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Kacey's fantasy football TE1 sleepers for 2025. Her undervalued dark horse tight ends to be TE1s this season. Read the expert draft analysis with player outlooks.
The tight-end position always looks like a mess when it comes to fantasy football. You have the elite options that fly off the board early, followed by a few mid-tier names that feel safe (but boring). The rest of the TE landscape equates to touchdown-dependent dart throws. Every year, a few of those dart-throw players emerge to become weekly starters.
This resource concentrates on the under-the-radar TE1 candidates for the 2025 season. These aren't your obvious names like George Kittle, Brock Bowers, and Trey McBride. They're not even names of guys who have consistently put up good numbers, like Travis Kelce and Jonnu Smith.
Maybe they're coming off an injury, stuck on an offense with plenty of playmakers, or have been a project over the years. Perhaps they were just drafted. I'll focus on four players who could be sneaky TE1 candidates in 2025. Looking at their opportunity, ability, touchdown upside, and past production, we'll see what tight ends are worth buying into while not having to pay top-12 prices.
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Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
Before we get started, know that Dallas Goedert is a huge "if he stays healthy" guy. What happens if he does? You'll get a high-end TE1 just sitting there at a TE2 price. Unfortunately, the 30-year-old missed seven contests in 2024 due to hamstring and knee injuries.
He managed to catch only 42 balls for 496 yards and two scores across 10 regular-season matches. In the 2024 season, Goedert posted his lowest TD count since his rookie season and fewest catches since 2020. His playoff performance gave us a look at classic Goedert -- 17 receptions for 215 yards and a touchdown across four games.
We are Dallas Goedert days away from Eagles football! pic.twitter.com/WpuKk20F72
— SleeperEagles (@SleeperEagles) June 9, 2025
The Eagles offense leans hard on the run game, centered around QB Jalen Hurts and RB Saquon Barkley. Between Hurts' goal-line rushes and Barkley's powerful runs, the duo accounted for 27 rushing scores. The "tush push" won't be going away this season, so they'll continue to steal red-zone opportunities from the TE.
Due to the electricity of the offense, Goedert should see his numbers improve with a full season of health. He is entering his eighth season in the NFL and has only spent one season fully healthy (his rookie year). The South Dakota State product is still one of the best all-around tight ends in the game, making the most of his steady hands and savvy route running.
In the games he did play last season, Goedert showed that he still possesses top TE traits. The veteran averaged 10.4 PPR fantasy points per contest, good enough for TE10 in average PPR fantasy points per game.
Philadelphia reworked his deal to keep him around, which is worth noting. If he can stay upright and the positive touchdown regression hits, Goedert could easily become a TE1 in 2025 -- just make sure to have a backup plan in your back pocket in case the injury bug bites again.
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans
A tight end who was healthy last season but whom fantasy managers barely noticed was Dalton Schultz. The Houston tight end had an underwhelming season, producing 85 targets, 53 receptions, 532 yards, and a mere two touchdowns. With production like that, you're not getting a TE1, especially with his low TD total.
There's sneaky upside for Schultz if you look hard enough. He had a decent 14.9% target share last season. The number doesn't jump off the page, but the Houston offense wasn't firing on all cylinders last year. The Texans' passing game ranked 21st in the league while struggling with consistency.
pic.twitter.com/XfHSVWzibk
Here's Dalton Schultz's 34-yard catch off C.J. Stroud pass @KPRC2— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 18, 2025
Looking at who Schultz competes with for targets, Nico Collins is the alpha in this offense. The Texans added veteran Christian Kirk alongside rookie wideouts Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, so the receivers room looks different than last year. Kirk is playing for his third team going into his eighth season. The two rookies might need time to adjust to the NFL.
All of those factors could contribute to Schultz putting up a TE1 season. The Stanford alum is entering his age-29 season and the second year of a three-year deal with the Texans. He has been relatively healthy in his career, missing just four total games over the last three seasons.
