Biggest Fantasy Football Breakouts of 2024: TE

Tight ends continue to ascend in the NFL as they become more important to their offenses. Quincy Milton breaks down the biggest breakouts at the position in 2024.

Tight ends are becoming increasingly important in NFL offenses. Offensive coordinators are scheming creative ways for their tight ends to get open in an age when the position is as athletic as ever.

While tight ends formerly did not tend to experience success until their third season in the league, we have seen recent performers such as Sam LaPorta and Brock Bowers buck that trend. With another strong crop of players on their way into the league in 2025, we could see more tight ends have success sooner rather than later.

With tight end generally being a single-start position in fantasy football, the more breakouts we have the better off we are. The future looks bright for the position moving forward. Let's dive in and see who broke out in 2024.

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1. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders

The cream of the crop this season, Brock Bowers displayed that he was well worth the No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Bowers would catch 112 passes for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns. Most importantly, he was visibly unstoppable. No one can cover this guy.

In 2024, Bowers demonstrated he is quarterback-proof. With a rotation of Gardner Minshew II, Aidan O'Connell, and Desmond Ridder behind center, Bowers displayed his elite talents. If the Raiders can even moderately upgrade their quarterback situation, Bowers could be a top 5 value in all of fantasy in 2025.

With so much ahead of him, expect Bowers to continue ascending. He has a lot of room to improve in the touchdown department and his targets are not going to go away.

Brock Bowers TD to close out his rookie season‼️

112 catches / 1,194 yds / 5 TD’s

WHAT A ROOKIE SEASON #DGD pic.twitter.com/TtdPw31xSA

— Thumser (@JeffreyThumser) January 6, 2025

2. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

Trey McBride had a mini breakout in 2023, but he displayed that he is the real deal in 2024. McBride finished the season with 111 receptions for 1,146 yards and two touchdowns. He was notably delinquent in the touchdown department in 2024 which leaves a lot of room for improvement.

McBride is an athletic freak with an incredible knack for catching contested passes. Even with likely additions to the Cardinals' receiving corps this offseason, McBride figures to be, at worst, the Cardinals' No. 2 target in 2025.

As long as Kyler Murray is behind center, McBride will be a productive fantasy football option. Murray may not be an elite quarterback, but his consolidation of targets to McBride and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is noteworthy. After all, volume is one of the most important indicators of fantasy football success.

3. Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers

Tucker Kraft quietly surpassed 700 receiving yards and scored seven touchdowns in 2024. He was a large piece of a Packers' passing offense that needed all the firepower it could get.

Kraft's breakout came in part due to an injury to fellow tight end Luke Musgrave. Kraft was able to mop up most of the tight end work with Musgrave limited to seven games.

Kraft is a cautionary tale moving forward. While he displayed that he can have a solid stretch to a season, he did not necessarily display the consistency that you would want from a tight end in fantasy football. Kraft only scored on 14 percent of his receptions in 2024. That number is highly unsustainable.

Still, with quarterback Jordan Love's continued ascension, Kraft could find a groove as a quality streamer at the position. Not every tight end is capable of having the season Kraft had and he is worth keeping an eye on moving forward.

“I want to be the guy in Year 3.”

— Tucker Kraft pic.twitter.com/NAwGpwXWH6

— IKE Packers Podcast (@IKE_Packers) February 16, 2025

4. Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins

Better late than never. Jonnu Smith's eighth-year breakout was one for the books. Smith recorded 884 receiving yards and tied a career-high eight receiving touchdowns in 2024. He was tailor-made for the Dolphins' passing offense with his athleticism and run-after-the-catch ability.

Smith operated as an extension of the running game in 2024. The Dolphins called many short passes for Smith and running back De'Von Achane to get the ball out of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's hands quickly. Smith benefited greatly with 88 receptions.

Smith is entering his age-30 season. The shelf life of tight ends tends to be on the longer side. As such, Smith should have at least a couple more seasons of solid production in him, especially in this system.

The Dolphins seem poised to run things back with a similar scheme in 2025. Even if Smith's production and volume take a hit next season, he should still produce as a top 10 tight end in fantasy. His No. 4 finish at the position in 2024 should not go unnoticed, especially since he did not fully come alive until after the Dolphins' Week 6 bye.

🎥 Jonnu Smith on playing under Mike McDaniel: "Mike's one of the best [coaches] I've been around as far as taking care of players. I feel like I can play 20 years just by the way he takes care of guys' bodies." (@CameronWolfe) #GoFins pic.twitter.com/aESSuJkkUX

— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) January 20, 2025

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