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Five tight end (TE) fantasy football sleepers, value picks to target late in 2025 drafts. These are undervalued TE sleepers to draft in the later rounds.
At RotoBaller HQ, we return with more late-round sleepers, focusing on the tight end position with our later-round tight end fantasy football draft values and sleepers for the 2025 season. Tight end can be a volatile position. Once the elite options are off the board, it can be tricky to find some late-round value options. However, there are multiple directions you can go in the later rounds in choosing a variety of different players, including prospects, players returning from injuries, forgotten veterans, or even skilled players with potential playing time concerns.
It's essential to have at least a handful of sleeper targets at each position heading into your fantasy football drafts, no matter the format. Here are some late-round tight ends for you to consider drafting this season.
Our editors have hand-picked these specific NFL players for your draft prep enjoyment. Usually only available to Premium subscribers, the outlooks below are meant to give you a taste of the in-depth analysis you receive with our industry-leading 2025 Draft Kit. Be sure to subscribe today and start reading all 300+ of our 2025 player outlooks, along with many other premium articles and tools available exclusively in our 2025 Draft Kit.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:- 2025 fantasy football rankings
- Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
- Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
- Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- NFL rookie fantasy football rankings
- Best ball fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Chig Okonkwo, Titans, Fantasy Football Outlook
If Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo has been anything during the first three years of his NFL career, it is consistent. He has amassed 450, 528, and 479 receiving yards in each of those seasons. He scored three touchdowns in 2022, one in 2023, and two last season.
Okonkwo has also been consistently durable as he has dressed for all 51 regular-season contests his Titans have played. The problem is his numbers have not done anybody any fantasy favors. His lack of touchdowns or 600-yard years has made him a low-end TE2 who has always had upside, but the upside has not been realized yet.
🚨 Sleeper alert: Chig Okonkwo
Last season:
◻️ 61% snap share
◻️ 51% route participation rateFirst preseason game of 2025 season:
◻️ 100% snap share
◻️ 100% route participation rateCompetition for targets after Calvin Ridley is Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson pic.twitter.com/PQMVRExHGd
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) August 10, 2025
Having Will Levis, Ryan Tannehill, Joshua Dobbs, Mason Rudolph, and Malik Willis as his quarterbacks has not helped him. Enter No. 1 pick overall Cam Ward, who easily becomes the most talented quarterback Okonkwo has ever had throwing to him. If Ward plays more like Jaylen Daniels and less like Akili Smith, Okonkwo's numbers will surely improve. Just do not expect him to become Brock Bowers or George Kittle overnight.
Okonkwo should top his previous personal bests in all the major fantasy categories this year with Ward as his QB. 55 receptions for 600 yards and four touchdowns would be the best year of Okonkwo's career, but that still keeps him at a TE2 fantasy level.
Elijah Arroyo, Seahawks, Fantasy Football Outlook
Tight end Elijah Arroyo was chosen by the Seattle Seahawks with the 50th overall pick (second round) of the 2025 NFL Draft. One of the concerns for Arroyo is Seattle's quarterback situation. The Seahawks signed Sam Darnold this offseason, who has underperformed outside his stretch with Minnesota last season.
The Vikings, credit to them, have one of the best situations for a QB to have in the league, with elite pass-catching weapons, a fantastic offensive line, and an amazing head coach and play-caller. Seattle surprisingly released tight end Noah Fant during the offseason, opening up the starting spot for Arroyo.
I’m going to talk about Elijah Arroyo as a sleeper a lot this summer. I was very high on him going into the NFL Draft. Real chance for him to carve out a consistent role here. From my NFL Draft write up https://t.co/ZyiDmI4S7o pic.twitter.com/IMKn1jpfFO
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) July 21, 2025
The 22-year-old has impressed in training camp and has now become Seattle's starting tight end. Arroyo is currently ranked TE30 in the latest RotoBaller rankings, but that number could rise if he continues to have a strong training camp.
Darren Waller, Dolphins, Fantasy Football Outlook
After a disappointing 12-game stint with the New York Giants in 2023, veteran tight end Darren Waller decided to hang up his cleats. That was three seasons after a Pro Bowl campaign with a Raiders team that had been freshly transplanted from Oakland to Las Vegas.
