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Dan's tight end start 'em, sit 'em picks for fantasy football Week 1 lineups (2025). Read his expert TE start/sit advice for Zach Ertz, Dalton Kincaid, David Njoku, others.
Tight end is one of the few positions you can consistently stream in fantasy football because it is one of the most volatile positions. Sure, we can expect to see some names at the top of the scorers board each week, but for the most part, tight end comes down to nailing a player’s usage and touchdown upside.
Each week, my goal is to provide you with tight ends that are worth starting or fading as streaming options in your redraft leagues. As a result, you’ll never see the top names (Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, or George Kittle) in this article. That group is locked into a steady target share.
Check out Week 1’s tight ends to start or avoid in 2025 below!
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Week 1 Starts - Potential Fantasy Football Booms
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals
It is hard to be enthusiastic about the Browns’ offense as a collective whole, but there should be some excitement about the return of the Joe Flacco and David Njoku pairing in fantasy football.
Flacco and Njoku played six games together in 2023 with the Browns (one was a playoff game). During that time, Njoku averaged 9.3 targets, 6.2 receptions, 80.5 receiving yards, and 0.7 touchdowns per game. He averaged 18.2 PPR points per game during that stretch.
Just a reminder that the last time Joe Flacco was a Brown David Njoku set career highs in:
Targets. 123.
Catches. 81.
Yards. 882.
Touchdowns. 6.REUNITED IN 1 WEEK 🍿 pic.twitter.com/jb8k2BXA2u
— Nick Karns (@karnsies817) August 31, 2025
In 2024, the Bengals allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends (10.1). They were in the bottom three among all teams in targets (145), receptions (111), receiving yards (1,114), and touchdowns (10) surrendered to the position. 2024’s results have little impact on what will happen in 2025, but Cincinnati has the same secondary, which could bode well for Njoku.
This game has the makings of a high-scoring affair, which means plenty of opportunities for the Browns to throw the football. Don’t be surprised if Njoku puts together a big week as a result.
T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears
T.J. Hockenson is a full year removed from the torn ACL that limited him last season. Hockenson missed the first eight weeks of the season before eventually returning with mixed results. The veteran tight end logged the second-lowest snap share of his career (61%) while catching just 41 of 62 targets for 455 yards.
Still, there were some positives for the veteran tight end throughout the season. Hockenson logged three top-10 tight end finishes from Weeks 9 to 18, including two games inside the top five. He also had his strongest showing of the season in Minnesota’s playoff loss to the Rams, catching five passes for 64 yards and a touchdown.
HOCKENSON TOUCHDOWN
pic.twitter.com/DQWHa6S4On— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) January 14, 2025
The Vikings will need to lean on Hockenson early in the 2025 season with an inexperienced quarterback (J.J. McCarthy) and Jordan Addison’s suspension. The Bears' defense isn’t an ideal matchup, but it appears that linebacker T.J. Edwards may miss the game with a hamstring injury. That would benefit Hockenson greatly in the middle of the field.
Even if Edwards does play, the veteran tight end is set to be the second target in Minnesota’s offense behind Justin Jefferson to start the season. That is ideal for a fantasy tight end.
Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars vs Carolina Panthers
Brenton Strange took a positive developmental step in his second season. The former second-round pick caught 40 of 53 targets for 411 yards and two touchdowns. He was at his best during his eight games without Evan Engram (4.9 targets, 3.6 receptions, 34.4 receiving yards, and 0.3 touchdowns in eight games), averaging 8.6 PPR points per game.
Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter get all of the attention in this passing attack, but Strange is set to see his role continue to grow in Liam Coen’s offense. There also aren’t many better matchups than Carolina against the tight end.
The Panthers tried to address their secondary this offseason by targeting safeties Nick Scott and Tre’von Moehrig in free agency. Both players have limitations in coverage, keeping the middle of the field open for pass catchers once again.
Carolina surrendered the second-most fantasy points per game to tight ends in 2024 (10.0), including a league-high 11 touchdowns to the position. Strange should get his season off right against them in 2025.
Week 1 Concerns - Potential Fantasy Football Busts
Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens
Dalton Kincaid has fallen well short of expectations over the last two seasons. Kincaid posted a respectable stat line as a rookie in 2023 (73 receptions for 673 yards and two touchdowns) while averaging 9.4 PPR points per game (TE14).
Unfortunately, nagging injuries caused regression in his second season (44 receptions for 448 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games), leading to a worse tight end finish (7.8 points per game, TE18). Kincaid has yet to become the dynamic slot weapon the Bills hoped they drafted. He also remains trapped in a snap share with veteran tight end Dawson Knox, who is a better blocker and a serviceable pass catcher.
Every Dalton Kincaid target (playoffs included) from Year 2 pic.twitter.com/9H64Eb7FLV
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) July 2, 2025
Baltimore already had one of the most dynamic safeties in the NFL (Kyle Hamilton) and drafted another impact player in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft (Malaki Starks). Hamilton and Starks each can erase the middle of the field in coverage. Kincaid is a fine upside play at tight end in the Bills’ offense, but he can’t be trusted in your lineup in a difficult matchup.
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints vs Arizona Cardinals
Juwan Johnson has a clear path to targets at tight end in 2025. Both Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill are starting the season on the injured reserve. New Orleans is also starting Spencer Rattler under center, which could lead to more checkdowns to the tight end underneath.
That said, it is hard to trust Johnson against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1. Arizona allowed the second fewest points to the tight end position in 2024 (5.1), thanks to the strong play of their safeties in the middle of the field. The Cardinals also spent their entire offseason pouring free agent dollars and draft capital into their defense to raise the play of this group.
There will be good days ahead for Johnson, but for now, it is safest to just avoid the Saints' offense in this game.
Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders vs New York Giants
Zach Ertz was one of the biggest surprises in fantasy football last year, finishing with 91 targets, 66 receptions, 654 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns in 17 games played. It was the second time that Ertz had played a full season since 2018.
Fantasy managers likely drafted Ertz as a late-round tight end to get them a solid floor in fantasy. However, they may want to look for stronger options in Week 1.
For one, the Giants were strong against tight ends in 2024. Ertz posted just five receptions for 67 yards in his two games against the Giants last season. Additionally, the veteran tight end has even more competition for targets with Deebo Samuel Sr. on the roster.
The matchup, combined with an ambiguous target share, is a good reason to leave Ertz on your bench for Week 1.
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