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Matt's tight end (TE) fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks for Week 17 of 2025. His TE lineups advice for Week 17 fantasy football start/sit decisions.
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No other position grants fantasy managers the positional advantage that the tight end position can offer. Last week, Harold Fannin Jr (19.5), Juwan Johnson (16.9), and Chig Okonkwo (16.4) were productive enough to be considered equal to the bottom tier of the WR1 spectrum.
Let's dive into the top starts and sits at tight end for Week 17 of the fantasy football season.
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Week 17 - Potential Fantasy Football Booms
Darren Waller - TE, Miami Dolphins vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This season, when healthy, Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller has provided fantasy managers with some value, averaging 11 fantasy points per game. Known as a dynamic pass-catcher, Waller has also shown upside with three games of 17+ fantasy points in eight appearances.
In a plus matchup against the Bengals, Waller was somewhat underwhelming, converting four of five targets into 40 receiving yards and 7.0 fantasy points on the afternoon. This week, Waller will get another crack at another subpar fantasy defense as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers surrendered just over 14 fantasy points to Panthers tight ends a week ago.
Since returning to the Dolphins lineup after injury, Waller has been targeted 13 times over four contests. He generally offers more fantasy appeal with Tua Tagovailoa under center; however, if rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers starts this week, it would be just his second career start. Even with Ewers potentially at quarterback, Waller faces a favorable matchup against a Buccaneers defense that has allowed 20.9 fantasy points per game to tight ends over the last six contests.
Harold Fannin Jr. - TE, Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers
With starting running back Quinshon Judkins suffering a broken leg and dislocated ankle, rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. has become the focal point of the Cleveland Browns’ offense. Last week, Fannin caught four of six passes from recent starter Shedeur Sanders for 34 yards and a touchdown; he also scored on a rushing attempt, highlighting his versatile role in the Browns' playbook.
Against the Bills, Fannin set a Browns rookie reception record with his 67th catch. Over the last four weeks, he’s averaged 17.1 fantasy points per game; only Kyle Pitts Sr. and Trey McBride have been more productive since Week 13.
fast start for the boys 🔥#BUFvsCLE on CBS and NFL+ pic.twitter.com/ZewWScOQ4s
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 21, 2025
Look for the production to continue this week against a Pittsburgh Steelers team that has been allowing 18.4 fantasy points per contest dating back to Week 11. In those six contests, the Steelers have yielded 342 receiving yards on 35 receptions, along with four touchdown receptions.
In the earlier meeting between these two teams, Fannin was targeted on 10 occasions, hauling in seven of those passes for 81 yards. If Fannin can replicate that performance once again, those 151 fantasy points would likely earn him another top-5 fantasy week among his tight end peers.
Mike Gesicki - TE, Cincinnati Bengals vs Arizona Cardinals
In two of his last three games, Mike Gesicki topped 12 fantasy points and averaged 11.7 over that stretch, including 12.5 last week against the Dolphins with three catches, 35 yards, and a touchdown.
Burrows fires to Gesicki for his 4th touchdown pass
CINvsMIA on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/CWW2RlTvWo
— NFL (@NFL) December 21, 2025
Against the Dolphins, Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense got on a bit of a heater, scoring 45 points as Burrow threw for 309 yards. Burrow should be able to duplicate that performance against a banged-up Cardinals defense that had just surrendered 57 receiving yards and a touchdown to Kyle Pitts Sr., who would also finish with seven receptions in that Week 16 contest.
Pitts isn’t the first nor last to exploit the Cardinals. Arizona has allowed 17.9 fantasy points per game over its last five, with four touchdowns over that span. Given Burrow’s recent distribution, Gesicki has a strong chance to score during championship week.
Week 17 - Potential Fantasy Football Busts
Brock Bowers - TE, Las Vegas Raiders vs New York Giants
Look, I know you made it this far with Brock Bowers anchoring your lineups, but with everything on the line this week, Bowers is not without risks. Bowers was saved last week with a touchdown, but his stat line read as follows: five receptions for 33 yards and a touchdown. Take away that tuddie, and we are looking at 8.3 fantasy points.
This is not a knock on Bowers. The entire Raiders offense has been a red stain on a white carpet this season. Las Vegas has the fourth-fewest passing yards in the league entering week 16 (173.4), and Geno Smith hit the over, but barely in that game against the Texans. Las Vegas has also thrown 15 interceptions (all by Smith), which is the fifth-most, and has surrendered the second-most sacks (54).
For Bowers, the matchup is less than desirable as the New York Giants have held opposing tight ends to 15 receptions for 184 receiving yards since the start of Week 11. On a points per game basis, the Giants' defense is allowing 7.9 fantasy points to the position, the third-fewest over that period.
AJ Barner - TE, Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers
AJ Barner propelled many fantasy teams into the Championship this week thanks to the four-catch, 49 receiving yard, 15 fantasy point performance against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football. Here’s the thing with Barner: he is a boom/bust option at best, who has had more sub-eight-point performances than he has had weeks with more than eight fantasy points.
In good matchups, I’m all in favor of inserting Barner into my lineups. However, this week against the Carolina Panthers is not for the fantasy faint of heart. Carolina, since Week 11, has kept opposing tight ends from hitting pay dirt and has limited production to 15 receptions for 184 receiving yards and 7.8 fantasy points per game.
Last week, Cade Otton of the Buccaneers was limited to two receptions for 15 yards. With a shot at fantasy glory, Barner’s inconsistency is tough to trust against the stingy Panthers defense, which has shut down tight ends over the last quarter of the season. Fantasy football is a numbers game, and the numbers suggest fading Barner this week.
Mark Andrews - TE, Baltimore Ravens at Green Bay Packers
Before facing the Patriots in Week 16, Mark Andrews has been a fantasy enigma, having produced 4.1 fantasy points per game over his previous four contests. In fantasy, that works out to be the TE43; eventually, the name-brand recognition has to stop.
Looking at those four games a little closer, Andrews had a target share of 14.7% and an air yards share of 14.2%, neither of which lends itself to fantasy production. Historically, Andrews has been Lamar Jackson's go-to option inside the 20. Looking at the data, that hasn’t been the case over those four games, as Andrews has been targeted on just four occasions inside the red zone.
This week, the struggles in all likelihood will continue as the Ravens' tight end locks up with the fourth-toughest fantasy matchup for tight ends since Week 11. Over the Packers' last six games, they are allowing just 8.1 fantasy points per game and have yielded just 3.8 receptions and 32.5 receiving yards per game. Sadly, that production will likely be split between Andrews and Isaiah Likely, which makes Andrews a hard pass this week.
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