Fantasy Football Rankings - Tight Ends (TE) Week 17 Early Updates

December 23, 2025

Fantasy football rankings - tight ends (TE) Week 17 rankings early edition for 2025. Read the top-accuracy fantasy football TE rankings.

If you don't have a must-start stud at tight end, the position can be difficult and frustrating to navigate. But it's fantasy championship week, so it's important to nail this lineup call. We're here to assist with our Week 17 fantasy football tight end rankings for 2025. Below, find out where TEs on the start-sit bubble like Harold Fannin Jr., Dalton Schultz, Jake Ferguson, Taysom Hill, Hunter Henry, Colston Loveland, and more stand for the Week 17 NFL slate.

Our tight end fantasy football rankings for Week 17 are put together by Nick Mariano. Below the rankings, you will also find a summary of the important TE 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!

Week 17 Tight End Rankings for Fantasy Football

Bookmark our PPR rankings, Half-PPR rankings, and standard (non-PPR) rankings 

Week 17 Tight End Rankings Outlooks

Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints

New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson has been a steady producer for most of the 2025 season, recording 70 receptions for 733 yards and three touchdowns on 93 targets across 15 games. Johnson posted one of his better performances in Week 16 against the New York Jets, hauling in eight catches for 89 yards on nine targets. The Saints placed wideout Devaughn Vele (shoulder) on Injured Reserve leading into the game, which cements Johnson's status as the number two pass-catcher in New Orleans behind star wideout Chris Olave.

While Johnson may not have major upside, he's recorded just one game with fewer than four receptions since Week 6. Behind rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, the Saints are playing some of their best football of the season in recent weeks and face another favorable matchup in Week 17 against the Tennessee Titans. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable viewing Johnson as a high-floor streamer option off the waiver wire at the tight end position.

Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears

Across 14 games this season, Chicago Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland has recorded 42 receptions for 528 yards and four touchdowns on 58 targets. The 21-year-old has provided remarkably consistent production in the second half of the year. Loveland has recorded no fewer than three and no more than four receptions in each of his last seven games. In that stretch, he's also logged between four and six targets and between 29 and 63 receiving yards in every outing.

With Bears wideouts Rome Odunze (foot) and Luther Burden III (ankle) potentially set to miss the team's Week 17 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, Loveland could finally see a production spike. Even if his role remains the same, he's a good bet to continue to provide around 10 PPR fantasy points. In leagues where he remains available, Loveland should be viewed as a low-end TE1 option for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.

Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars

Across 10 games in 2025, Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange has hauled in 37 catches for 434 yards and two touchdowns on 49 targets. The 24-year-old had his season interrupted by a hip injury that sidelined him from Week 6 through Week 11, but he's stayed healthy since then, and his production appears to be trending in the right direction. Strange tied his season high with seven targets in Week 16 against the Denver Broncos, recording five catches for 39 yards and a touchdown.

Between wide receivers Jakobi Meyers, Brian Thomas Jr., and Parker Washington, the Jaguars have other capable pass-catchers who could steal opportunities away from Strange. However, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has thrown for 609 yards and eight touchdowns over the last two weeks and appears to be leading the Jacksonville offense to new heights. Strange carries streamer appeal in deeper leagues heading into his Week 17 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.

Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans

Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz has been a steady contributor throughout the 2025 season, recording 75 catches for 685 yards and three touchdowns on 98 targets across 15 games. While he may not be the most explosive player at the tight end position, Schultz provides a relatively stable production floor. Entering his Week 17 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, the 29-year-old has earned at least five targets and recorded at least 10 PPR fantasy points in six out of his last eight games.

Outside of star Texans wideout Nico Collins, Schultz may be the most trusted pass-catching option for Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud. In leagues where he remains available, Schultz can be viewed as a viable streamer at the tight end position for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire heading into Week 17.

Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. has strengthened his status as a must-add player on the fantasy football waiver wire in Week 17. The rookie enjoyed another dominant performance against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, catching four passes for 34 yards and a touchdown. He handled an 86% target share in the loss, largely due to the continued absence of fellow tight end David Njoku (knee). Fannin now has 22 catches, 239 yards, and three touchdowns over his last four games, ranking as the overall TE3 in fantasy football during that span.

His upside depends on whether Njoku is in the lineup, but even if the veteran tight end returns to action this week, Fannin should remain a top-five fantasy tight end while operating as Shedeur Sanders' favorite target. He'll now be tasked with facing off against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points, fourth-most catches, fourth-most receiving yards, and second-most receptions to opposing tight ends in 2025. Fannin is a priority addition who should be rostered and started in all leagues.

Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams

Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson remains a top target on the waiver wire heading into Week 17. Although Parkinson let down his fantasy managers with just two catches for 21 yards last Thursday against the Seahawks, this game was likely an outlier and can be attributed to a tough matchup.

Prior to that subpar outing, he had put together an impressive six-game stretch with 22 catches, 230 yards, and six touchdowns. He's a particularly appealing option given that Davante Adams (knee, hamstring) is trending toward missing Week 17 against the Atlanta Falcons. Adams has been a major threat in the red zone this year, scoring 14 touchdowns. Given Parkinson's success around the goal line lately, he should take over as one of Matthew Stafford's favorite red-zone targets in Adams' absence.

T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (shoulder) was listed as a non-participant on Monday's practice report. The Vikings conducted a walk-through on Monday, so this designation is based on an estimation from the team. Hockenson handled 75% of the snaps in the Vikings' Week 16 win over the New York Giants, but he wasn't a major receiving threat with just one catch for two yards.

The 28-year-old doesn't have much time to get healthy before the Vikings' Week 17 contest on Thursday against his old team, the Detroit Lions. Josh Oliver would earn additional volume if Hockenson doesn't suit up, but he could be catching passes from Max Brosmer after J.J. McCarthy (hand) was also estimated as a non-participant.

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