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Matt's tight end (TE) fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks for Week 18 of 2025. His TE lineups advice for Week 18 fantasy football start/sit decisions.
Buckle up, the fantasy football season isn’t over yet. There are still a few fantasy championships that hang in the balance here in Week 18, and we still have plenty of people looking to pay off some Christmas bills by winning some of that DFS money.
Last week, we had plenty of surprises among the tight end leaderboard thanks to Jake Tonges, Michael Mayer, Greg Dulcich, and Chig Okonkwo surpassing expectations and rewarding fantasy managers.
Let's dive into the top tight end start and sit recommendations for Week 18. Here’s who you should strongly consider in your lineup and who is best left on the bench this week.
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Week 18 - Potential Fantasy Football Booms
Oronde Gadsden II - TE, Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos
In Week 17, the Broncos surrendered 36 yards receiving and five receptions to Travis Kelce. While that number doesn’t look all that impressive, you need to consider that those 36 yards receiving accounted for 54.5% of Chris Oladokun’s total passing yards on the afternoon.
Before surrendering the 8.6 fantasy points to Kelce, the Broncos had been allowing 14.3 fantasy points per game to the tight end position over the course of the season, which happened to be the 12th most in the NFL. However, where Oronde Gadsden II becomes a stronger play this week is when you look at the four previous games for the Broncos, where they have allowed 18.7 fantasy points per game, the fifth most.
HERBERT. GADSDEN. TOUCHDOWN CHARGERS.
HOUvsLAC on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/sPc90JDrik— NFL (@NFL) December 27, 2025
In those four previous games ahead of the matchup against the Chiefs, Denver had conceded 306 receiving yards on 36 receptions, a pair of touchdowns, and a yards per target average of 7.46. The last time Gadsden faced this Broncos team, he made his NFL debut and converted seven targets into five receptions, 46 receiving yards, and 9.6 fantasy points.
Plenty has changed since that first meeting, but considering the much-improved play of Gadsden and the Broncos' recent struggles in defending the position, Gadsden has the potential to be a league winner in Week 18. Another thing that has changed since that last meeting, the Chargers will hand the ball to Trey Lance this week and give Justin Herbert an additional week to heal up before they enter the playoffs.
Harold Fannin Jr. - TE, Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals
It wasn’t pretty, but Harold Fannin Jr. managed to find his way into the end zone last week against the Steelers. While his overall usage wasn’t promising, the Browns tight end did catch both of his targets for 30 yards, propelling him toward his fifth consecutive top-12 fantasy finish.
Since Week 13, only Kyle Pitts Sr., Trey McBride, and George Kittle have produced more fantasy points per game than the 15.8 Fannin has averaged during his five-game streak. Over this span, Fannin has been targeted 38 times, holding a 23.7% target share and commanding 26.6% of the Browns' air yards. Averaging 11.21 yards per reception, 127 of his 269 total yards have come after the catch.
While McBride now holds the record for most receptions by a tight end in a season, surpassing Zach Ertz’s 2018 total of 117, he did so against the Bengals defense with 10 catches for 76 yards and a touchdown. Fannin may not be on McBride's level.
Still, given the Bengals' recent allowance of 630 receiving yards and four touchdowns (22.7 fantasy points per game) over six games, Fannin could have similar productivity for a week if he ends up playing. Fannin reaggravated his groin injury and may potentially be out for Week 18, so keep an eye on his status.
Hunter Henry - TE, New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins
New England may have clinched the AFC East title, but it still has a shot at securing home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win against the Dolphins if it can get a little help along the way. For fantasy managers, the 4:25 PM ET kickoff works well, as the Denver Broncos will be playing the Chargers at the same time, so nothing will be decided by then. A perfect storm in the madness that is a Week 18 fantasy championship.
If you are looking for the safe-floor option at tight end this week, then Hunter Henry is that guy. On the season, the Patriots tight end has averaged 10.5 fantasy points per contest. Since Week 12, his 12.3 fantasy points per game have him sitting as the TE6 in fantasy, having produced 11 or more fantasy points in four of his previous five contests.
FOUR TD passes for Drake Maye in the first half!
NEvsNYJ on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/MyqCqJl3ar
— NFL (@NFL) December 28, 2025
Over that period, Henry ranks seventh in receiving yards (290), ninth in target share (18.4%), 11th in targets per game (5.8), and has an average depth of target of 8.1 yards.
As for the Dolphins, over that same six-week span, they have allowed opposing tight ends to catch 34 of 46 targets, converting those receptions into 313 receiving yards and 17.1 fantasy points per game, the fifth most.
Week 18 - Potential Fantasy Football Busts
T.J. Hockenson - TE, Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers
Since Week 12, 22 other tight ends in the NFL have more receiving yards than Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson's 158. Anytime Mike Gesicki, AJ Barner, Okonkwo, Colby Parkinson, and Dulcich’s names rank ahead of you, there is a good chance that means you can’t be trusted in starting lineups for fantasy.
If Hockenson’s lack of production doesn’t seem like it’s that big of an issue, may I introduce you to his quarterback, Max Brosmer? In two NFL starts, Brosmer has completed 28-of-46 passing attempts for 177 yards, which is approximately 6.3 yards per completion. Now, in the one game Hockenson played with Brosmer, Hockenson was the primary option, hauling in six passes for 59 yards.
Hockenson did miss last week's contest with a shoulder injury, but even if he were to suit up, the Packers are one of the better teams when it comes to defending tight ends in fantasy football. Since Week 12, the Packers have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points (9.1) to the position, having allowed just 214 receiving yards over the last six games.
Jake Ferguson - TE, Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants
After leading all fantasy tight ends through the first six weeks of the season with a 16.4 fantasy points per game average, Jake Ferguson has reverted to the third option in Dallas and has been the TE18 in fantasy since Week 12, averaging a modest 7.8 fantasy points per game.
With options such as Okonkwo (9.4), Juwan Johnson (10.8), and Colston Loveland (11.9) coming on strong the last few weeks of the fantasy season, it’s easy to find productive options with more favorable matchups this week.
The Giants have performed well against tight ends over their last five games. Despite Michael Mayer's nine catches for 89 yards last week, they have allowed only 267 yards on 21 receptions in that stretch, averaging just 9.5 fantasy points per game -- the fifth-fewest since Week 12. Mayer’s game may have been an outlier rather than the expectation.
Cade Otton - TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers
There was a point in the season in which Cade Otton was a viable starting option in fantasy. That point has come and gone, and as we sit here on the cusp of Week 18, it needs to be pointed out that Baker Mayfield doesn’t look right out there. Otton’s 4.9 fantasy points per game over his last five contests won’t help fantasy managers or DFS players win anything.
Breaking down the data over Otton’s previous five contests, there is nothing to suggest a breakout is coming. Otton’s average depth of target is 3.9 yards, while his air yards share of 6.9%, target share of 11.7%, and team receiving market share of 10.7% are among the lowest of qualified tight ends.
Further complicating matters is the fact that the Carolina Panthers are allowing 9.8 fantasy points per game to the position over their previous five contests, the seventh-fewest, having allowed just 41.4 receiving yards per game and a single touchdown reception over that stretch.
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