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John's full fantasy football player outlook on all 32 projected starting tight ends for Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season. Read his depth chart analysis and TE fantasy rankings.
For many teams, it's pretty obvious who their starting tight end will be in Week 1. No one's losing sleep at night, waking up in cold sweats, and panicking over who will be the Las Vegas Raiders starting TE when Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season rolls around. That will clearly be Brock Bowers, without question.
But for some teams, things might be a little more ambiguous. The 2025 NFL Draft was fairly deep at the tight end position, so there are a few rookies who could shake things up. And TE is a notoriously difficult position to learn, so it wouldn't be surprising if some second or third-year guys shake things up.
But knowing every team's starting TE in Week 1 in advance could give you a pretty sizable boost in your fantasy football leagues. And there are bound to be some surprises on at least some teams, so we might as well try to dig them up. Let's dive in!
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AFC East
Buffalo Bills - Dalton Kincaid
Kincaid is looking like quite a bust of a pick by the Bills by now. For some reason, they chose him over a very good Detroit Lions tight end in the same draft. I wasn't a fan and didn't understand the pick after watching the tape. Now, it's becoming clearer who the better guy is, as if it wasn't already obvious after like 3 games in 2024.
Oh my gosh! DALTON KINCAID WITH THE BIGGEST DROP OF HIS LIFE😳
Chiefs Bills AFC Championship pic.twitter.com/guhvmPP0j6
— Captain Boost (@eurosooner77) January 27, 2025
Many fantasy managers take far too long to let go of players when they're clearly not as good as they were hyped to be. Let Kincaid go ASAP, though.
Miami Dolphins - Jonnu Smith
Update - Jonnu Smith has been traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. As a result, Julian Hill will liekly open the season as the TE1
Smith was fantastic after the catch and a legitimate weapon for the Dolphins offense last season. Expect that to continue. He was simply held back by being on bad offenses in previous seasons, but now he's outshining WR Jaylen Waddle. Interesting stuff.
Jonnu Smith is a BAD MAN ‼️😤 pic.twitter.com/jfA54iZ40O
— Bobby Shouse (@B_Shousejr) December 30, 2024
New England Patriots - Hunter Henry
Don't expect Henry to have a good season this year. He was losing snaps to his backup TE, Austin Hooper, toward the end of 2024. The main weapons on this team are not the TEs. Henry is still better than Hooper, though.
New York Jets - Mason Taylor
Taylor, a rookie from LSU, is likely to step into the role vacated by a tight end mentioned later on this list that departed the team after the 2024 season. Taylor was billed as a good talent and all-around skilled TE in college, but this offense is a bit scary right now.
Every Mason Taylor 1 on 1 rep from the senior bowl.
Would you rather have him or Kyle Williams in dynasty?
— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) May 16, 2025
Taylor's tape didn't impress me a lot, so I don't see much of a reason to be excited about him yet, especially on the Jets. They're a poverty franchise. And their quarterback this season, Justin Fields, struggles to read defenses and locks on to his first target, who will be WR Garrett Wilson.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens - Mark Andrews
There were rumors about Andrews being traded after his ignominious end to the 2024 season. He dropped a two-point conversion that could have tied the team's Divisional Round game against the Buffalo Bills. It was pretty ugly, and he's been a consistent underperformer in the playoffs.
MARK ANDREWS DROPPED THE GAME-TYING PASS 😳
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/dGHC30xxun
— ESPN (@espn) January 20, 2025
And he will turn 30 years old in early September, so it's not a big surprise that he's not a coveted asset. He should stick with the Ravens.
Cleveland Browns - David Njoku
Cleveland drafted TE Harold Fannin Jr. in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but it will likely remain Njoku who will start, for now. Fannin could be in line to replace Njoku down the road. The latter's inability to stay healthy could be a major driver for this.
