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Jp's fantasy football outlooks for tight ends Evan Engram, Mark Andrews, and David Njoku. Which tight end should you draft in 2025? Read the expert player outlooks and draft advice.
Drafting the right tight end in 2025 fantasy football could be the difference between a playoff run and a wasted season. With the elite tier thinning and positional volatility at an all-time high, fantasy managers are on the hunt for tight ends with both upside and opportunity. Three names generating buzz are Evan Engram, Mark Andrews, and David Njoku, with each bringing a unique mix of talent, situation, and question marks heading into the new season.
Engram joins Sean Payton’s Denver Broncos in a specialized "Joker" role tailor-made for mismatches, and he’s coming off a season where he led all tight ends in receptions and targets. Andrews, once a locked-in top-3 option, saw a dip in targets in 2024 and now faces legitimate competition from Isaiah Likely in a Ravens offense that’s evolving. Meanwhile, Njoku remains one of the league’s most athletic tight ends, but his career has been up and down and riddled by injuries, and Cleveland’s quarterback carousel continues to raise concerns.
Each tight end has a path to a top-tier fantasy finish, and each carries risk. Whether you're chasing volume, touchdown upside, or breakout potential, understanding how these three fit into their 2025 offenses is crucial. Let’s break down their situations, expectations, and red flags so you can make the smartest call come draft day.
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Who to Draft in 2025 Fantasy Football: Evan Engram, Mark Andrews, or David Njoku?
Evan Engram - The “Joker”
In 2017, the New York Giants selected the 6'3", 234-pound tight end out of Ole Miss with the 23rd overall pick. Widely regarded as the top tight end in his class, Engram entered the NFL with significant hype and expectations. A former three-star recruit from Georgia, he committed to a then-middle-of-the-pack SEC program in Ole Miss, determined to prove himself on the big stage.
As a freshman, Engram appeared in eight games, hauling in 21 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns. He followed that up in 2014 with a breakout sophomore campaign: 38 receptions, 662 yards, and two scores, including an explosive 83-yard touchdown that showcased his rare combination of size and speed.
However, his junior season didn’t quite meet the leap many anticipated, as he essentially replicated his previous year's production with 38 catches for 464 yards and two more touchdowns.
But in his senior year in 2016, Engram finally unleashed his full potential. He became a focal point of the Ole Miss offense, posting career highs across the board with 65 receptions, 926 yards, and eight touchdowns, firmly establishing himself as an NFL-caliber weapon.
Engram’s five-year stint with the Giants was a roller coaster marked by injuries and inconsistency. Though he made a Pro Bowl appearance in 2020, he never fully lived up to his first-round draft pedigree. Ironically, his best statistical season in New York came as a rookie in 2017: 64 catches on 115 targets for 722 yards and six touchdowns over 15 games.
After his up-and-down tenure in New York, Engram signed a one-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars. It wasn’t until his second season in Jacksonville (2023) that Engram truly broke out.
He delivered a monster campaign, catching 114 passes on a whopping 143 targets for 963 yards and four touchdowns. He led all tight ends in both receptions and targets and finished as the TE2 in PPR formats with 230.3 points, rewarding fantasy managers who took a late-round gamble on him.
Heading into the 2024 season, Engram was a consensus Tier 1 tight end in most rankings. Unfortunately, injuries derailed his campaign early. He caught just one pass in Week 1 before going down and didn’t return until Week 6. Ultimately, his season was cut short after Week 14 due to a torn labrum. Now, at 30 years old, Engram was released by Jacksonville as a cap casualty.
But opportunity came knocking quickly.
This offseason, Engram found an ideal landing spot, signing a two-year deal with the Denver Broncos under the offensive mastermind Payton. Payton revealed during a Super Bowl week interview with Kay Adams on the "Up & Adams Show" that he was looking to add a "Joker" to his offense -- a versatile, hybrid-type playmaker capable of creating mismatches all over the field.
In Payton’s system, past Jokers have included names like Jimmy Graham, Jeremy Shockey, Darren Sproles, Reggie Bush, and Alvin Kamara.
When Engram became available, Payton didn’t hesitate. He made it clear that Engram would be used in this "Joker" role in 2025.
If he stays healthy, Engram could be in for a monster season in Denver. With talented second-year quarterback Bo Nix under center and Courtland Sutton stretching defenses outside, Engram is poised to become a key offensive weapon. Expect him to be moved around the formation and heavily featured in mismatch situations. Don’t be surprised if he leads the team in targets.
Currently TE10 in the latest RotoBaller redraft rankings, Engram presents high-end TE1 upside. If you wait on drafting a tight end in your draft, he’s a fantastic value. Just make sure to pair him with a reliable backup, as he’s likely to miss a game or two. Still, if you’re willing to take that gamble, Engram has the skill set, role, and offensive scheme to be a true league-winner in 2025.
Mark Andrews: Dip in Production
In 2024, Andrews experienced a significant decline in both receiving yards and, more importantly, targets. Any astute fantasy manager understands the critical role targets play, especially in PPR (points per reception) leagues. Andrews nearly matched his 2023 target count despite playing in only 10 games that season.
In 2024, Andrews saw just 69 targets, the third-lowest total in his seven-year career, converting them into 55 receptions for 673 yards. However, he did achieve a career-high 11 touchdowns. These touchdowns helped keep fantasy owners content, as Andrews still finished as TE5 in standard leagues and TE6 in PPR.
To understand why Andrews' usage and production fell off in 2024, we need to examine the numbers of those around him. Likely, the Baltimore Ravens' TE2 on the depth chart, nearly matched Andrews' output. Appearing in 16 games, Likely recorded 42 receptions on 58 targets for 477 yards and six touchdowns. Likely, who turned 25 in April, continues to improve both physically and in his production.
