X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Best Ball Tight End Rankings: Top 10 Fantasy Football TEs and Analysis

Brock Bowers - Fantasy Football Rankings, TE, NFL Rookies, Draft Sleepers

John's fantasy football best ball rankings for the tight end position ahead of the 2025 NFL season. Which players are the best value in best ball leagues at TE.

In best ball formats, unlike other fantasy football league setups, you never have to hope the players you put in your starting lineups outscore those on your bench, and won't be annoyed when they don't. This is because, in this format, you don't really have a lineup to set.

Instead, you'll always get the maximum number of points you could have because your starting lineup will automatically include your top-scoring players. For tight ends, who don't have quite the scoring ceilings that wide receivers or some running backs do, this isn't quite as impactful in rankings.

Still, the nature of best ball leagues lends to players with higher ceilings getting drafted earlier. Other than that, things are mostly the same, but that doesn't make the format completely boring! So, let's dive into the best ball TE rankings for the 2025 NFL season.

Editor's Note: Access RotoBaller’s trusted fantasy football rankings for PPR, Standard, Dynasty, Super Flex, and Best Ball formats. Get tiered cheat sheets, expert analysis, and player outlooks to dominate your draft from every angle.

 

10. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

Kelce was absolutely horrible last season as a receiver. Sure, he had some solid weeks for fantasy, but he's just too old and beat up to be a good pass-catcher anymore. ESPN Analytics gave him the single worst receiving grade of any player in the league in 2024.

Kelce's athleticism has quickly faded, and while his shrewdness at dissecting zone coverages is still impressive, he's just not sudden and doesn't play with great strength. He looks like he should have retired a year ago already, yet he wants to play for another season. I wouldn't draft him.

 

9. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns

It's hard to evaluate Njoku for fantasy purposes. On one hand, he's very talented. But on the other hand, he's on the team with possibly the worst quarterback room in the entire NFL, and the team just added the hyper-productive Harold Fannin Jr., a rookie TE from Bowling Green, in the 2025 NFL Draft.

If you draft Njoku, you're really hoping quarterback Joe Flacco starts, despite his age. Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and Kenny Pickett are just not good QBs.

 

8. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

Andrew's 2024 season was completely propped up by touchdown volume. His inexplicable goose eggs in Week 3 and Week 4 were forgotten (mostly) by fantasy football managers, as he went on to have a career-high in touchdowns. There are trade rumors swirling around him right now, but nothing has come to fruition yet.

Part of that has to do with his absolute inability to perform in the playoffs. Andrews' value could change massively on another team, depending on who it is. With the Ravens, he's very risky. You're counting on 10 or more TDs for him to return value.

He doesn't get enough playing time as a route-runner and doesn't have enough target volume to support a huge season right now.

 

7. Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins

Smith is another player whose value makes sense at his spot. He had a breakout season with the Miami Dolphins, often overshadowing both wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, in what was one of the biggest surprises in fantasy football in 2024.

Smith (Jonnu) is yet another case study in how Smith (Arthur), the former Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator and current Pittsburgh Steelers OC, ruins the fantasy values of his players. His resurgent 2024 year was tied to... getting away from Smith (Arthur). He's solid value here.

 

6. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings

Hockenson's additional time off will have helped him recover more from the ACL tear he suffered in January 2024 during the 2023-2024 NFL playoffs. Hockenson returned ahead of schedule last season but didn't make too much of a splash, which is reasonable.

He had quarterback Sam Darnold, who is just bad, throw it to him while he was recuperating from a serious ailment.

Hockenson will turn 28 soon, and if his knee heals up nicely (and it appears that it is), he should have a nice few years ahead of him. In addition, the Vikings will get a huge upgrade at quarterback, as J.J. McCarthy will be the starter in 2025. Hock should have a great bounce-back season and could end up with his best career marks.

I like taking him as the TE6.

 

5. Evan Engram, Denver Broncos

Engram's move from the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Denver Broncos has sparked plenty of excitement in the fantasy community and rocketed him up fantasy draft boards. He has a chance to serve as the team's second-best pass-catcher behind wide receiver Courtland Sutton.