Harold Fannin Jr. vs. SEC
Stud. https://t.co/hFAZ0xbm9z pic.twitter.com/DzHt7js44I
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) April 11, 2025
Cleveland invested significant draft capital into Fannin, and 2025 is the last year of Njoku's contract. But, like I said, TEs can take time to develop, so the first year for Fannin should be as a backup.
Cincinnati Bengals - Mike Gesicki
It could be that backup TE Erick All (knee) was set to eventually take over Gesicki's TE1 job. But that's not likely to happen any time soon. He tore his ACL on November 3rd of 2024, and with a long and brutal injury history, is likely to miss all of the 2025 season now.
3 YEAR DEAL FOR MIKE GESICKI.
Joe Burrow finally has a consistent pass catcher at the tight end position.
Love this extension. pic.twitter.com/55u5ZCSPFs
— Patrick Carey (@PatCareySports) March 8, 2025
Gesicki also signed a three-year extension with the team, so he's here to stay. His fantasy value depends on whether Tee Higgins or Ja'Marr Chase are hurt. When both are healthy, he's not much of a factor.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Pat Freiermuth
Update - Jonnu Smith has been traded to the Steelers. Smith should be expected to open the season as the TE1.
Freiermuth will remain the starting TE on perhaps the most boring passing offense in the NFL in 2025. There's not much competition for his job, but it's not an exciting job to have, either. Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith loves to get his TE2 and TE3 involved.
AFC South
Houston Texans - Dalton Schultz
Schultz had a dreadful season in 2025, but Houston didn't bring in meaningful competition for him. Instead, the team's TE2 is Brevin Jordan, who hasn't done much in his career and tore his ACL in Week 2 of 2024. Schultz should be a non-factor in most fantasy leagues.
Dalton Schultz on the Texans final redzone trip:
1st down - walks his crosser & doesn’t even make a effort to come back to the ball on scramble drill
2nd down - walks his (dig?) genuinely no idea what route that is it’s so bad
3rd down - Doesn’t know the play and causes a… pic.twitter.com/2xfJP1E0hN
— Jacob (@TexansJacob) December 22, 2024
Schultz's tape is pretty ugly. I'd avoid.
Indianapolis Colts - Tyler Warren
Warren was chosen in the first half of the first round by the Colts, who don't have another viable tight end right now. It's obvious that he'll be the starter. He's an incredibly impressive athlete at his position -- he's extremely tough and can break tackles like a running back. The Colts will find ways to get him the ball.
All of Penn State TE Tyler Warren’s 15+ yard receptions last season
— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) April 16, 2025
Colts QB Anthony Richardson really sucks, though. Daniel Jones being the starter would probably be a good thing for Warren, as sad as that sounds.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Brenton Strange
This was pretty much inevitable after the departure of the team's former starting TE, E. Engram, who will be mentioned later. Strange didn't have an overly impressive 2024. His 14-target game might convince many that he's primed for a big breakout, but I'd pump the brakes. He's nothing more than a dart throw in fantasy for me.
Tennessee Titans - Chigoziem Okonkwo
Tennessee did draft former Texas Longhorns tight end Gunnar Helm, but he's a relatively poor athlete, and it seems that Okonkwo will retain his job for now. Okonkwo is one of those players who are always hyped as being primed for a breakout, but the offense could be bad yet again, and there's plenty of target competition for him.
AFC West
Denver Broncos - Evan Engram
Engram was signed for significant money to be the Broncos starting TE. He has the skills to earn the job over the other players on the depth chart. Engram will compete for the de-facto WR2 position with wide receiver Pat Bryant, who the team invested significant draft capital in this year.
Evan Engram is on pace for a 110/917/4 season. A record-breaking second season for the #Jaguars TE.
pic.twitter.com/a27bwmp79d— Daniel Griffis (@DanDGriffis) December 12, 2023
It should be a nice year. At least he's getting paid like he's about to have one, which is what matters -- clearly, the Broncos think he'll be an excellent addition to the passing offense. He should get plenty of targets as a result, which gives him solid upside in fantasy leagues.
