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Matt's tight end (TE) fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks for Week 4 of 2025. His TE lineups advice for Week 4 fantasy football start/sit decisions.
Well, butter my backside and call me a biscuit.
In Week 3 of the fantasy football season, Hunter Henry, Dalton Kincaid, Brenton Strange, Chig Okonkwo, Jack Stoll, and Drew Sample produced more than 10 fantasy points and sat inside TE1 territory heading into Monday Night Football.
With that all out of the way, here are your starts and sits at the tight end position for Week 4 of the fantasy football season.
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Week 4- Fantasy Football Booms
T.J. Hockenson - TE, Minnesota Vikings at Pittsburgh Steelers
Carson Wentz wasn't great in his first start of the season, but he wasn't all that terrible either. Wentz threw for 173 yards on 14 of 20 passing, with 28.3% of those passing yards going to Hockenson. Meanwhile, the tight Vikings tight end position was responsible for both Wentz's receiving touchdowns, as Hockenson and Josh Oliver each had one. Hockenson's 30% target share with Wentz under center trailed only Justin Jefferson, an excellent sign for fantasy managers.
Carson Wentz throws another TD!
CINvsMIN on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/xDZUA990WM
— NFL (@NFL) September 21, 2025
While the fantasy production hasn't necessarily been there so far, Hockenson has still seen a 20% target share this season, which is tied with Brock Bowers for the sixth-highest among tight ends. Coming into Week 3, Hockenson averaged just 3.35 fantasy points per game through the first two weeks of the season before finishing with 15.9 fantasy points last week, which assured him a top-six fantasy finish.
This week, Hockens is once again primed for a top-six finish as the Vikings face a Steelers defense that has allowed 211 receiving yards to the position and three touchdown receptions, which is tied with Seattle for the most. Pittsburgh has also allowed an average of 18.77 fantasy points per game against the tight end position, making it one of the three friendliest defenses.
Jake Ferguson - TE, Dallas Cowboys vs Green Bay Packers
One really shouldn't need to explain why Ferguson is a start this week. However, here we are: After a 13-reception performance against the Bears, Ferguson still has plenty of people doubting whether or not he can consistently be a top-producing tight end, which, by the way, he can and will.
Dallas' offense took a big hit last week when CeeDee Lamb rolled his ankle. He is now slated to miss a significant amount of time as he recovers from a high ankle injury. With Lamb sidelined, Ferguson would see 14 targets against the Bears, hauling in 13 of them for 82 yards. While the 82 yards on 13 receptions is the lowest receiving total for a tight end to finish with 12 or more receptions, they don't ask how; they ask how many. Ferguson's 21.2 fantasy points after a 16.8 performance the week prior have him as the top fantasy tight end heading into Week 4.
Now the primary option for the Cowboys' passing attack, Ferguson will be well-positioned to repeat last week's performance facing the Green Bay Packers. While the Packers have an elite defense, they have struggled to contain the tight end position early on, allowing 16.16 fantasy points per game on 21 receptions for 215 receiving yards.
Mason Taylor - TE, New York Jets at Miami Dolphins
Let's dig deeper with our third and final start this week. How about New York Jets tight end Taylor?
Taylor hasn't been the breakout rookie fantasy managers had hoped to be, but he is trending in the right direction. Taylor increased his fantasy production in Week 3 with 5.8 fantasy points thanks to four receptions on six targets. That reception total last week accounts for two-thirds of his season total, while his six targets doubled the previous two weeks combined. Heading into last week's contest against the Buccaneers, Taylor had a 7% target share and an 8% air yards share. Last week, Taylor's target share was 13.9 %, 19th among tight ends.
If Taylor hopes to continue his trajectory, he will need some help. Luckily, the Miami Dolphins are a generous group. In Week 1, Mimai gave up 14.9 fantasy points to rookie Tyler Warren, making his NFL debut. In Week 2, Patriots tight ends were limited to 87 fantasy points before Kincaid erupted for 17.6 fantasy points on Thursday Night Football after catching five of six targets for 66 yards and a touchdown. Miami has conceded 214 yards receiving, a pair of touchdowns, and 1723 fantasy points per game, the fourth most.
Week 4- Fantasy Football Busts
Juwan Johnson - TE, New Orleans Saints at Buffalo Bills
Johnson is the tight end everyone wrote off before the start of the 2025 season. He will exceed expectations and finish as a top-12 option for fantasy managers when the season ends. Currently, Johnson's 42.6 fantasy points trail only Ferguson among tight ends, and the 14.2 fantasy points per game he's been averaging—well, no one saw that coming.
Perhaps Johnson continues to accelerate the torrid fantasy pace he has already set, but this week's matchup has the potential to temporarily stop it all. Buffalo has surrendered a league-low 32 receiving yards to the tight end position—that's 10.7 yards per contest for those keeping track at home—which has led to 4.73 fantasy points against, the second-fewest this season.
Zach Ertz - TE, Washington Commanders at Atlanta Falcons
The only team that has been harder on opposing tight ends this season than the Buffalo Bills is the Atlanta Falcons. Through three weeks, Atlanta has allowed 48 receiving yards, but unlike Buffalo, they have yet to yield a touchdown to the position, which is why it has a league-best 3.30 fantasy points against. Over the last two weeks, Atlanta has been even better, holding opposing tight ends to 1.10 fantasy points per game.
After back-to-back double-digit fantasy finishes, Ertz was held relatively in check by a Raiders defense that conceded three receptions and 38 yards to the Pro Bowl tight end. The absence of Jayden Daniels was a significant factor, but Marcus Mariota has had a productive history with his tight ends as it pertains to fantasy production.
Ertz's fantasy outlook this week could hinge on whether the Commanders deem Daniels healthy enough to play as the 2-1 Commanders face the 1-2 Falcons.
Colston Loveland - TE, Chicago Bears at Las Vegas Raiders
If you are still holding on to Loveland, congratulations. You have shown a degree of loyalty that only a mother's love can match. That said, it may be time to get out of the Loveland business and find options with a return on investment that can pay off before Week 8. Loveland still has plenty of dynasty value and has the talent to break out later this season, but this week isn't the week.
Historically, the Raiders have been a punching bag for tight ends in fantasy football. That hasn't been the cause thus far this season. In three contests, Las Vegas has allowed just six receptions for 83 yards, an average of 7.15 fantasy points per game, the fifth-lowest. It's a matchup game, and with Loveland's lack of utilization and the Raiders' stingy defense against the tight end position, things are not looking suitable for the rookie this week.
It is worth noting that Loveland left the game early after taking a pretty hard shot. If you are considering starting Loveland, which you shouldn't, keep an eye on the practice reports.
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