Look, if you’re reading this, you probably survived the first round of the playoffs, or maybe you had a bye and you’ve spent the last six days staring at your lineup until your eyes bled. Either way, welcome to the meat of the fantasy postseason. Honestly, the tight end position this year has been a total fever dream. One week you’re getting zeroed out by a "safety valve," and the next, some guy named Harold Fannin Jr. is putting up wide receiver numbers while David Njoku watches from the sidelines with a bum knee.
Fantasy football week 15 tight ends are historically where seasons go to die. Why? Because the weather gets weird, the matchups get "sticky," and coaches start doing weird things with their red-zone packages to save their jobs. This isn't Week 4 where you can just shrug off a 2-point performance from your TE. You lose now, you're done.
The Elite Tier: It's Not as Safe as You Think
Let’s talk about the big names. Trey McBride is basically the only person we can trust unconditionally right now. Heading into Houston, he’s basically the Cardinals' WR1 with Marvin Harrison Jr. dealing with that heel injury. He's seeing a target share that would make most receivers jealous. If you have him, you’re starting him. Don't overthink it.
Then there’s George Kittle. He’s facing Tennessee at home. On paper, it’s a smash. But we’ve seen Kittle go through these stretches where he’s basically a glorious, high-paid offensive tackle for three quarters because the Niners are just run-heavy. Still, with the way Brock Purdy is leaning on him in the red zone, you aren't benching him. You just sorta pray for the touchdown.
The Ravens Double-Dip Nightmare
The Baltimore situation is fascinating. And by fascinating, I mean it's a total headache for fantasy managers. They’re playing the Bengals. Usually, that’s the "start everyone" signal. Cincinnati has been a sieve against tight ends all season. But now you have Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely essentially cannibalizing each other.
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In Week 14, Likely actually out-targeted Andrews. He looks more explosive. He’s the one winning the "unlucky" awards—losing scores to fumbles or controversial calls. If I’m picking one for a ceiling play, it’s Likely. If you just need a floor so you don't get a zero, Andrews is the guy. But starting both? That's a bold move that usually ends in a very loud Sunday afternoon of yelling at your TV.
Streaming the Chaos: Who to Actually Grab
If you aren't lucky enough to have McBride or Kittle, you’re likely scouring the waiver wire for fantasy football week 15 tight ends. It’s a dark place.
Harold Fannin Jr. is the name everyone is chasing. He’s been a revelation in Cleveland since Shedeur Sanders took over at QB. Sanders loves the middle of the field. Fannin isn't just a "safety valve"—he’s a primary read. He’s facing Chicago, which isn't a "cake" matchup, but his volume is so insulated right now that he’s basically a top-5 play by default.
- Brenton Strange (Jaguars vs. Jets): The Jets' defense is a shell of its former self, and with Trevor Lawrence looking for quick outlets, Strange has been surprisingly consistent. He’s not going to win you the week with 100 yards, but a 5-catch, 50-yard day with a TD upside is very realistic.
- Hunter Henry (Patriots vs. Bills): This feels like a trap, doesn't it? The Bills are elite against TEs. But the game environment suggests Drake Maye will be throwing 40+ times. Henry is the red-zone favorite. If you're desperate, you bet on the volume and the fact that Maye seems to trust him more than any of the rookie wideouts.
- Colby Parkinson (Rams vs. Lions): It’s going to be a shootout in LA. Parkinson has been a touchdown machine lately. With the Lions focused on stopping Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, the "big man" usually finds some grass in the end zone.
The Landmines: Players Who Will Break Your Heart
Don't do it. Just don't.
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I know Dallas Goedert had a decent Week 14. I know he’s a big name. But the Eagles are playing the Raiders in Week 15. This has "Saquon Barkley runs for 150 yards and 3 TDs" written all over it. Philly won't need to pass. When they do, AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith are the priority. Goedert's floor in a run-heavy script is terrifyingly low.
T.J. Hockenson is another one. The name value is 10/10, but the production since J.J. McCarthy took over has been... let's say "muted." He’s averaging fewer than 20 yards a game over the last month. Unless he catches two touchdowns (which Josh Oliver did recently, just to spite Hockenson owners), he's going to sink your lineup.
Why Matchup Stats Lie
We often look at "Points Allowed to TE" and think it's the Holy Grail. It’s not. Look at the Seahawks. They've allowed a lot of yards to tight ends, but they’ve also played a gauntlet of elite TEs. Tyler Warren is a great player for the Colts, but with their QB situation being a total mess (we're talking Philip Rivers rumors and Daniel Jones out for the year), Warren might be asked to block more than run routes.
Final Strategic Reality Check
The tight end position in 2025 has become about one thing: Target Earned Rate.
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If your guy isn't a top-two read on his team, you're just playing the lottery. Guys like Brock Bowers (even against a tough Eagles defense) are worth the risk because the Raiders literally have no one else to throw to. Someone like Dalton Kincaid? That's a harder pill to swallow. He’s been splitting time with Dawson Knox, and while he’s talented, the "mouths to feed" in Buffalo make his weekly floor a basement.
Honestly, if you're in the semifinals, you shouldn't be looking for "safe." Safe gets you 6 points. You need a path to 15. That means looking for the guys in high-total games like Lions-Rams or Ravens-Bengals.
Identify the TEs on your roster who are currently third or fourth in the target hierarchy and move them to the bench. Prioritize volume and red-zone participation over "projected points" from an app that doesn't know the weather forecast. Check the final injury reports for guys like Jake Ferguson (calf) and Kyle Pitts (knee) before kickoff; a "limited" tag in December often leads to a "decoy" role that will ruin your weekend.