Fantasy football is basically a game of managing headaches. If you’ve spent any time looking at rest of season tight end rankings lately, you know the position has turned into a total minefield. One week you’re riding high on a 20-point breakout, and the next, your starter gives you a literal zero. It’s frustrating.
But as we hit the home stretch of the 2025-2026 cycle, the hierarchy has finally crystallized. We aren't guessing anymore. We have the data from the 2025 season, and honestly, it’s a tale of two very different worlds. On one side, you have Trey McBride, who is currently operating on a different planet. On the other, you have a rotating cast of veterans like Travis Kelce and high-upside rookies like Tyler Warren trying to find some sort of weekly floor.
The Unquestioned King of the Hill
Let’s talk about Trey McBride. He didn't just lead the position this year; he destroyed it. He put up 315.9 total fantasy points in 2025. To put that in perspective, the TE2—a resurgent Kyle Pitts—finished with 210.8. That is a 100-point gap. You don't see that kind of "lapping the field" very often in modern fantasy. McBride averaged 18.6 points per game, making him a legitimate WR1 in your tight end slot.
If you own him, you aren't even looking at rest of season tight end rankings. You’re just clicking "start" and worrying about your Flex. The Cardinals have leaned on him as the primary engine of their passing game. Even with Kyler Murray's future in Arizona being a topic of debate for 2026, McBride proved he is QB-proof by breaking the single-season record for tight end receptions in Week 17.
Sorting Through the Rest of Season Tight End Rankings
Behind McBride, things get a bit messy. The middle class of tight ends has been decimated by injuries this year.
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Sam LaPorta was lookin' great early on, but that back injury before Thanksgiving changed everything. He ended up on IR, and while he’s still a top-tier talent for next year, he’s a massive "what if" for the final weeks of 2025. Then you have the Green Bay situation. Tucker Kraft was absolutely balling—averaging 14.7 points per game—before he tore his ACL in November. It's a shame because he was showing legitimate YAC (yards after catch) ability that rivaled George Kittle.
The New Guard: Tyler Warren and Harold Fannin Jr.
If you're scouring the waiver wire or looking for a trade target, these are the two names that actually matter.
- Tyler Warren (Colts): He’s been a revelation. Even when the Colts' quarterback play dipped after Daniel Jones went down, Warren stayed involved. He finished the year as the TE4 overall. He’s essentially the focal point of that offense now.
- Harold Fannin Jr. (Browns): This was the sleeper hit of the year. He started behind David Njoku but basically forced the coaching staff to play him. He ended the fantasy season with 72 catches on 107 targets. That’s elite volume for a rookie.
The Veterans and the "Wait, He's Still Good?" Tier
George Kittle is still doing Kittle things. Despite the 49ers dealing with a revolving door of injuries to guys like Brandon Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey, Kittle remained a steadying force. He’s still a Tier 1 play because his ceiling is higher than almost anyone else's.
Then there’s Kyle Pitts. Yeah, I know. We’ve all been burned before. But he actually finished as the PPR TE2 this year. He led the Falcons in targets and yards. While some of that was because Drake London missed five games, Pitts finally looked like the generational prospect we were promised back in 2021. Just be careful—he’s heading into free agency, so his 2026 value is a complete wild card.
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Why Rankings Are Kinda Liars Right Now
Most rest of season tight end rankings you see on the big sites don't account for the sheer volatility of the "streaming" tier. If you don't have one of the top six guys, you're basically playing a lottery.
Look at someone like Juwan Johnson. He ended up as the TE8 this year. Did anyone draft him? No. He was a waiver add who stepped up because the Saints had no reliable WR2. He’s the "Zach Ertz" of 2025—not flashy, but he gets 6-8 targets a game because there’s nobody else to throw to.
Injury Impacts to Watch
- Brock Bowers: It was a rough Year 2 for the Raiders' star. A nagging knee injury limited him to 12 games. He finished as the TE11, which feels like a disappointment given his rookie hype, but the talent is still there.
- T.J. Hockenson: He struggled. Coming off that late 2024 ACL surgery, he never really found his rhythm. His yards per route run (1.05) was a career low. He’s a "sit" until he shows he can separate from defenders again.
- David Njoku: He's still a physical beast, but the Browns' QB carousel made him impossible to trust weekly. He’s a touchdown-or-bust play at this point.
Making the Right Call for Your Playoffs
When you’re looking at your roster, don't just chase last week's points. Tight end production is usually tied to two things: vacancy and volume.
If a team’s WR1 is out, the tight end usually sees a 15% bump in target share. That’s what happened with Colston Loveland in Chicago. Once Rome Odunze was sidelined, Loveland became a target monster, recording three straight games with 90+ yards. He’s a guy you should be aggressively starting if you need a miracle.
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On the flip side, avoid "point chasing" with guys like Jonnu Smith. He had some big weeks with the Steelers and Aaron Rodgers, but it's inconsistent. One week he's a focal point, the next he's blocking for 50 snaps.
Next Steps for Your Roster:
- Check the Injury Report: See if your opponent is starting someone like Elijah Arroyo or Lucas Krull, who are both battling foot and knee issues.
- Identify Volume: Prioritize TEs who are top-two in their team's target progression (McBride, Warren, Pitts, Fannin Jr.).
- Pivot if Necessary: If you’re stuck with a fading veteran like Travis Kelce, look for high-upside rookies like Tyler Warren who have a clearer path to 8+ targets.
The tight end landscape is shifting toward younger, more athletic "big receivers." If your rest of season tight end rankings still have the 2022 stars at the top, it's time to find a new source. Focus on the guys who are actually on the field and earning targets today.