Kansas City Chiefs - Travis Kelce
Kelce is completely athletically washed at this point. Many in the community don't want to accept it, but 34/35 year old players with a lifetime of beatings to their body from football tend to be that way. Kelce has extra wear and tear from all the playoff games. He'll turn 36 during the 2025 season. It won't get any better.
ESPN Analytics worst receiving ratings of the season:
1. Travis Kelce
2. Tre Tucker
3. Ja'Lynn Polk
4. David Njoku
T-5. Dalton Schultz
T-6. Johnathan MingoKelce was especially horrible at the catch point. He's pretty much completely washed. I'd avoid in fantasy. pic.twitter.com/cpmtMgyMPt
— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) May 22, 2025
Do not draft.
Las Vegas Raiders - Brock Bowers
Bowers had a remarkable rookie season. He was the league's best tight end in PPR leagues, and arguably one of its best overall. There's not much reason to think that will change. Interestingly, though, the team drafted WR Jack Bech in Round 2 of the 2025 Draft. A slight regression in targets could be imminent, but don't worry.
Brock bowers is so special. pic.twitter.com/bhVdRGwbEx
— J.C. (@RaiderLaker24) May 26, 2025
He's priced a bit over appropriately in fantasy drafts this season, so he's a tough sell for me. But you have to pay up to get elite players, so it makes sense.
Los Angeles Chargers - Tyler Conklin
Chargers TE Will Dissly is not good and hasn't been good for a long time. A few games where quarterback Justin Herbert tried to get him more involved because he didn't have many other options to throw to doesn't change that, so stay away in fantasy.
Tyler Conklin has been making great contested catches today, & really all season
TE1#Jets pic.twitter.com/sAe7bvUi0j
— Harrison Glaser (@NYJetsTFMedia) December 10, 2023
Conklin should be the starter by the time the season starts, and is an upgrade over Dissly.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys - Jake Ferguson
Ferguson is the clear TE1. He's easily better than his backup, Luke Schoonmaker. If quarterback Dak Prescott can stay healthy all season, Ferguson could bounce back nicely as the 3rd option in an offense with WRs CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.
“Jake Ferguson isn’t a Top 5 TE”
Watch this:pic.twitter.com/K9QP1bfFkp
— PickensSZN (@ThePickensSZN) May 28, 2025
New York Giants - Theo Johnson
It doesn't seem like Daniel Bellinger, Johnson's backup, will impress so much in the offseason that he's promoted over Johnson. Both were drafted around the same pick, but to this point, Johnson has done something on the field, and Bellinger's done almost nothing.
Philadelphia Eagles - Dallas Goedert
The Eagles reportedly want to trade Goedert away after 2024, but unsurprisingly, teams didn't listen. He's very injury-prone, and his play has fallen off in recent years. But he's the clear TE1 right now.
Washington Commanders - Zach Ertz
When rookie TE Ben Sinnott failed to even take snaps away from fellow TE John Bates last year, it seemed that the aging Ertz would be TE1 again. That's likely to be the case, as Washington extended the 34-year-old for another season.
NFC North
Chicago Bears - Colston Loveland
The Bears didn't invest the 10th overall pick into Loveland for nothing. TE Cole Kmet, the team's starter last season, struggles to be consistent. Loveland is a much more polished route-runner with a massive catch radius. Everything will rest on QB Caleb Williams' shoulders regarding Loveland's potential production.
A 6'4" WR weighing 210-220 pounds would be praised for this route. Colston Loveland is running it at 6'6" and 245 pounds. Ridiculous pic.twitter.com/un8ozAKPlj
— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) March 25, 2025
Detroit Lions - Sam LaPorta
LaPorta is head and shoulders above his backup, Brock Wright, as a talent. Thus, it's hard to imagine LaPorta losing his TE1 job unless he gets injured. LaPorta took a step back production-wise in 2024, though that wasn't his fault -- he just didn't get targeted as much.
Sam LaPorta in the fantasy regular season: Fantasy TE13
Sam LaPorta in the fantasy playoffs: Fantasy TE1 pic.twitter.com/C78xb5jpB3
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) January 2, 2025
That shouldn't change, either, thanks to WR Jameson Williams' breakout. But upside wins championships, so buying the dip might not be all that bad.
Green Bay Packers - Tucker Kraft
Thus far, backup TE Luke Musgrave has failed to impress. Kraft looks much better on film, and has produced much better as well, so he should be the guy. The Packers pass-catching corps is extremely crowded though.
Minnesota Vikings - T.J. Hockenson
Hockenson is one of the league's best TEs when healthy, and he'll be even further removed from his ACL tear in the 2023 season playoffs. He was the starter the moment he returned from the injury, so no changes. He could have a huge year -- he's in a great offense and is an elite talent.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons - Kyle Pitts
There are still many that believe in Pitts. I'm not one of them, because Pitts is just not a good football player, now matter how much people still hang on to his rookie season. That was the doing of QB Matt Ryan, who got zero credit for fooling everyone about Pitts.
If it wasn't already, it is officially time to call Kyle Pitts a bust.
They took him over Ja'Marr Chase & Penei Sewell, man.
pic.twitter.com/SwnROzeuqQ— Marcus Whitman (@TFG_Football) December 22, 2024
Carolina Panthers - Ja'Tavion Sanders
Quarterback Bryce Young will have to take an impressive leap forward and maintain his good production to make Sanders a viable fantasy option. The TE showed flashes last season, but was far from consistent. And with Carolina bringing in WR Tetairoa McMillan, chosen early in the 2025 Draft, Sanders might not break out this year.
New Orleans Saints - Juwan Johnson
There isn't a lot of reason to be excited about Saints pass-catchers this season. With Taysom Hill (knee) set to turn 35 years old in August, and coming off a devastating season-ending knee injury, Johnson should be the clear starter, though that doesn't mean much.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Cade Otton
Otton was the starter last season, and the Bucs haven't added any significant talent at the position since then. He takes a backseat to WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in this offense. And with rookies Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson, also WRs, in town, Otton's role should remain sparing.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals - Trey McBride
McBride is one of the league's best players at his position. Despite WR Marvin Harrison Jr. being selected at No. 4 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, McBride clearly outshined him. Don't be surprised if he ends 2025 as the team's leading receiver in receptions and yards.
Trey McBride is a 6’4 tight end and has hurdles in each of his last 2 games.
You don’t see this stuff often.#BirdGang pic.twitter.com/sohoYAGKRm
— Cardinals Muse (@CardsMuse) November 4, 2024
Los Angeles Rams - Tyler Higbee
Higbee appears to still have it despite being 32 years old and coming off a torn ACL. He's a good player to draft at his highly depressed ADP, and he should comfortably be the third target in a high-powered Rams offense. Expect at least one more solid year from him.
Before injury, Tyler Higbee was primed to have his best game last night. 5 early catches and they were so impactful!
Higbee and Stafford set the tone and momentum with a spectacular throw and diving catch in the first drive.
Hope Higbee can rest up and continue the fight! pic.twitter.com/t1eGWGh16B
— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) January 14, 2025
San Francisco 49ers - George Kittle
Kittle had elite efficiency last season and played some of the best football of his life. He's one of the league's best at his position. He's especially amazing after the catch. Perhaps with WR Deebo Samuel Sr. now gone, he could get more opportunities to gain YAC. He's still apparently in his prime.
Seeing a lot of people predict who finishes #1 overall at their position. My guess:
QB1 - Jayden Daniels
RB1 - Saquon Barkley
WR1 - Puka Nacua
TE1 - George Kittle
— Dataroma (@ffdataroma) May 18, 2025
Seattle Seahawks - Noah Fant
Yes, the team drafted TE Elijah Arroyo, but Seahawks general manager John Schneider isn't a good drafter. He should have picked more offensive linemen. Fant probably remains the starter for now, though he could be gone in a season or two.
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