In this article, I am writing down my top 10 tight ends for the 2025 season. Of course, rankings are subject to change, based on what happens in the pre-season, but most of these players will still be in the top-10 when the season starts. I am also providing you with some insights in how I view these players and why I have ranked them inside the top-10.
This top 10 is based on PPR format and subject to change until the start of the season. For the latest rankings, check the full rankings by subscribing to https://thefantasydutchman.com/draft-kit/
#10 – Mark Andrews (Ravens)
Andrews was a real let down last season. Yes, he finished as the TE-6 last season, but that was mainly because he got so many touchdowns. And if we have learned something over the years: touchdowns are not a sticky stat. And I am not banking on the fact that Andrews can repeat that same amount of touchdowns.
For this season, he was out of my top-10 for a long time, but the injury to Isaiah Likely drove my projections for Andrews up, and now he’s on the verge of the top-10. I have to say, my projected TE10 till TE13 are all within a few fantasy points over the course of the season from each other. I think Andrews will still get a fair amount of targets, especially at the start of the season as Likely will likely (no pun intended) be out. I have projected for his number of touchdowns to come down quite a bit, from 11 touchdowns last season to a 6 touchdowns this season.
#9 – Tyler Warren (Colts)
Tyler Warren was drafted with the 14th overall pick by the Colts, suggesting they believe in him. Although we have seen back-to-back seasons where a rookie tight end surprised and ended up as the TE-1, I don’t think that will happen this year with either Warren or Loveland.
Warren is in a crowded receiving room with Pittman, Downs, Pierce and Mitchell as his main target contenders. There is upside however, because not Richardson but Daniel Jones will be the quarterback. That made me raise his projected stats a little. I project Warren to have around 100 targets, which will be necessary for him to finish in the top 10 of the tight end position.
#8 – Evan Engram (Broncos)
Tight ends 8 to 5 are very close in my projections, so there is a lot to choose from in this area of your fantasy draft. At #8 I have projected Evan Engram with his new team the Broncos. Last season, Engram dealt with multiple injuries and therefore did not play the full season. He also finished below 10 fantasy points per game, his worst since joining the Jaguars in 2022.
So, how about the upcoming season? Engram signed with the Broncos, who have a sophomore quarterback in Bo Nix. While a new team and a sophomore quarterback can be the reason for some hesitation, there are some positives too. The second receiver position after Sutton is wide-open, also with Vele being traded to the Saints. Engram can be a great pass catcher and safety net for Nix, that’s why I project Engram for over 100 targets this season.
#7 – Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
Yes, he’s still going, and still going strong. Last season was a real down year for Kelce, he had his worst season in 10 years with regards to fantasy points per game. He still managed 12.2 points per game, but the wear was visible. But even with this down year, he still finished in the top-5 of tight ends.
Kelce announced he will play another season, so what do we think about his upcoming season? Well, he is a year older, but he is still Travis Kelce and he still has Mahomes as his quarterback. Next to that, Rice will probably be out for a few weeks as well, so more targets will be vacant. With this information, I still project Kelce for at least 100 targets and 5 touchdowns. That will lead in my projections to the TE-7.
#6 – David Njoku (Browns)
A Browns player this high? Yes, I know, it looks really ugly, but hear me out. David Njoku is a PPR machine. He was out of my top 10 for quite some time, but after the news came through that Flacco is the starting quarterback, I have raised the projected stats for Njoku immediately.
Last season, Njoku missed some games due to an ankle injury, but when he played, boy was he great. He had his highest fantasy points per game of his career with 13.5, and that was in a season where the starting quarterbacks were Jameis Winston, Deshaun Watson, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe.
This year, Flacco will be throwing the ball to Njoku. In the 2023 season, Flacco also threw Njoku the football for some weeks. In these weeks, Njoku dominated. He had two weeks with over 25 fantasy points per game.
