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RotoBaller's 2025 fantasy football TE rookie rankings by Matt Donnelly. Rookie tight end rankings for dynasty rookie drafts. Read the expert rookie analysis.
With the NFL Draft now in the rearview mirror, it is time for fantasy managers to start looking toward their fantasy drafts and how to improve their rosters. Those managers seeking to upgrade their tight-end position are in luck, as the 2025 class is as deep as any in recent memory.
Depending on where you select, there is a tight end for you. It's all about roster construction, so here are 10 tight ends fantasy managers can add to their rosters.
But first, for a deeper dive into dynasty strategy, rankings, and trade tactics, you can check out our complete Dynasty Fantasy Football Guide.
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Fantasy Football Rookie Tight End Rankings
10. Mitchell Evans, Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers tight-end room consists of unproven talent. Tommy Tremble and Ja'Tavion Sanders have flashed, but neither has taken over the role. Enter Mitchell Evans, who has one of the quickest bursts among his peers when you pop on the tape. Looking at the measurables from the combine, you see that on display with that impressive 10-yard split time.
Returning to the 2023 season (pre-ACL injury), Evans averaged 14.6 yards per reception for the Fighting Irish, showing off his impressive ball skills. The former high school quarterback will be able to get on the same page as Bryce Young and make a push for the Panthers' TE1 role sooner than many may lead you to believe.
9. Thomas Fidone II, New York Giants
Any tight end willing to tattoo themselves automatically earns a spot inside the top 10. Injuries may have slowed Thomas Fidone II down. Still, the former Cornhusker put on a show at the combine, posting a 9.37 Relative Athletic Score and getting himself drafted in the seventh round.
Giants TE Thomas Fidone highlights pic.twitter.com/I2ORnrPbGD
— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) April 26, 2025
Opportunity awaits Fidone as the Giants' depth chart consists of Theo Johnson, Daniel Bellinger, Chris Manhertz, and Greg Dulcich. They are serviceable tight ends, but nothing prevents Fidone from earning a roster spot in 2025. Fidone averaged 10.4 yards per reception when healthy in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
8. Gunnar Helm, Tennessee Titans
It is not the greatest landing spot for Gunnar Helm, as Chig Okonkwo is alone at the top of the Titans' depth chart at the tight-end position. The Titans added Tyler Lockett via free agency and selected Elic Ayomanor in the draft, suddenly creating competition for targets that weren't there in Tennessee a season ago.
There is plenty to like about what Helm has to offer. The former Longhorn is one of the smoothest athletes from this past draft and will find success attacking seams and picking up yards after the catch. Helm managers may need to be patient, but if you are willing to play the long game, Helm has the potential to grow with Cam Ward and pay off in a few years when the Titans transition away from Okonkwo.
7. Oronde Gadsden II, Los Angeles Chargers
28-year-old Will Dissly and newly signed 29-year-old Tyler Conklin occupy the top two tight-end spots on the Chargers' depth chart. That said, neither offers the upside Oronde Gadsden II offers after dropping just three of 103 targets in 2024, coming away with 73 receptions, seven touchdowns, and 934 receiving yards to go with 12.8 yards per reception and a 60.7 percent contested catch rate.
Intriguing sleeper tight end #NFLDraft2025 -- Oronde Gadsden from Syracuse
+ More career receiving yards than Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland in fewer games
+ Year 2 breakout
+ 90th percentile wingspan -- catch radius pops on tape
+ 4.61 speed (pro day)Gadsden was only… pic.twitter.com/3N3DjZUvuM
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) April 7, 2025
Gadsden is a hybrid tight end/wide receiver who can create mismatches operating out of the slot (46 of 73 receptions). Justin Herbert will love the big-bodied converted wide receiver playing alongside his other core weapons in Ladd McConkey, Tre Harris, and Omarion Hampton.
6. Elijah Arroyo, Seattle Seahawks
Historically speaking, tight ends go to Seattle to disappear. Seattle has yet to produce a 1,000-yard receiving season from a tight end; the closest to accomplish that feat was Jimmy Graham back in 2016 when he recorded 923 receiving yards on 65 receptions.
A few things are working in Elijah Arroyo's favor. First, he has a new quarterback in Sam Darnold, with another quarterback waiting in the wings, Jalen Milroe, whom he can grow alongside.
Second, Noah Fant is set to become a free agent at season's end and has done very little with the opportunity since coming to Seattle in that Russell Wilson trade.
Thirdly, the Seahawks revamped their entire pass-catching room with the departures of Lockett and DK Metcalf and the arrivals of Cooper Kupp, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Tory Horton. Valdes-Scantling has underperformed much of his career, while Kupp is 31 years old and has dealt with some injuries over the last couple of seasons.
5. Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns
If not for David Njoku, who is still in town and delivering, Harold Fannin Jr. would likely be higher on this list. After all, no player had more receiving yards (1,555) or receptions (117) in college last season than Fannin posted at Bowling Green.
Fannin adds mystery to the Browns offense. He is likely to line up in both the backfield and out of the slot in an attempt to create mismatches that whoever happens to be under center in Week 1 can take advantage of.
4. Mason Taylor, New York Jets
New York let Conklin walk to have Mason Taylor run. Taylor is projected to be the Jets' starting tight end, immediately providing Justin Fields with a security blanket that reminds some of Zach Ertz.
Do you remember who the Detroit Lions passing game coordinator was when Sam LaPorta arrived in Detroit? Here's a hint: the same man is now the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets. With Allen Lazard as the current second option in the passing game behind Garrett Wilson, it may not be long before we compare Taylor's rookie season to LaPorta's.
3. Terrance Ferguson, Los Angeles Rams
Thanks to this landing spot, Terrance Ferguson is flying up rookie draft boards. Tyler Higbee is the incumbent tight end, but he is also 32 years of age and is coming off a season in which he had to return from a major knee injury.
Los Angeles is looking for a consistent third option in the passing game behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Ferguson showed he could be that guy when afforded an opportunity at Oregon.
Last season, Ferguson saw 72.1 percent of his receptions go for first downs or touchdowns, and 25.6 percent of his catches resulted in gains of 20 or more yards; those numbers are something Matthew Stafford will appreciate.
The Rams got a star in Terrance Ferguson 🦆
pic.twitter.com/O4M0PYvVqm— SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) April 26, 2025
2. Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis has needed a tight end for as long as anyone can remember. The last productive Colts tight end was Dallas Clark in 2009, except for one Eric Ebron season thrown in there.
Indianapolis needs to get a return on its Anthony Richardson investment, and Tyler Warren gives the team the best opportunity to do just that. Warren is coming off a senior season in which he finished with 104 receptions and 1,233 receiving yards. Warren is a proven playmaker who can block and even run the ball if needed.
1. Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears
Cole Kmet is still a Bear, but that doesn't change much. Colston Loveland is a wide receiver trapped in a tight end's body and is the best pass-catching tight end in this year's draft class.
New Bears head coach Ben Johnson is the same coach who unlocked Sam LaPorta in Detroit, and he will be looking to do that once again with Loveland, who can operate in-line or out of the slot.
Chicago's offense is starting to look scary, as Loveland will be joining DJ Moore and Rome Odunze on Caleb Williams' Christmas card list for years to come.
Just Missing: Jackson Hawes (Buffalo), Luke Lachey (Houston), Gavin Bartholomew (Minnesota), Moliki Matavao (New Orleans)
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