Recently, we have ranked many of the top players in the highest-value position groups in fantasy football, including our top 30 quarterbacks and running backs and, most recently, the top 30 wide receivers heading into the 2025 season. The difference between making the playoffs of a fantasy league and winning a league championship lies in the smaller details. With those details in mind, we are taking a deeper look into the Top 20 Tight Ends in the NFL for the 2025 season. When analyzing tight ends, it is essential to note that the primary statistics used to evaluate their fantasy value are receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. We have based our rankings on projections for each of these statistics for 2025.
TE 20: Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys have a tradition of having high-quality tight ends. For this reason, Jake Ferguson needs to play his best football to carry on that tradition in 2025. With Brian Schottenheimer taking over the Cowboy’s offense as their new head coach, Ferguson should remain a consistent threat due to Dak Prescott’s need to check down against defenses with two-high safeties. Projections are for Ferguson to accumulate approximately 80 total fantasy points while producing 630 receiving yards along with scoring four receiving touchdowns. The Dallas Cowboys will face a challenging schedule, and Dallas has their bye week during Week 10 of the 2025 NFL season.
TE 19: Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a favorite to have one of the top offensive attacks in the NFL during the 2025 season. Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton should benefit from having Baker Mayfield return as Tampa Bay’s quarterback for another season. As a result, Otton will be a popular target for Mayfield, who commonly looks to throw to his check-down targets when he scrambles. Projections are for Otton to score approximately 81 total fantasy points with 580 receiving yards, along with scoring four receiving touchdowns. Tampa Bay will have a moderate schedule, and the Buccaneers have an early bye week during Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season.
TE 18: Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts has established himself as a consistent receiving threat in the NFL despite not living up to the high expectations that surrounded Pitts when the Falcons drafted him in 2021. Our projection for Pitts’s performance in 2025 is based on him playing for the Falcons; however, there is a slight chance that he could become involved in a trade with the Miami Dolphins, which could boost his production. Despite the potential trade, current projections are for Pitts to produce 82 total fantasy points with 590 receiving yards, along with four receiving touchdowns. The Falcons will compete against a moderate schedule, and their bye week falls in Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season.
TE 17: Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid is one of the few Bills players who benefits from Buffalo not having a bonafide top receiving threat. Kincaid does an excellent job of getting open on short and intermediate routes, and therefore, he is a superb check-down option for Josh Allen when Allen scrambles. Our projection for Kincaid’s production in 2025 is 83 total fantasy points with 610 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns. Buffalo faces a moderate schedule, and they have an early bye week during Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season.
TE 16: Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry will be part of an offense with a more talented group of wide receivers, but like most tight ends, Henry will still get his touches as a check-down option for Drake Maye. Maye should be more consistent in his read progressions during his second season. Consequently, Henry will be a valuable asset for Maye, especially in countering teams that employ a heavy blitz scheme against the Patriots. Our projections are for Henry to produce 83 total fantasy points with 620 receiving yards for four receiving touchdowns. New England will face a moderate schedule, and the Patriots bye week falls on Week 14 of the 2025 NFL season.
TE 15: Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts have high expectations for their first-round draft pick in 2025, which is former Penn State tight end Tyler Warren. Warren’s performance could be negatively affected by the instability at the Colts’ quarterback position. However, on the other hand, Warren should still receive his share of touches in the Colts’ offense. Our projections are for Warren to produce 84 total fantasy points with 610 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. The Colts will face a moderate schedule, and Indianapolis has their bye week during Week 11 of the 2025 NFL season.
TE 14: Evan Engram, Denver Broncos
Broncos head coach Sean Payton is known for his emphasis on using his tight ends in a variety of ways and situations. In 2025, Denver Broncos tight end Evan Engram should have a big season with second-year quarterback Bo Nix and Sean Payton returning to lead the Broncos offense. Our projection for Engram is for him to produce 84 total fantasy points with 630 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns. The Broncos will face a moderate schedule, and Denver’s bye week is Week 12 of the 2025 NFL season.
TE 13: Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders
During the 2024 NFL season, Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz emerged as an essential target for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. The Commanders offense, including Ertz, will benefit from continuity with their offensive personnel. Although the Commanders added wide receiver Deebo Samuel, Ertz should not experience a significant dip in his production as Daniels’s primary check-down target. Our projections are for Ertz to produce 87 total fantasy points with 550 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns. The Commanders will face a moderate schedule in 2025, and Washington’s bye week is during Week 12 of the 2025 NFL season.
TE 12: Pat Friermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers
Over the last several seasons, Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Friermuth has become a consistent target for a Steelers team that has been unstable at the quarterback position. The addition of an older Aaron Rodgers at quarterback means the Steelers will be relying on short and intermediate passes. That plays into the hands of Friermuth, but on the other hand, the recent addition of Jonnu Smith to the Steeler’s offense in a trade with the Dolphins could reduce Friermuth’s total targets in 2025. Our current projections for Friermuth are for him to produce 630 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. The Steelers will face a moderate schedule 2025 in 2025, and Pittsburgh has an early bye week during Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season.
TE 11: Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers have established themselves as a force on the offensive side of the ball every season. As a result, Packers tight end Tucker Kraft is in a great position to be a consistent producer for fantasy owners in 2025. In addition, the Packers’ tight end has developed a successful relationship with Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love, resulting in Love looking for Kraft when under pressure. Our projections are for Kraft to produce 92 total fantasy points with 650 receiving yards, along with five receiving touchdowns. The Packers will face a relatively easy schedule in 2025, and Green Bay has their bye week during Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season.
