Jonnu Smith, Darren Waller, Tyler Warren - Who Should You Draft in 2025 Fantasy Football?

Joey Sheiner's tight end fantasy football outlooks for Jonnu Smith, Darren Waller, and Tyler Warren. Which TE should you draft in 2025 fantasy football leagues?

In fantasy football, the tight-end position is extremely top-heavy and falls off significantly after just a few players come off the draft board. That elite crop of players includes Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, George Kittle, and Sam LaPorta. But once all of them have been drafted, you'd be wise to wait until the later rounds to address the position.

With luck, you might be able to snatch a decent tight end at a great price, like David Njoku or Evan Engram. But it's more likely that the bottom of the barrel will be all that's left. So, which of these players will provide the best bang for your buck?

Three late-round dart throws that could prove to be solid starters are Jonnu Smith, Darren Waller, and Tyler Warren. Let's break down the cases for and against drafting each of these three tight ends in fantasy football next season.

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Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Case For

The veteran tight end is coming off the best season of his career in 2024. For the first time in his career, Smith was utilized heavily, and he did not disappoint. He caught 88 of 111 targets for 884 yards and eight touchdowns, all career highs.

Having been traded by Miami, Smith now finds himself in Pittsburgh, where he should earn a fair share of targets. While receiver DK Metcalf will be the No. 1 option, Smith was brought in specifically for offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

STEAL: New Pittsburgh #Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith had more receiving yards than Travis Kelce last season.

🤯

Smith was a Pro Bowler and had 88 catches, 884 receiving yards, and had 8 touchdowns — could be special with Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback. pic.twitter.com/erRsIFOdco

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) July 1, 2025

Two years ago, Jonnu Smith nearly out-touched Kyle Pitts in Arthur Smith's offense in Atlanta. Although he's now competing with Pat Freiermuth, Smith is the better pass-catcher of the two.

Smith will also have the benefit of playing with Aaron Rodgers, who still has some gas left in the tank despite being 41 years old. Rodgers' age likely means that he will have to get the ball out quickly, so Smith could become a safety outlet for the veteran quarterback.

The Case Against

Smith's situation in Miami was excellent for fantasy purposes. Mike McDaniel utilized his athleticism and skills to his full ability, resulting in his breakout season and Pro Bowl nod. And he was finally a clear TE1 with no competition for the position.

Compare that situation with the one in Pittsburgh. The team has averaged less than 20 points per game over the last four seasons, and will likely remain a subpar unit at best in 2025 despite the changes.

The Steelers have been a traditionally run-heavy team over these years as well, with Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren handling the load. And with Harris now gone, they took RB Kaleb Johnson in the second round of the draft, reaffirming their desire to pound the rock.

And we can't forget the elephant in the room. Smith will have to split time with Freiermuth as long as the two of them are healthy. The two have been used in similar roles under Arthur Smith in the past, and both are capable players.

If Jonnu Smith fails to earn the majority of the snaps in an offense that prioritizes the ground game, he will finish as a TE2 at best in fantasy football.

Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins

The Case For

The 32-year-old Waller made a surprise return to the NFL and was traded to the Dolphins to replace the departed Smith. The sudden move gives Waller a great opportunity to earn a solid target share, as there is no other tight end on Miami's roster who appears to be competition.

In his prime with the Raiders, Waller was a physical and dominant target and performed as one of the league's best tight ends. He cleared 90 catches and 1,100 yards in 2019 and 2020 while playing for the Silver and Black.

While he struggled with injuries and performance in New York, Waller's time off may have helped him recover and get back to his best. And he'll have to be if he receives the brunt of the work left behind by Smith.

While it’s an ugly pickup…. Darren Waller could get a big volume if he’s healthy.

Pick him up for free in your leagues and wait it out✅ pic.twitter.com/x3mdRsH7Is

— TheFantasyFormula (@AFantasyFormula) July 1, 2025

Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill both struggled last season, which helped Smith earn the role that he did. If either of them is not back to their best in 2025, Waller could carve out a similar role and finish the season as a TE1.

The Case Against

While I did just say Waller could finish as a TE1 if either Hill or Waddle isn't back to their best, that's a pretty big "if." Hill played through a wrist issue for a large part of 2024, and Waddle saw his role reduced due to the rise of Smith and running back De'Von Achane in the short passing game.

Hill and Waddle should return to their previous levels of play, which means Waller will be the No. 3 target at best, and possibly the No. 4 target because of how frequently Achane is involved.

And that's assuming Waller is even on the field. In his last three active seasons from 2021 to 2023, Waller played just 32 out of a possible 51 games. His inability to stay healthy was part of the reason he retired in the first place.

And even in his prime, Waller struggled to find the end zone -- while he scored nine touchdowns in 2020, he hasn't had another season where he scored more than three. So even though Smith was a prominent figure in the Dolphins' red-zone offense, Waller may not be used in the same way.

Waller is a high-end TE2 in fantasy football solely due to the upside that comes with being a part of the Miami offense. Don't rely on him to be your TE1 due to his injury risk.

Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts

The Case For

While it took Warren until his final season to break out at Penn State, he evolved into a truly dominant player. The Nittany Lions did everything they could to get the ball in his hands, including drag routes, screens, handoffs, and even Wildcat formations.

He was the focal point of the team's offense and put up outstanding numbers. Warren caught 104 passes for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns and also rushed for 218 yards and four more TDs.

At 6-foot-5, 256 pounds, Warren was a matchup nightmare for linebackers and defensive backs in college and should be in the NFL as well. He was great against man coverage and also showcased the ability to find soft spots in zone coverage.

A first-round pick to the Colts, Warren has a big opportunity to hit the ground running due to a lack of competition for targets. Colts wide receivers Josh Downs, Michael Pittman Jr., and Alec Pierce have all flashed, but none have shown the ability to be a consistent No. 1 target.

Although rookie tight ends don't traditionally succeed right away, Brock Bowers was a similar mold to Warren coming out of Georgia, and the Raiders' situation isn't unlike that of the Colts. And Bowers just had arguably the best rookie TE season ever.

The Case Against

Warren will see the field right away, but he may not see targets right away, despite a clear opportunity. And the reason for that is simple: Uncertainty at quarterback will likely mean that the Colts lean on Jonathan Taylor and the running game. And when they do pass, it may not be Warren getting the ball.

New #Colts TE Tyler Warren on having an inevitably decreased workload at the next level (Q: @JakeArthurNFL):

“I don’t see it as being an issue. I could have 10 catches in a game or block for 70 snaps. That’s the thing about playing TE. I’m just gonna do my job.”

🎥: @Colts pic.twitter.com/eMcRkcX7ib

— Noah Compton (@nerlens_) April 25, 2025

With either Anthony Richardson Sr. or Daniel Jones slinging the rock in Indy, it might be too much to ask for Warren to become a massive contributor right away. And while you should expect him to be a better player than Downs, Pittman, or Pierce, they will still see targets and limit the rookie's upside.

Between Jonnu Smith, Darren Waller, and Warren, don't be surprised if it's the rookie who is drafted the highest. That would also make him the most interesting gamble of the three. Just keep in mind his potential lack of opportunity if you do draft him.

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