You’ve made it. It is Week 16. If you’re reading this, you are likely either in the fantasy semifinals or you’re a total degenerate who just loves watching big men catch three-yard curls on a rainy Sunday. Either way, the tight end landscape right now is, well, it’s a mess. Honestly, it’s always a mess, but this year feels different because the "old guard" like Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews have basically turned into touchdown-dependent streamers while a bunch of kids from the 2024 and 2025 draft classes are suddenly the only reason anyone is scoring points.
If you own Trey McBride, you can stop reading and go enjoy your weekend. For everyone else? It’s time to panic-scroll through the week 16 te rankings to see if there's anyone on the waiver wire who won't give you a zero.
The Elite Tier: The Only Guys You Actually Trust
Look, the days of Travis Kelce being the undisputed TE1 are officially over. He’s still good, don’t get me wrong. But in 2025, the crown belongs to Trey McBride. The guy is essentially a WR1 who happens to line up next to the tackle. Last week he put up 12 catches for 134 yards and two scores against a Texans defense that usually eats tight ends for breakfast. This week against Atlanta? He’s the undisputed king.
Then there’s George Kittle. With the 49ers receiving corps looking like a hospital ward—no Deebo, no Aiyuk—Kittle is basically Brock Purdy’s only friend left on the field. He’s facing Indianapolis on Monday Night Football. If you have him, you’re starting him, and you’re probably winning.
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Week 16 Top 5 (The No-Brainers)
- Trey McBride (ARI) vs. ATL: Just play him. Don’t overthink it.
- George Kittle (SF) at IND: The volume is going to be disgusting.
- Kyle Pitts (ATL) at ARI: I know, I know. We’ve been hurt before. But with Drake London banged up, Pitts has been a monster lately. He just had the highest-scoring TE game of the season last week with over 45 points.
- Brock Bowers (LV) at HOU: Geno Smith loves him. He’s the Raiders' entire offense at this point.
- Dallas Goedert (PHI) at WAS: Washington’s defense is historically bad against the pass this year. Goedert has 17 targets in the last two weeks.
The "Kyle Pitts Redemption Arc" is Actually Real
I can hear the collective groans from here. We’ve spent years—decades, it feels like—waiting for Kyle Pitts to be "The Guy." And somehow, in the year 2025, it’s finally happening. Kirk Cousins has basically decided that Pitts is his new Justin Jefferson.
Last week was a revelation. 45.6 fantasy points. That isn't a typo. He's been the top target for the Falcons in four straight starts. Facing Arizona this week is a dream matchup. The Cardinals have given up the fifth-most yards to the position since Week 11. If you benched him earlier in the year and he’s still on your roster, for the love of everything holy, put him back in.
The Rookie Fever and Waiver Wire Saviors
If you don't have one of those top five guys, you’re likely looking at the middle of the week 16 te rankings wondering if Harold Fannin Jr. or Colston Loveland is a trap.
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Harold Fannin Jr. has been a godsend for Cleveland with David Njoku sidelined by a knee injury. He's basically been the Browns' WR2 over the last two weeks, hauling in 15 catches. If Njoku is out again (which looks likely), Fannin is a top-10 play, even against a tough Bills defense.
Then you have the Chicago situation. The Bears are decimated at wide receiver. Rome Odunze and Luther Burden are both dealing with leg injuries. That leaves Colston Loveland. The rookie has a "high aDot" (average depth of target) which is nerd-speak for "he actually runs deep routes instead of just falling down after three yards." Against Green Bay, a team he already scored on two weeks ago, Loveland is the ultimate ceiling play.
Quick Hits on the Rest of the Pack
- Darren Waller (MIA): Quinn Ewers is starting for Miami. Rookies love tight ends. Plus, they’re playing Cincinnati, who has allowed more yards to TEs than any other team in the league. It’s the "flow chart" start of the week.
- Travis Kelce (KC): He’s ranked lower than usual, around TE9 or TE10. The Titans' safeties are all on IR, which is great, but the Chiefs' offense just doesn't look the same with Gardner Minshew potentially out and the team leaning so hard on the run.
- Colby Parkinson (LAR): If Davante Adams misses the Thursday night game with that hamstring issue, Parkinson is a must-start. He’s tied for the league lead in TE touchdowns since Week 10.
What Most People Get Wrong About Matchups
Everyone looks at "Points Against" and thinks they've cracked the code. "Oh, the Broncos are good against receivers, I'll start my tight end!" Stop. That's how you lose.
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Take Dalton Kincaid, for example. People see "Cleveland" and think it's a grind-it-out game. But Kincaid has been struggling with snap counts and a nagging injury. He didn't even practice Thursday. If you're starting him over someone like Juwan Johnson (who has been a target monster since the Saints traded Rashid Shaheed), you're chasing a name, not production.
Final Strategic Moves for Week 16
Tight end is a position of volatility. You aren't looking for a "safe" 8 points; you're looking for the guy who can catch a touchdown in the red zone.
- Check the London Status: If Drake London plays, Pitts is still a TE1, but his ceiling drops slightly. If London is out, Pitts is the overall TE1 this week.
- The "Bengals Rule": Always start your TE against Cincinnati in 2025. They are historically bad at covering the seam. This makes Darren Waller a top-tier streaming option.
- Monitor the Bears WRs: If both Odunze and Burden are out, Colston Loveland becomes a top-8 play because Caleb Williams literally won't have anyone else to throw to.
- Don't Chase Parkinson if Adams Plays: If Davante Adams is active for the Rams, Parkinson becomes just another guy. Only start him if the Rams' WR room is thin.
Go check your waiver wire for Harold Fannin Jr. or Juwan Johnson if you're stuck with a "big name" who isn't producing. Survival is the name of the game this week. Win this, and you're in the championship.