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JP's 3 fantasy football tight end sleepers and late-round breakout candidates. Target these TE deep sleepers in 2025 fantasy drafts: Isaiah Likely, Brenton Strange, Terrance Ferguson.
Every fantasy football season, savvy managers find value in the late rounds by targeting overlooked players with high upside, and the tight-end position is often fertile ground for breakout potential. Outside of the elite few, the tight-end landscape remains volatile and unpredictable, making it essential to identify those under-the-radar options who could emerge as weekly contributors.
Whether it’s a young player ready to step into a larger role, a rookie impressing early in camp, or a talented backup just waiting for his shot, these deep sleepers could offer league-winning value well beyond their current draft price.
Isaiah Likely, Terrance Ferguson, and Brenton Strange have the talent, opportunity, and upside to vastly outperform their current ADP in 2025. Here is my take on three tight ends flying under the radar.
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2025 Fantasy Football Deep Sleepers and Undervalued Draft Targets – TE
Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens
Likely had a standout collegiate career at Coastal Carolina University, playing for the Chanticleers from 2019 to 2021.
As a senior, he caught 59 passes for 912 yards and 12 touchdowns. His 12 scores not only led the Sun Belt Conference but also ranked eighth nationally and were the second most by a tight end in NCAA Division I FBS that year. His 912 receiving yards still rank sixth all-time for a single season in Coastal Carolina history.
Over his four-year college career, Likely played in 48 games, totaled 133 receptions for 2,050 yards, and found the end zone 27 times. Known for his playmaking ability as a receiving tight end, the Baltimore Ravens selected him in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the 139th overall pick.
Isaiah Likely Week 1 Every Target, Catch and Run Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs NFL TNF 2024
Likely finished with 9 Recs on 12 Tgts for 111 Rec yards and a Rec TD.#nflfootball #fantasyfootball #football #nflhighlights #highlights #tightend #lamar #ravensflock #harbaugh pic.twitter.com/2yUWaOjUZv
— @NFLStudy (@NFLStudy) September 6, 2024
When it comes to fantasy football, Likely’s value isn’t a question of talent; it’s a question of opportunity. In 2024, Likely appeared in 16 games and recorded 42 receptions on 58 targets for 477 yards and six touchdowns. While these numbers might not jump off the screen, a closer look reveals potential.
Ravens starting tight end Mark Andrews played in 17 games, hauling in 55 catches on 69 targets for 11 touchdowns. Andrews remains a high-level contributor, but he’s entering the final year of his contract and will turn 30 before the 2025 season begins. It wouldn’t be shocking if the Ravens begin shifting more of the passing load to the younger Likely.
At 25 years old and entering a contract year, 2025 could be the ideal time for the Ravens to give Likely a larger role and find out what he’s truly capable of.
He currently sits at 25th in Pro Football Focus’ 2025 PPR tight-end rankings, 15 spots behind Andrews. Still, Likely brings intriguing breakout potential. If Baltimore shifts more targets his way, or if Andrews misses any time, Likely has a clear path to outperform his ranking and potentially crack the top 10 at the position.
Terrance Ferguson, Los Angeles Rams
Rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson is wasting no time turning heads at Rams OTAs. On June 3rd, Stu Jackson, senior staff writer for the Rams' website, reported live from practice and highlighted the play of the day.
“Stafford connecting with tight end Terrance Ferguson on a back-shoulder throw in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown during the team’s competitive 'Mamba' period in red zone drills,” Jackson wrote.
First look at the Stafford ➡️ Ferguson connection. pic.twitter.com/DakrhiHpnZ
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) June 5, 2025
That red-zone connection is worth watching. With former team captain Cooper Kupp no longer on the roster, there's a noticeable void, especially inside the 20. While the Rams still boast standout third-year receiver Puka Nacua and added star wideout Davante Adams this offseason, HC Sean McVay has always leaned on schemes that get the ball into his playmakers’ hands. If Ferguson is already standing out in the red zone, his role could grow quickly.
A second-round pick (No. 46 overall), Ferguson arrives in Los Angeles with high expectations. At 6'5" and 247 pounds, the Oregon product is a dynamic pass-catching tight end who thrives in short-yardage and scoring situations. Though he’ll need to improve as a run blocker, his college resume shows a steady rise in production:
2021 (Freshman): 17 receptions, 141 yards, 2 TDs
2022 (Sophomore): 32 receptions, 391 yards, 5 TDs (Honorable Mention All-Pac-12)
2023 (Junior): 42 receptions, 414 yards, 6 TDs (First Team All-Pac-12)
2024 (Senior): A record-setting season with 134 receptions and 16 touchdowns -- both school records for a tight end.
Ferguson’s opportunity is further magnified by the uncertainty surrounding veteran tight end Tyler Higbee. Now 32, Higbee is working his way back from a devastating knee injury, tearing both his ACL and MCL during the Rams' 2023 wild-card loss to the Lions.
Add in offseason shoulder surgery, and it’s easy to see why the Rams invested early in a new tight end. Though Higbee returned late in the 2024 season, he managed just eight receptions for 66 yards and two scores across five games (including two playoff appearances).
Currently TE31 in the latest RotoBaller redraft rankings, Ferguson is an ideal late-round sleeper with incredible upside, especially in standard scoring formats where touchdowns carry extra weight.
If he continues to shine in red-zone drills and builds chemistry with Matthew Stafford, he has a real shot at finishing the year as a top-10 tight end. For now, consider him a high-upside TE2 with breakout potential.
Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars
With the Jaguars parting ways with veteran tight end Evan Engram, the immediate question was whether Jacksonville would address the position in free agency or the draft, or simply promote from within. For now, the answer appears to be the latter, with 24-year-old Brenton Strange poised to step into the starting role.
A 2023 second-round pick out of Penn State, Strange played in all 17 games for Jacksonville in 2024, starting eight while Engram was sidelined with injuries. Over his rookie season, he hauled in 40 receptions for 411 yards and two touchdowns. But to get a true sense of his upside in this offense, we need to zoom in on the stretch where he served as the team’s primary tight end.
In the eight games Engram missed, Strange caught 29 passes for 275 yards and two scores. While those numbers are modest, one notable performance stands out, depending on interpretation.
In Week 14, Strange was heavily involved in the passing game, earning 12 targets and catching 11 for 73 yards. That stat line suggests limited explosiveness (just 6.6 yards per catch) but also highlights Strange’s potential as a reliable possession receiver, a chain-mover Trevor Lawrence can trust.
Strange finished third on the team in receptions and receiving yards behind breakout receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and the now-departed Engram. That’s a solid showing for a young tight end still adjusting to the speed of the NFL.
Strange's college resume doesn't necessarily jump off the page. He redshirted after appearing in just two games as a true freshman at Penn State, totaling 70 catches for 755 yards and 11 touchdowns over 37 career games.
His best season came in his final year, when he posted 32 receptions, 362 yards, and five touchdowns. Still, the Jaguars saw enough on tape to invest a second-round pick in his athleticism, smooth route running, and versatility.
After drafting Travis Hunter second overall to pair with Thomas, the Jaguars appear extremely thin in the playmaker department within their passing game. Not only did Engram get cut, but the team also saw the departures of Christian Kirk and Gabe Davis this offseason.
While Strange's numbers might not be eye-popping, he now has a clear opportunity to emerge as the third option for Lawrence in the 2025 passing attack.
Given this expanded role and his existing skill set, Strange has a strong chance to significantly outperform his current TE23 standing in the latest RotoBaller redraft rankings. Consider Strange as a TE2 with significant fantasy upside, particularly if he solidifies his position as Lawrence's third go-to target.
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