In contrast, Andrews, who will turn 30 in September, saw a drastic decline in 2024. This emerging dynamic is particularly relevant given the Ravens' increasing reliance on "12 personnel" (one running back, two tight ends), a formation where they've shown significant success.
Fantasy owners need to keep a close eye on whether Baltimore extends Likely this offseason, as both Andrews and Likely are in contract years. On June 6th, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) even mentioned that "maybe Likely would see an extension here shortly."
A long-term deal for Likely, potentially valued in the range of Tier 2 tight-end contracts (around $6.5M - $9M average per year, though his recent performance could push it higher), would solidify his future in Baltimore. If Likely does indeed receive an extension, this could signal trouble for Andrews' target share and overall fantasy production.
While the Ravens have utilized both tight ends effectively, a significant financial commitment to Likely could even foreshadow the end of Andrews' tenure in Baltimore, as his current contract of $14M APY ranks among the top tight ends in the league. Given his age and the emergence of a younger, cheaper alternative, a trade becomes a tangible possibility for the Ravens.
However, this might not be a negative outcome for Andrews' fantasy value. If he were to become available, Andrews would likely be highly sought-after by tight-end-needy teams, potentially landing in an offense where he could reclaim a higher target share as a primary receiving option.
Teams like the Los Angeles Chargers, with Justin Herbert and a clear need for a veteran pass-catching tight end following Will Dissly's departure, or other cap-rich teams, such as the Patriots or Raiders, could provide an ideal new home.
Such a move could help a team get over the hump and offer Andrews a renewed opportunity to be a top-tier fantasy contributor rather than a touchdown-dependent TE in a crowded Ravens passing game.
Andrews, currently ranked as TE6 in RotoBaller’s latest rankings, is projected to deliver strong fantasy numbers, but I’m staying away this year. A noticeable dip in targets last season, coupled with the emergence of Likely, raises concerns that his production could decline even further.
David Njoku: The Ultimate Fantasy Wild Card
When you take one look at Njoku, it’s easy to see why expectations have always been sky-high. At 6’4” and 245 pounds with almost no body fat, he’s an athletic specimen built in a lab for the tight-end position. Yet despite his physical gifts, Njoku’s NFL career has been riddled by injuries and inconsistency.
A New Jersey native, Njoku took his talents to the University of Miami, where he spent two seasons flashing his elite athleticism. In 2016, as a redshirt sophomore, he broke out with 43 receptions for 698 yards and eight touchdowns -- numbers that caught the attention of NFL scouts. After the season, Njoku declared for the NFL Draft, betting on his athletic upside.
At the combine, he tested off the charts: a 4.64 40-yard dash, 37.5-inch vertical, 133-inch broad jump, and a 3.97 short shuttle. It was enough for the Cleveland Browns to select him 29th overall in the first round of what was considered a loaded tight-end class (O.J. Howard went 19th and Engram went 23rd).
Cleveland had high hopes, and Njoku made a solid impression as a rookie in 2017, playing all 16 games and recording 32 catches for 386 yards and four scores. His breakout came in Year 2, posting 56 catches for 639 yards and four touchdowns. The future looked bright … until the injury bug bit.
In 2019 and 2020, Njoku played just 17 games combined. He returned in 2021 for a full season but didn’t recapture the same momentum. Fantasy managers largely moved on. But in 2022, Njoku quietly bounced back with 58 receptions for 628 yards and four touchdowns -- even though he missed two games.
Then came 2023. Back on the radar as a potential TE1, Njoku delivered a career year: 82 receptions, 882 yards, and six touchdowns while playing in all 16 games. But the optimism didn’t last long. In 2024, he played only 11 games but still posted solid production -- 64 receptions, 505 yards, and five touchdowns. The upside is obvious, but so are the risks.
Part of Njoku’s inconsistency can be blamed on the revolving door under center. Since entering the league in 2017, here’s the list of quarterbacks he’s caught passes from:
2017: DeShone Kizer (15) / Kevin Hogan (1)
2018: Baker Mayfield (13) / Tyrod Taylor (3)
2019-2020: Mayfield (32)
2021: Mayfield (14) / Case Keenum (2) / Nick Mullens (1)
2022: Jacoby Brissett (11) / Deshaun Watson (6)
2023: Watson (6) / Joe Flacco (5) / Dorian Thompson-Robinson (3) / P.J. Walker (2) / Jeff Driskel (1)
2024: Jameis Winston (7) / Watson (7) / DTR (2) / Bailey Zappe (1)
It’s been chaos, and that chaos has impacted Njoku’s fantasy ceiling. Now, in 2025, the Browns are trying (again) to fix their QB situation. They drafted Dillon Gabriel (94th overall) and Shedeur Sanders (144th), who join a crowded and uncertain quarterback room that includes Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Watson, whose 2022 acquisition may go down as one of the worst trades in NFL history.
So, is Njoku’s roller-coaster career the result of injuries or poor quarterback play? Honestly, it’s both. And that’s why I’m fading him in 2025 fantasy drafts.
Njoku is currently ranked TE9 in RotoBaller’s latest projections, but he feels like the ultimate boom-or-bust pick. His range is TE1 to dead last if he gets hurt.
Who Should You Draft: Engram, Andrews, or Njoku?
Engram has landed in an ideal situation. He’ll play the "Joker" role in a new offensive scheme under a Hall of Fame coach, historically a spot where players thrive. Andrews, ranked TE6, still offers upside, but I’m concerned about his declining targets and the rise of Likely, who could take more snaps in 2025.
Lastly, I’m not interested in taking the gamble on Njoku, who turns 29 in July, with a lengthy injury history and a blurry quarterback situation.
That leaves Engram as my preferred target. Andrews feels risky. Njoku? Too many red flags for me to draft confidently.
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