So, for this year I have projected Njoku for 120 targets, but only 3 touchdowns. Why this low? Because they are still the Browns, and I don’t believe they will score very much. So the target upside is there, the touchdowns I’m a bit hesitant on.
#5 – T.J. Hockenson (Vikings)
Hockenson came back from a torn ACL and MCL and was, not to a big surprise, a bit rusty. This year, Hockenson will receive the ball from sophomore (but basically a rookie, due to injury) J.J. McCarthy. Also, with Jordan Addison missing 3 games to suspension, Hockenson can be off to a hot start.
Hockenson is in the same tier as my projected tight ends 6,7 and 8, so choose the tight end you feel most comfortable with. We have to acknowledge that the Vikings don’t have the easiest schedule, also not for tight ends, but with a projected number of targets just under 120, he will have a great shot of finishing inside the top-5 at the tight end position.
#4 – Sam Laporta (Lions)
After a great rookie season the expectations for Laporta were high in 2024. A lot of people were burnt by his performance, who have given up a big opportunity cost by grabbing him. In 2024, finished with 10.9 fantasy points per game, which wasn’t close to his 14.1 fantasy points per game rookie season. The targets were also down from 120 to 83.
So, what about this season? The Lions have a new OC, which might benefit Laporta. He is still a great tight end with a lot of talent and youth. Even with slightly less than a projection of 100 targets, he still is a threat in the end-zone. Last year, he scored 7 touchdowns, so why can’t he repeat that this year? I think Laporta will be in a tier on his own between Hockenson and Kittle, so be very thoughtful when drafting him, if this is the right moment or if you want to wait for a later tier.
#3 – George Kittle (49ers)
The smelling salt is not banned, so Kittle is not retiring! And who doesn’t like Kittle? He loves playing football so much, it’s a joy to watch him play. Now, over to fantasy football.
Last year, Kittle was the #1 tight end in fantasy points per game, yes even better than Bower and McBride. He scored an average of 15.8 fantasy points per game. He missed 2 games, but still managed 94 targets.
This year, the 49ers have one of the easiest schedules. So, that should benefit Kittle, but there is some risk. If the 49ers win games by a lot, there is a chance they will rest some starters later on in the game, meaning Kittle will miss some opportunities. But on the other side, if they win by a lot, Kittle might have done his fantasy duty already. I project Kittle this year to have over 100 targets and some touchdowns added to that as well.
#2 – Trey McBride (Cardinals)
McBride had a great season last year, scoring 15.6 fantasy points per game. So you’d think, why wasn’t he last year’s number one? Could anything go better? Well, his touchdowns. He scored only 2 touchdowns, and with 15.6 fantasy points per game, the points must have come from elsewhere. Yes, his receptions. Last season, he had 111 receptions on 147 targets, a massive workload!
So, what about this year? I have projected McBride for roughly the same number of targets, because there have been no really big additions to the offense for the Cardinals this year who can impact McBride. His touchdowns, well I have been generous and doubled them compared to last year. I think McBride can be the TE-1 easily, but with Murray as QB, I’d lean a little more toward Bowers at the #1. Speaking of Bowers..
#1 – Brock Bowers (Raiders)
Last year’s tight end rookie sensation, Brock Bowers. He blew away everyone with his receiving game, scoring an average of 15.5 fantasy points per game on 153 targets. An absurd number.
This year, the Raiders have made some changes on the offensive side of the ball. Of course, Pete Carroll is the new HC and Chip Kelly the new OC. But Ashton Jeanty, Geno Smith and Amari Cooper were also added. Jeanty and Cooper can steal some of Bowers’ work in the passing game, but we have to acknowledge that last year, Bowers played with O’Connell and Minshew as his quarterbacks. Although, I have lowered his targets compared to last year by some amount, because 153 is a large amount and with some new weapons in the offense, I am projecting Bowers’ work to be slightly down. Still, with the projected stats, he’s still projected to be the tight end 1, and he is drafted there as well when looking at ADP.