I'm skeptical of Engram's worth as the TE5, though. Sure, the Broncos had a solid passing offense last season. Still, his TE2 season in 2023 was heavily propped up by massive target volume, and his route-running efficiency metrics (plus his poor receiving efficiency, at under 8.5 yards per catch) don't inspire a lot of confidence moving forward.

I'd probably have him a bit lower.

 

4. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions

LaPorta's skill set and play didn't regress in 2024 compared to his standout rookie season in 2023. Still, as the Lions' run-heavy offense accommodated wide receiver Jameson Williams more, LaPorta's target volume decreased, much to the chagrin of fantasy managers.

Williams and fellow WR Amon-Ra St. Brown remain with the Lions, and running back Jahmyr Gibbs will likely continue earning solid target volume. LaPorta has the talent to offer impressive upside, but you should expect plenty of mediocre games to come along with it.

I'd say he's a tad overrated at TE4, but that's not a surprise considering his talent. It's usually good to bet on talent over projected volume, too. With Ben Johnson, the former Lions offensive coordinator, now gone to the Chicago Bears, perhaps we could see LaPorta get more work this year.

 

3. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

Kittle had one of his best seasons ever in 2024 -- but that was primarily due to the absence of running back Christian McCaffrey for most of the season. McCaffrey is such a target hog, especially for an RB, that his presence leads to significantly reduced looks for the rest of the team's pass-catchers.

Still, even with slightly lower upside (if McCaffrey can manage to stay healthy), Kittle's game is nowhere near slowing down. He'll turn 32 this season, but elite tight ends have a long history of playing at a high level well into their 30s, so there isn't much to worry about here.

 

2. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

McBride had a massive season in 2024. His breakout third-year campaign saw him targeted 147 times, and he caught 111 of those passes for 1,146 yards and two touchdowns. I'm not 100 percent sure he repeats these numbers in 2025, though.

While McBride is good enough to earn a significant target share, the team also drafted WR Marvin Harrison Jr. last season, with the fourth overall pick. He was targeted 116 times, yet hauled in just 62 passes. It wouldn't be surprising to see Harrison's target share creep up in Year 2.

In a run-first offense, that could mean McBride has less of a chance of finishing as the TE2 than he did last season, especially if his touchdown luck doesn't improve -- and he's caught just six TDs in 49 career games.

 

1. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders

Well, obviously. Bowers had a historic season with very little good quarterback play. Now, he'll get a massive upgrade in QB Geno Smith, who somehow made the Seattle Seahawks offense look competent, despite the fact that they didn't have a real offensive line.

But Bowers said he sucks sometimes. It's great to have humility. Still, why would you pick anyone over him? Sure, there are other solid TEs to pick from, but Bowers was already TE1 in 2024, and no one would be surprised if he surpassed his numbers this season.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis


Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Renato Moicano

Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Beneil Dariush

Gets Back In The Win Column
Felipe Lima

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Payton Talbott

Bounces Back
Minkah Fitzpatrick

Heading Back to Miami
Jonnu Smith

Shipped to Pittsburgh
Alex Bowman

Competitive Run Ends With Third-Place Finish at Atlanta
Erik Jones

Secures A Top-Five Finish After Adversity In Atlanta
Tyler Reddick

Collects A New Career-Best Finish At Atlanta
Jalen Ramsey

Steelers Acquiring Jalen Ramsey
Kerry Carpenter

Leaves Game with Apparent Hamstring Injury
Brooklyn Nets

Day'Ron Sharpe Heads to Free Agency
Santi Aldama

Receives Qualifying Offer
Orlando Magic

Moritz Wagner has Team Option Declined
Jabari Smith Jr.