The tight-end room isn't a threat, as Brevin Jordan is coming off an ACL tear, Irv Smith Jr. hasn't seen production in years, and fourth-rounder Cade Stover is a work in progress (despite flashing late last year). If the offense takes a leap forward and Schultz can luck out in the end zone, he could bounce back into low-end TE1 territory.
He's not the most flashy tight end, but you could do a lot worse at his price.
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
In 2023, Jake Ferguson hit the fantasy radar. He earned a Pro Bowl selection after hauling in 71 passes for 761 yards and five scores. Fast forward to 2024, and fantasy managers were wondering why they drafted him as their TE1.
2024 was a season dealing with injuries, a shaky quarterback situation, and, most surprisingly, zero touchdowns. That's right -- despite drawing 86 targets and bringing in 59 catches for 494 yards across 14 games, Ferguson never found the end zone.
Looking at the context matters in this situation. Ferguson suffered an MCL sprain in the first week of the season, and a concussion in Week 11 limited his effectiveness. Additionally, Dak Prescott missed the final nine games of the season due to a hamstring injury, and the offense never looked right.
As long as Dak is QB1 I’m confident in Jake Ferguson bouncing back next season. Dak loves his TEs
pic.twitter.com/WgYXvJotPT— FergSZN (@FergSZN) April 14, 2025
When Prescott is healthy, he tosses touchdowns -- 36 in 2023, 37 in 2021, and 30 in 2019. He's also hurled for over 4,000 yards in each of the seasons he's had 30 or more touchdowns. Ferguson has already demonstrated he can be one of Prescott's favorite weapons. If the QB stays upright for the entire season, the Wisconsin standout has a realistic shot at TE1 numbers.
Looking on to the 2025 season, Ferguson sees himself as the likely No. 3 option in the passing game. He'll be behind both stud WR CeeDee Lamb and new Cowboy George Pickens. Having these two wideouts could be advantageous for Ferguson, with Pickens opening up space over the middle.
Ferguson isn't always the splashiest tight end, but he still sees significant volume. His 86 targets in 2024 put him in the same ballpark as Cade Otton, Schultz, and even Sam LaPorta. If he maintains or increases his targets and his touchdown return, the big man will sneakily rise back into the TE1 tier.
Mason Taylor, New York Jets
Rookie alert! Yes, I know it is extremely rare that a rookie has a breakout season in Year 1. Still, Mason Taylor was presented with a golden opportunity as the Jets picked him in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. With Tyler Conklin heading to the Chargers in free agency, the starting TE job in New York is available.
Taylor seems like the front-runner to claim that spot. He was a three-year starter at LSU and competed with athletes like Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. early on. When they moved on to the NFL, Taylor put up some of the best numbers of his college career. He snagged 55 passes for 546 yards and two scores in his final season at LSU.
Rookie TE Mason Taylor had 2 TDs at OTAs today 👀🔥✈#Jets | 🎥 @nyjets pic.twitter.com/DSmbMyhimX
— Harrison Glaser (@NYJetsTFMedia) June 2, 2025
The 21-year-old enters a situation with limited competition at tight end. Jeremy Ruckert has mainly been utilized in run blocking since joining the league. Additionally, Stone Smartt was signed in the offseason and serves more as a depth piece than a genuine threat.
Taylor has the draft pedigree and skill set to handle the TE1 role for the team. It is also helpful that the new offensive coordinator, Tanner Engstrand, comes over from Detroit. Engstrand assisted with both T.J. Hockenson and LaPorta in his time with the Lions, a good sign for the Jets' young TE. Engstrand's presence and resume should help mold Taylor into an NFL-caliber tight end.
The Jets traded for Justin Fields as they were in dire need of a starting QB. His passing game needs refinement, but Fields has shown the willingness to throw the deep ball and produce big plays.
The rookie TE will need to build chemistry with Fields generally quickly to establish himself as a safety blanket. There is a clear path to playing time with a TE-friendly OC calling plays. Taylor's name is one to have on your radar if you're searching for a cheap TE1 option.
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