Fantasy Football Playoffs Tight End Rankings - Weeks 15, 16, 17

December 13, 2025

Fantasy football playoffs tight end rankings - Weeks 15, 16, 17 rankings for 2025. Read the top-accuracy fantasy football playoffs rankings for half-PPR leagues.

If you don't have one of the few elite fantasy tight ends, finding the best high-upside option through each week of the fantasy football playoffs will be key to surviving and advancing. We're here to help you bring home the hardware with our fantasy football playoffs tight end rankings for Weeks 15, 16, and 17. Below, you will see where key pass-catchers such as Kyle Pitts Sr., Brenton Strange, Colston Loveland, Juwan Johnson, and more stand for the next three weeks of action. It's win-or-go-home time, so let's keep pushing forward!

Nick Mariano puts together our fantasy football playoffs rankings. Below the rankings, you will also find a summary of the important fantasy football news for this week. There are always key injuries and developments to keep track of, so check back throughout the week for updates.

Be sure to bookmark our fantasy football rankings portal and check back regularly for updates. Most importantly, our free mobile app is a must-have - download it and configure your push notifications. We deliver all the top NFL news, injuries, and fantasy analysis 24x7 with our free push notification alerts... all for free!

Fantasy Football Playoffs Positional Rankings

Be sure to check out all of our fantasy football playoffs rankings:

• Fantasy football playoffs rankings (all positions)
• Quarterback fantasy football playoffs rankings
• Running Back fantasy football playoffs rankings
• Wide Receiver fantasy football playoffs rankings
• Kicker fantasy football playoffs rankings
• D/ST fantasy football playoffs rankings
• FLEX fantasy football playoffs rankings

Fantasy Football Playoffs Tight End Rankings (Weeks 15, 16, 17)

Fantasy Football Playoffs Tight End Rankings Outlooks

Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams

Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson has scored in four of the past five games and is establishing himself as a legitimate fantasy option. Parkinson has collected 17 receptions for 155 yards and four touchdowns on 21 targets in the last five contests, ranking as the TE5 in total PPR points during that span. He's emerged as the Rams' TE1 over the second half of the season with Tyler Higbee (ankle) on Injured Reserve, and he notably posted a 71% route share in the Week 14 win over the Arizona Cardinals, his highest of the season.

The 26-year-old's previous high in a game this year was just 50%. If Parkinson maintains a similar rate over the final stretch of the regular season, he profiles as a viable TE1 with his favorable usage in the red zone in one of the NFL's best offenses. For fantasy managers in need of a tight end for this week and the fantasy playoffs, Parkinson is a player to add and immediately plug into lineups for a potential Week 15 shootout against the Detroit Lions.

Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins

Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller has not looked the same in two games since his return from a stint on Injured Reserve for a pectoral injury. In the last two contests, Waller has three receptions for 60 yards and no touchdowns on six targets. The 33-year-old veteran played only 37% of the snaps in the Week 14 win over the New York Jets on Sunday, which was down from 47% in his return in Week 13. Not only did he see fewer snaps, but he was outsnapped by both Greg Dulcich and Julian Hill at the position.

Waller had one catch on three targets for 13 yards and added one carry for four yards versus the Jets. After coming out of retirement to play for Miami, he scored four touchdowns in his first four games. It's possible that Waller needs some time to get back up to speed, but fantasy managers can't afford to wait. He will be a risky, touchdown-dependent TE2 streamer in fantasy in Week 15 versus the Steelers, especially if Dulcich continues to be involved.

T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson caught one of J.J. McCarthy's career-high three touchdown passes in a Week 14 win over the Commanders, all of which went to tight ends, with Josh Oliver bringing in the other two. With the Vikings cruising to an easy victory, there was little passing volume to go around, but Hockenson's three targets tied for third on the team. Unfortunately, leading into a Week 15 matchup against an improved Cowboys defense, Hockenson provides an almost non-existent floor if he can't find the end zone again.

In his last five games with McCarthy under center, he has averaged fewer than 18 yards on 2.6 receptions per game. With all NFL teams now past their bye weeks, there should be more reliable waiver options for any fantasy managers streaming the position through the playoffs.

Kyle Pitts Sr., Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. has impressed second-year offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, who on Tuesday told the media that his 25-year-old pass catcher has made huge strides since last season. Pitts has been the TE12 in Half-PPR formats, and his 631 receiving yards through 13 games have already surpassed what he was able to do in a full 17-game slate in 2024.

Unfortunately, the endzone has still eluded him, as his Week 4 touchdown against the Commanders still stands as his lone score on the year. Heading into the fantasy playoffs, Pitts provides a reliable floor, having now hit at least six receptions and 80 yards in back-to-back games. He is RotoBaller's TE4 in a Week 15 road matchup against the Buccaneers.

Ben Sinnott, Washington Commanders

Washington Commanders tight end Ben Sinnott is in line for more opportunities after Zach Ertz (knee) unfortunately suffered a torn ACL during Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Sinnott has played just 26.9% of the snaps for Washington this season, operating as the team's third tight end behind Ertz and John Bates. The second-year tight end has been solid as a blocker, but he hasn't seen many opportunities as a receiver with Ertz still clearly being a useful pass-catcher. Sinnott, a 2024 second-round pick, has strong athletic traits and should be expected to slot in as Washington's top receiving tight end for the rest of the season.

In 29 career games, he's hauled in all nine of his targets for 69 yards and two touchdowns. He recorded a reception for eight yards on Washington's opening drive against the Vikings, but there's also a possibility that he splits reps with Colson Yankoff. Sinnott is the better bet between the two because of his draft capital, and he profiles as a low-end TE2 for the Week 15 game against the division-rival New York Giants.

Theo Johnson, New York Giants

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson will return from his team's bye week and look to continue his solid season, working as one of the top targets for Jaxson Dart. Johnson has at least three catches in seven straight games and has totaled 42 catches for 456 yards and five touchdowns in his 13 games this season. He matched his season high with eight targets against the Patriots in his most recent game before the bye week, and he has established a solid rapport with Dart, which makes him one of the best widely available tight end plays in most leagues.

Johnson hasn't hit 100 yards in any game yet, but he has posted at least 75 yards in two of his last four games, showing he has a good ceiling to go with his solid PPR floor. The Giants have a favorable schedule the rest of the season, starting this week with a home game against the struggling Commanders.

AJ Barner, Seattle Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner has been pretty inconsistent this year, but that could change soon. Barner has been splitting up the tight end reps with rookie Elijah Arroyo (knee), who went down during the Week 14 victory over the Atlanta Falcons with a knee injury that could cause him to miss time. Barner figures to see an expanded role if Arroyo is forced to miss additional time. The 23-year-old hasn't been an ideal fantasy option lately, with 35 receiving yards or fewer in each of his last three games.

Barner could see a few more targets coming his way, assuming Arroyo is unable to play against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15. Barner is someone worth monitoring on the waiver wire in deep leagues this week and will have more TE2 streaming appeal if Arroyo is out.

More Fantasy Football Rankings