Signs Massive Extension
Jusuf Nurkić

Hornets Trading Jusuf Nurkic to Utah
Collin Sexton

Heading to Charlotte
Cam Thomas

Set for Restricted Free Agency
Milwaukee Bucks

Bobby Portis Staying in Milwaukee
Jonas Brodin

Expected to Miss Start of Next Season
TB

Conor Sheary Placed on Waivers for Contract Termination
Los Angeles Clippers

James Harden, Clippers Agree on a New Contract
Dante Fabbro

Stays with Blue Jackets on Four-Year Deal
Joel Hofer

Commits to Blues for Two More Years
Kevin Bahl

Signs Long-Term Extension with Flames
Oneil Cruz

Smacks Two Homers
Jordan Spence

Traded to Ottawa
Petr Mrazek

Heads to Anaheim
John Gibson

Red Wings Acquire John Gibson
Matthew Knies

Inks Six-Year Extension with Maple Leafs
Aaron Judge

Blasts Two Homers, Dealing With Back Issue
Claude Giroux

Signs One-Year Deal with Senators
Yordan Alvarez

has Chance to Return Next Weekend
Minnesota Timberwolves

Julius Randle Signs Three-Year Extension
Kelly Oubre Jr.

Opts into Player Option
Luis Robert Jr.

Heads to Injured List
Gabriel Arias

Carted Off on Sunday
Bryce Harper

Faces Live Pitching
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Remains Out on Sunday
Utah Jazz

Bojan Bogdanovic Retiring From Basketball
Los Angeles Lakers

Dorian Finney-Smith Declines Player Option
Jaylin Williams

Signing Three-Year Extension
LeBron James

Accepts Player Option
Anfernee Simons

"a Possible Re-Trade Candidate"
Chase Elliott

Ends Winless Skid With Atlanta Victory
Brad Keselowski

Falls Short of Atlanta Victory
NFL

NFL Won't Hold Supplemental Draft This Year
Damon Arnette

Getting Second Chance With Texans
Deommodore Lenoir

Arrested for Obstruction of Justice
Yordan Alvarez

Eyeing Return Before All-Star Break
Milwaukee Bucks

Kevin Porter Jr. Declining Player Option
Carson Hocevar

Recovers From Big One to Finish 10th at Atlanta
William Byron

Caught up in Atlanta Big One but Retains Points Lead
Denny Hamlin

Top In-Season Challenge Seed Denny Hamlin Eliminated in Lap 70 Crash
Ty Dillon

Bottom Seed Ty Dillon Upsets Denny Hamlin to Advance in In-Season Challenge
Quinn Priester

Fans 11 in One-Hit Gem
Toronto Raptors

Garrett Temple Returning to Toronto
Los Angeles Clippers

Nicolas Batum Declines Player Option
Spencer Schwellenbach

Dominant in Victory
Keon Johnson

Gets Team Option Picked Up
Rayan Rupert

Staying in Portland
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Expected to Make Second-Year Jump
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Out of Lineup Saturday
Jalin Hyatt

Looking to Flip the Script in 2025
Garrett Mitchell

to Undergo Shoulder Surgery
José Ramírez

Jose Ramirez in Guardians Lineup on Saturday
Kyle Larson

Don't Expect Kyle Larson to Win First Drafting Track Race on Saturday
Christopher Bell

Unlikely to Complete Atlanta Sweep
Brad Keselowski

Seeks Another Clutch Win for Hail-Mary Playoff Bid
Chris Buescher

Unlikely to Lead Enough to Have Much DFS Value
Alex Bowman

Qualifies Best Among Non-Fords but Unlikely to Contend at Atlanta
Ryan Preece

Will Probably Run Better Than Usual at Atlanta
Austin Dillon

Consistently Mediocre at Atlanta
Ty Gibbs

Slightly Faster Lately but Unlikely to be a Factor at Atlanta
Erik Jones

a Low-Key Strong DFS Option
Noah Gragson

Could Have DFS Value as One of the Lowest-Qualifying Fords
Riley Herbst

Unlikely to Replicate February Atlanta Finish
Ty Dillon

Could Benefit from Kaulig Speed
Chase Burns

Slated to Make Next Start on Monday
Dylan Sampson

Being Used as a Receiver
Carson Schwesinger

Figures to be in Full-Time Role in 2025
Cedric Tillman

Should Have Full-Time Role
Bryce Young

Looking More Comfortable, Showing More Intensity
Charlie Coyle

Blue Jackets Acquire Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood From Colorado
Jack Quinn