TE 10: Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
During the off-season, there were several rumors that the Eagles were looking to trade tight end Dallas Goedert. Still, after the draft, the Eagles and Goedert agreed to continue Goedert’s time with Philadelphia for the 2025 season. The Philadelphia Eagles’ offense emerged as one of the best in the NFL when they added running back Saquon Barkley, and as a result, the Eagles’ opponents’ defenses will need to focus on stopping Barkley, which produces more opportunities for Goedert on play-action passes. Our projection for Goedert is to make 93 total fantasy points with 690 receiving yards, along with four receiving touchdowns. The Eagles play a moderate schedule in 2025, and Philadelphia has their bye week during Week 11 of the 2025 NFL season.
TE 9: TJ Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
Despite a change at quarterback with JJ McCarthy taking over quarterback Sam Darnold at the Vikings quarterback position, Vikings tight end TJ Hockenson should continue to be a consistent fantasy performer in 2025. While the Vikings will have a new quarterback leading the offense, the majority of Minnesota’s offensive weapons return and Hockenson will get a wealth of targets as a check-down option for McCarthy. Our projection for Hockenson is to produce 770 receiving yards along with four receiving touchdowns. The Vikings will face a moderate schedule in 2025, and Minnesota’s bye week is during Week 6 of the 2025 NFL season.
TE 8: David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
While many portions of the Cleveland Browns 2025 roster appear to be a complete mess, there is stability with Brown’s tight end position. Despite the revolving door of quarterbacks for the Browns, Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku has been a consistent performer within the Browns offense. Consequently, that makes Njoku a safe bet for fantasy owners despite the confusion over who will be leading the Browns offense at quarterback. Our projection for Njoku is that he will produce 102 total fantasy points with 715 receiving yards, along with five receiving touchdowns. The Browns will face a moderate schedule, and Cleveland’s bye week is during Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season.
TE 7: Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
It is rare for a tight end to have the sustainability of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. A big part of Kelce’s consistently productive seasons is the chemistry that he has with head coach and offensive coordinator Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes. This off-season, it appeared that Kelce may be approaching the end of his career, but in 2025, he will still be a valuable commodity for fantasy owners. Our projection for Kelce is for him to produce 105 total fantasy points with 780 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. The Chiefs will face a moderate schedule, and Kansas City has their bye week during Week 12 of the 2025 NFL season.
TE 6: Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers via Trade
It is hard to predict the impact that moving from the Miami Dolphins to the Pittsburgh Steelers will have on tight end Jonnu Smith’s fantasy production in 2025. Smith is likely to have a career-high season in receiving yards due to the aging Aaron Rodgers at quarterback and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s preference for a combination of a strong running game, play-action passing, and short passing routes to move the ball on long, sustained drives. Our current projection for Smith is based on his previous experience with the Dolphins, and he will produce approximately 109 total fantasy points with 750 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns. The Steelers will face a moderate schedule, and Pittsburgh’s bye week is during Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season.
TE 5: Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
The last memory most NFL fans have of Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews is a two-point conversion pass that he dropped, allowing the Bills to eliminate the Ravens from the playoffs. There was even a time the Ravens front office flirted with the idea of trading Andrews due to that drop. However, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson stated his lasting confidence in Andrews, and for this reason, Andrews should once again be a standout fantasy tight end while playing for the Ravens. Our projection for Andrews is for him to produce 114 total fantasy points with 695 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns. The Ravens will face a moderate schedule, and Baltimore’s bye week is during Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season.
TE 4: Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions missed a big opportunity during the 2024 season when they were upset by the Washington Commanders in the divisional round of the playoffs. Since that loss, the Lions have made changes at both offensive and defensive coordinator, with Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn moving on to head coaching positions. Consequently, the Lion’s offense will be different than in 2024, but what should stay the same is tight end Sam LaPorta being a big part of the Lion’s offensive recipe. Our projection for LaPorta is that he will produce 118 total fantasy points with 750 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns. The Lions will face a moderate schedule, and Detroit’s bye week is during Week 8 of the 2025 NFL season.
TE 3: Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are the favorite to be the breakout team in the NFC during the 2025 season. A significant part of that is a Cardinals offense that relies on allowing quarterback Kyler Murray to manage the game by getting the ball to his weapons. For this reason, Cardinals tight end Trey McBride should continue to be a top-end performer at tight end for fantasy owners. Our projection for McBride is that he will produce 133 total fantasy points with 1,020 receiving yards, along with five receiving touchdowns. The Cardinals will face the most manageable schedule in the NFL, and Arizona has their bye week during Week 8 of the 2025 NFL season.
TE 2: Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
Many believe that the broad swath of changes that the Las Vegas Raiders have made during the off-season will set the stage for a big bounce-back season in 2025, despite changes at head coach, the quarterback position, and the receiving position, second-year tight end Brock Bowers will continue to be a significant part of the Raiders offense led by Chip Kelly. During the 2024 season, Bowers surpassed all expectations, and there is no reason not to believe that he will be able to sustain that production in 2025. Our projection for Bowers is for him to produce 145 total fantasy points with 1,100 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. The Raiders will face a challenging schedule, and their bye week is during Week 8 of the 2025 NFL season.
TE 1: George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle received a massive contract extension, making him the highest-paid tight end in NFL history. Kittle has earned that contract extension by being a consistent performer for a 49ers offense that has struggled with injuries and moody receivers. For this reason, Kittle has become the rock upon which the 49ers’ explosive offense relies, and that translates to Kittle carrying high value for fantasy owners. Our projection for Kittle is for him to produce 150 total fantasy points with 1,025 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns. The 49ers will face a moderate schedule in 2025, and San Francisco’s bye week is during Week 14 of the 2025 NFL season.
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