The Georgia Tech product was stellar in 2020, racking up a 107/1,196/9 line across 146 targets to post his second consecutive 1,100-yard season. However, he'd never eclipse more than 55 catches or 665 yards in the three ensuing years -- limited to 12 games or fewer in all of them while battling knee, ankle, and hamstring injuries.
🐬〰️👻〰️🎂〰️👻〰️🐬
Don't forget about Darren Waller!!!
I know it's easy to be excited about NWI, "The Wash Bros" trademarked, "Ollie Dubs" trademarked...
But don't forget about that pterodactyl wingspan! In fact, Waller might be the reason they are content with all but 1 short… pic.twitter.com/qn7hfu1DAl
— ThatDolphinsRealtor🏡🐬🔥 (@ThatFinsRealtor) August 12, 2025
With the Dolphins recently moving on from 2024's team reception leader, Jonnu Smith, Waller will get a chance to rewrite the ending of his career. Miami's other personnel at the position -- Julian Hill, Pharaoh Brown, and Tanner Conner -- don't offer the same receiving upside, so he should immediately slot in as the team's preferred option in the passing game. Still, he'll face stiff target competition in running back De'Von Achane and wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Furthermore, Miami added a decent red zone threat during free agency in wideout Nick Westbrook-Ikhine by way of Tennessee. Smith vacates 111 targets with his move to Pittsburgh, though it isn't guaranteed that Waller garners them all. At 33 years old, it's unlikely he's gotten more explosive, but at least he'll be fresh after a year off football. The veteran is RotoBaller's PPR TE15 and should offer some spike weeks as a low-mid-range TE2. However, predicting when those weeks occur may prove difficult.
Hunter Henry, Patriots, Fantasy Football Outlook
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry finished last season as the 12th-ranked tight end in normal PPR scoring leagues. As Drake Maye continues to grow as a quarterback, Henry could surpass TE12 in 2025. With Josh McDaniels back as New England's offensive coordinator, Henry caught nine touchdowns in 2021.
Drake Maye’s third TD of 11-on-11, this time to Hunter Henry
Henry was very active all day, trailing only DeMario Douglas in total targets
In his last season with Josh McDaniels calling plays, Henry caught 9 TDs from Mac Jones pic.twitter.com/BTwQicpDTk
— Wolf of Roto Street (@RotoStreetWolf) August 6, 2025
The major driver of his production last season could be that there was a lack of talent in the pass-catcher room in New England. Now, there's plenty more competition in the building, with wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Kyle Williams joining the show.
Henry is likely to lose plenty of targets to Williams, Diggs, and Demario Douglas. The 30-year-old is ranked TE20 and is projected for 73 receptions with 724 yards and five touchdowns in 2025, making him a low-end TE2 for the 2025 NFL season in fantasy football. However, Henry could surpass those projections if Maye takes the next step in his sophomore year.
Ja'Tavion Sanders, Panthers, Fantasy Football Outlook
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders seemed to be set up well for a prominent role in his offense before a neck injury that caused him to be carted off the field in Week 12 interrupted his first season. After the ailment, he was hardly targeted, seeing just eight targets and four catches over his final five contests after missing Week 13 altogether.
The Panthers didn't add a tight end that should present a challenge for his TE1 spot. Panthers quarterback Bryce Young appeared to have a breakout in the second half of his 2024 season. If he continues in 2025, Sanders could easily surpass his RotoBaller projections of 46 catches for 453 yards and four touchdowns in 2025.
Can’t wait to see Ja’Tavion Sanders in his sophomore seasonpic.twitter.com/hhb91SjXTc
— ✰ (@ThomasWrrld) July 28, 2025
Carolina spent the 8th-overall pick to draft WR Tetairoa McMillan, bringing another player who could be a target hog. He will also compete with Adam Thielen and Xavier Leggette for targets in Carolina. Sanders is having a great training camp, but projects a fantasy TE2/TE3 option heading into upcoming fantasy drafts, which aligns with his TE31 ranking at RotoBaller.
Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Draft
Looking for more draft values and sleepers? Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who Should I Draft tool for 2025 drafts for Chig Okonkwo, Elijah Arroyo, Darren Waller, Hunter Henry, and Ja'Tavion Sanders. Our free Who Should I Draft? tool will help make your fantasy football draft decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to draft... all free!
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