Signs Up for Two More Years with Sabres
Brandon Saad

Stays in Vegas on One-Year Deal
Trent Frederic

Inks Eight-Year Extension
Josh Naylor

Exits Friday's Contest Early with Neck Stiffness
Emil Heineman

Shipped to the Islanders
Noah Dobson

Traded to Montreal
John Tavares

Agrees to Four-Year Extension with Maple Leafs
Sam Bennett

Signs Eight-Year Extension with Panthers
NYI

Islanders Select Matthew Schaefer With No. 1 Pick in NHL Draft
José Berríos

Jose Berrios Tosses Seven Scoreless Innings in Fourth Win
Nick Martinez

Flirts With No-Hitter, Settles for Win
Gary Sánchez

Gary Sanchez Homers, Reaches Five Times in Onslaught
Trea Turner

Blasts Two Homers, Steals Base
Los Angeles Angels

Ron Washington to Remain on Medical Leave for Rest of the Season
Aaron Rodgers

Roman Wilson Could Fit Nicely With Aaron Rodgers
Josh Simmons

on Schedule to Open the Year as a Starter
Micah Parsons

Contract Length an Issue for Cowboys, Micah Parsons
Denver Broncos

Broncos Unsure How Their Running Back Room Will Look
Russell Wilson

Not the Only Leader in Giants Clubhouse
Jihaad Campbell

to Begin at Inside Linebacker
Josh Conerly Jr.

to Play Right Tackle for Now
Tyleik Williams

Expected to Fill Big Role Right Away
Malaki Starks

Should Make an Immediate Impact
Charles Oliveira

Can Become A Two-Time Lightweight Champion
Ilia Topuria

A Favorite At UFC 317
Kai Kara-France

Can Become The New Flyweight Champion
Alexandre Pantoja

Set For Fourth Title Defense At UFC 317
Joshua Van

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Brandon Royval

Looks For His Third Win In A Row
Renato Moicano

Returns At UFC 317
Beneil Dariush

An Underdog At UFC 317
Payton Talbott

Looks To Bounce Back
Felipe Lima

Set To Open Up UFC 317 Main Card
Daniil Tarasov

Panthers Bring in Daniil Tarasov
Frederick Gaudreau

Kraken Pick Up Frederick Gaudreau From Wild
Michael Thorbjornsen

Returns in Detroit at Rocket Classic
Adam Hadwin

Could Struggle Over the Weekend in Detroit
Cam Davis

Hopes Detroit Magic Can Spark Turnaround
Matt Wallace

a Boom-or-Bust Option at Rocket Classic
Joel Dahmen

Not Cutting it Lately
Michael Kim

Searching for Spark at Rocket Classic
Rasmus Hojgaard

a High-Ceiling Play in Rocket Classic
Matt McCarty

a Wild Card Heading into Detroit
Emiliano Grillo

Rolling into the Summer Season
Rickie Fowler

Looking for More Magic at Rocket Classic
Wyndham Clark

Brings High Upside to Detroit Golf Club
Max Greyserman

Could Make Noise at Rocket Classic
Akshay Bhatia

a Strong Value Play at Rocket Classic
Eric Cole

Hoping for Better Times at Rocket Classic
Beau Hossler

Searching for Form at Rocket Classic
PGA

Byeong Hun An in Good Form Heading into Rocket Classic
Cameron Young

Looking For Redemption and Possible First Career Victory in Detroit
Collin Morikawa

is The Headliner This Week in Detroit For Good Reason
Si Woo Kim

Back in Competition After Last Week's Withdrawal
PGA

Alex Noren Finishes Tied For 30th at Travelers Championship
Kurt Kitayama

Misses The Cut at RBC Canadian Open
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF