Bowers happened. Trey McBride happened. The position isn't a wasteland anymore. It's a gold mine if you know where to dig.
The New Big Three: Bowers, McBride, and Kittle
Honestly, the top of the board is a coin flip. Brock Bowers proved in 2024 that the "rookie tight ends don't produce" rule is officially in the trash can. He hauled in 111 catches. That's not just good for a tight end; that’s elite wide receiver volume. With Geno Smith now under center for the Raiders in 2025, Bowers is the undisputed alpha in that passing game. He's my TE1 because his floor is essentially a padded room.
Then you have Trey McBride. He’s a target monster. Kyler Murray clearly views him as his safety blanket, and after a 2024 season where he led all tight ends in targets, he’s essentially locked into that top-tier production. He had a weirdly low touchdown total for a while, but that regressed to the mean in a big way. Expect double-digit scores in 2025.
- Brock Bowers (LV) - High-volume alpha.
- Trey McBride (ARI) - The target king.
- George Kittle (SF) - The efficiency god.
Kittle is the wild card here. He's 31 now, but with Deebo Samuel gone to Washington and the 49ers' receiving corps dealing with a rotating door of injuries, Brock Purdy has leaned on Kittle more than ever. He’s the highest-paid tight end for a reason. He’s the most complete player at the position.
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The Sam LaPorta and T.J. Hockenson Dilemma
What do we do with the guys coming off injuries? Sam LaPorta was the TE1 in 2023, but 2024 was a nightmare. A herniated disc in November ended his season early. He’s only 24, so the "bounce back" narrative is strong, but back injuries are tricky for guys who have to block 270-pound defensive ends.
T.J. Hockenson is finally fully healthy after that 2023 ACL tear. People forgot how good he was because he was stashed on IR for half of last year. Now he’s catching passes from J.J. McCarthy. If McCarthy is even league-average, Hockenson could easily finish as the TE1 overall. He’s the best "value" in the top five right now.
2025 Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings: The Middle Tier Chaos
This is where your draft is won or lost. The "Dead Zone" used to be rounds 5 through 8, but that's where the 2025 fantasy football tight end rankings get interesting.
Tyler Warren is the name everyone is circling. The Colts took him 14th overall, and Shane Steichen is already using him like a chess piece. He’s a yards-after-catch machine. Think of him as a slightly more athletic version of Dallas Goedert. He’s going to be a PPR darling.
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- Dalton Kincaid (BUF): He’s a post-hype sleeper. Everyone loved him last year; he disappointed. Now, his ADP has dropped, and Josh Allen still needs someone to catch the ball.
- Mark Andrews (BAL): The cliff is approaching. Isaiah Likely is too good to stay off the field, and Andrews is starting to look like he’s playing on two flat tires. He’s still a red-zone threat, but the 100-yard games are likely over.
- Travis Kelce (KC): It’s over, man. He’s 36. The Chiefs are managing his reps for the real playoffs, not your fantasy playoffs. He’s a top-10 TE, but he’s no longer a "difference maker."
Why You Should Gamble on the Sophomores
Tucker Kraft outplayed Luke Musgrave in Green Bay, and it wasn't particularly close. Kraft is a "YAC" monster who fits Jordan Love’s playstyle perfectly. If you miss out on the big names, Kraft is the guy you want in the 10th round.
Then there's Colston Loveland in Chicago. Rookie tight ends are risky, but Caleb Williams needs a middle-of-the-field target. Loveland has the "it" factor. He’s basically a jumbo wide receiver.
The Sleepers Nobody is Talking About
Let's get weird. If you're in a deep league, you need to look at Brenton Strange in Jacksonville. With Evan Engram getting older and the Jags cutting Gabe Davis, Trevor Lawrence needs a big body in the red zone. Strange has the draft capital and the opportunity.
Also, keep an eye on Theo Johnson with the Giants. He showed flashes at the end of 2024. He’s a freak athlete—9.99 Relative Athletic Score—and the Giants' passing game is desperate for anyone who can create separation.
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- Wait on the position if you can't get Bowers or McBride in the 3rd.
- Target T.J. Hockenson if he slips past Round 6.
- Draft Tyler Warren as your breakout candidate.
- Avoid the "Name Value" trap with Kelce and Andrews.
Fantasy football is about looking forward, not backward. The 2025 landscape is dominated by 23 and 24-year-olds who run like deer. Don't be the person in your league holding the bag on a 36-year-old veteran just because you recognize his name from a State Farm commercial.
Draft for the ceiling. The floor at tight end is higher than it's ever been, so take the shot on the high-upside youngsters.
Your Next Steps: Check the latest injury reports on Sam LaPorta’s back rehab before your draft. If his recovery hits a snag, immediately bump Tyler Warren and Tucker Kraft up your personal board by at least one full tier to account for the shrinking pool of reliable starters.