Tight End Rankings and Draft Strategy

Training camps are underway and preseason games are on the horizon. With that, fantasy football draft season is here. To help you prepare, this four-part series will feature redraft rankings, targets, fades, sleepers, and overall strategy for each of the positions (QB, RB, WR, TE). 

The series began with quarterback and running back and continues with tight end. Discussions assume redraft, start one tight end, PPR, no TE premium. Targets, fades, and sleepers are all based on how I see a player’s value in relation to their current ADP. 

There are very few players that I am completely out on. There is almost always a point where a player would slide far enough in a draft that I would select him. However, based on ADP, there are several players at each position that I am likely to not roster in a single league; those players make up my “fade” list. 

In the same way, my “targets” and “sleepers” are players I see as being undervalued, and as such, I am bound to be heavily invested in them this year, barring a significant change to their ADPs. 

Don’t agree with some of the rankings or advice—let us know your thoughts on our message board, found at the end of the article. 

Rankings

Rank	Name	Team
1	Brock Bowers	LV
2	Trey McBride	ARI
3	George Kittle	SF
4	Sam LaPorta	DET
5	T.J. Hockenson	MIN
6	Mark Andrews	BAL
7	Travis Kelce	KC
8	David Njoku	CLE
9	Evan Engram	DEN
10	Tucker Kraft	GB
11	Tyler Warren	IND
12	Dallas Goedert	PHI
13	Dalton Kincaid	BUF
14	Zach Ertz	WAS
15	Kyle Pitts	ATL
16	Jonnu Smith	PIT
17	Isaiah Likely	BAL
18	Colston Loveland	CHI
19	Jake Ferguson	DAL
20	Brenton Strange	JAC
21	Pat Freiermuth	PIT
22	Cade Otton	TB
23	Hunter Henry	NE
24	Chig Okonkwo	TEN
25	Dalton Schultz	HOU
26	Juwan Johnson	NO
27	Elijah Arroyo	SEA
28	Darren Waller	MIA
29	Tyler Higbee	LAR
30	Terrance Ferguson	LAR
31	Harold Fannin Jr.	CLE
32	Theo Johnson	NYG
33	Tyler Conklin	LAC
34	Oronde Gadsden II	LAC
35	AJ Barner	SEA
36	Cole Kmet	CHI
37	Ja’Tavion Sanders	CAR
38	Mason Taylor	NYJ
39	Noah Gray	KC
40	Mike Gesicki	CIN
41	Taysom Hill	NO
42	Gunnar Helm	TEN
43	Ben Sinnott	WAS
44	Luke Musgrave	GB
45	Dawson Knox	BUF

Targets

Mark Andrews

It was a tale of two seasons in 2024 as the veteran tight end struggled in the first half after returning from injury. Andrews saw 29 total targets with four touchdowns through Week 9. From Week 10 on, those numbers leaped to 40 targets with seven touchdowns, quietly finishing at the TE5 overall from weeks 10-18. Andrews comes into 2025 fully healthy and with Baltimore not making any substantial additions to their receiving room, Andrews is set to produce high-end TE1 numbers. 

Travis Kelce 

Apparently 2025 is the year to target “boring,” veteran tight ends, because like Mark Andrews, signs point to one more final TE1 season for Travis Kelce. Kelce was viewed as a bust in 2024 by some because fantasy gamers needed to use one of their first picks to roster the future hall of famer. However, while he may not have returned value on his ADP, he was still productive. Kelce finished at the TE5, securing 97 of  133 targets for 823 yards. With Rashee Rice likely to receive a multi-game suspension, freeing up the intermediate targets for Kelce, and the potential for positive touchdown regression (Kelce only scored three regular-season touchdowns in 2024), everything is lined up for one more top-five season for Travis Kelce. 

Fades

Sam LaPorta 

I get it, Sam LaPorta is a talent with double-digit touchdown upside playing a Detroit offense filled with playmakers. The fact that the Lions are so talented is what gives me concern that LaPorta will not return value on his ADP. LaPorta only saw 83 targets in 2024 and with a healthy Jameson Williams expected to continue to be more and more integrated into the Lions offense, I don’t see much more, if any, added volume headed LaPorta’s way. Sam LaPorta is a “safe” tight end, especially in best ball. I still have him ranked in my top five, ahead of my two tight end “targets.” While that may appear contradictory, the reality is that I am fading Sam Laporta at cost (there is not a huge difference between my TE4 and TE10) and his somewhat low floor in weeks where he doesn’t find the end zone. 

Pat Freiermuth  

Pat Freiermuth quietly posted low-end TE1 numbers in 2024. The Steelers tight end was the TE11 overall after compiling season totals of 65/653/7. His production is set to take a hit after Pittsburgh traded for Jonnu Smith, fresh off of a breakout 2024 where he finished as the TE4. Combine the addition of Smith, with the drafting of Kaleb Johnson, signifying a renewed emphasis on the running game, and everything points to significant regression for Freiermuth in 2025. 

Sleepers

Zach Ertz

Zach Ertz is one of the most overlooked tight ends in early drafts after finishing as a TE1 in 2024 and is poised for a repeat performance in 2025. Ertz saw 91 targets in a Washington offense devoid of receiving threats and was able to turn that volume into a 66/654/7 line. Yes, Zach Ertz is 34, and yes, he does not have a lot of career left…but don’t confuse redraft with dynasty. Ertz should once again flirt with low-end TE1 numbers at a double-digit ADP cost. 

Elijah Arroyo

Elijah Arroyo is an Eric Ebron-level athlete that received second-round draft capital, landing in a Seattle offense in need of receiving options. Seattle appears to be excited enough in what they have seen from Arroyo, to release Noah Fant, clearing the way for Arroyo to earn Week 1 playing time. With only blocking tight end, AJ Barner, in front of him, Arroyo has a path to a productive rookie season and is worth a pick in the final rounds of best ball drafts. 

Overall Strategy 

With only two true difference makers, tight end requires a game plan going into a draft more than any other position. If you want Bowers or McBride, you have to understand the cost and be fine with feeling like you are playing catch-up with the other positions the rest of the way. 

If you do opt not to invest in Bowers or McBride, being flexible with your primary tight end could allow you to build an excellent collection of running backs and wide receivers, before selecting whichever top-12 tight end drops. 

In best-ball, because of the number of serviceable tight ends, the weekly boom/bust nature of the position, and injury and bye-week concerns, I prefer three tight end builds. Knowing that, I am fine waiting until the double-digit rounds to select three tight ends whose ADP’s are in the teens and twenties, loading up on running backs and wide receivers early. 

---

🏈 Leagues Forming Now at DataForce Fantasy Football! 🏈
Ready to draft? We offer the widest variety with the best prize payouts anywhere!
Come check out what we have available in our lobby and Orphan Marketplace.
Join the fun and draft your winning team today at DataForceFF.com!