Tight end is one of the trickiest positions in fantasy football. Every year a few names dominate, while the rest blend into the middle tier. The value comes from knowing when to strike and when to wait. Drafting too early can cost you depth at running back or wide receiver. Waiting too long can leave you with little upside. Let’s go through the tiers and see which fantasy football tight ends stand out this year.
(This is an AI-generated article from a recent Big Guy Fantasy Sports Podcast.)
More Big Guy Fantasy Football
- Your Perfectly Consistent Draft from Pick Position #12 – Big Guy Fantasy Sports
- Your Perfectly Consistent Draft from Pick Position #11 – Big Guy Fantasy Sports
- Your Perfectly Consistent Draft from Pick Position #10 – Big Guy Fantasy Sports
- Your Perfectly Consistent Draft from Pick Position #9 – Big Guy Fantasy Sports
The Big Three
At the very top sit Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, and George Kittle. These three are the closest thing we have to consistency at the position.
Brock Bowers finished with 112 receptions last season, the third most in the league. He averaged 15.5 points per game, but still was not the top tight end. His numbers looked great, but he finished outside the top 30 skill position players in points per game.
Trey McBride was right there with him. He hauled in 111 passes and averaged 15.6 points. The numbers were nearly identical, yet he did not provide a massive advantage over other positions.
George Kittle once again showed elite efficiency. He averaged 15.8 points per game, the best among fantasy football tight ends. Kittle has not had 100 targets since 2019, but he continues to finish inside the top four. With Deebo Samuel gone and Brandon Aiyuk sidelined until Week 6, his opportunity is massive. In a Shanahan offense, Kittle looks ready to dominate again.
The Veteran Value
Travis Kelce no longer controls the position like he once did, but his value in drafts is impossible to ignore.
Since 2015, Kelce has topped 100 targets every season. Last year, he admitted he was not at full health, but he still caught nearly 90 passes. He finished as the seventh tight end in points per game at 12.2. That was only three points less than the leaders.
The biggest advantage with Kelce is cost. He currently goes about fifty picks later than Bowers in most drafts. That kind of discount for a proven player is wild. The Chiefs continue to score, Patrick Mahomes continues to throw, and Kelce will remain a central piece of the offense. If you want a veteran option at a discount, this is where you find it.
Risky Names in the Next Tier
T.J. Hockenson, Sam LaPorta, and Mark Andrews round out the next set of names. Each comes with risk, and fading them might be the better play.
Hockenson has a crowded situation in Minnesota. Justin Jefferson is the star, Jordan Addison returns after a three-game suspension, and rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy takes over. Hockenson becomes the third option in the passing game, limiting his ceiling.
Sam LaPorta broke out as a rookie with ten touchdowns, then added seven more in his second year. His scoring has been propped up by trips to the end zone. Jameson Williams is climbing the depth chart and looks ready for a bigger role, which may cap LaPorta’s opportunities.
Mark Andrews continues to produce touchdowns, but comes with red flags. He scored in double digits last year, but his output is touchdown-dependent. He even dropped a critical score in the playoffs that could have changed everything for Baltimore. Betting on consistency here is dangerous, and fading all three names looks like the smarter move.
Mid-Tier Options with Upside
Evan Ingram, Jake Ferguson, and Dalton Kincaid sit in the middle tier. Each offers a different level of risk and reward.
Evan Ingram has a chance to be a top two target in Denver under Sean Payton. He has shown in the past that he can catch 100 passes even in a dysfunctional offense. If Payton makes him a featured player, Ingram could easily outscore several tight ends ranked above him.
Jake Ferguson is not as exciting. He is the security blanket in Dallas, but with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens demanding red zone looks, Ferguson loses value. He feels like Dalton Schultz without the volume. The host was completely out on him, and for good reason.
Dalton Kincaid plays in an open Buffalo offense. His ceiling is high because the wide receiver room lacks proven talent. However, his range of outcomes is wide. He could finish top five or disappear from fantasy relevance. That uncertainty makes him hard to draft with confidence.
Late TE1 Range
David Njoku and Tucker Kraft headline the back end of the TE1 range. Both have athletic ability and open target paths in their offenses.
Njoku brings yards after the catch and will battle Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman for opportunities. He has the talent to become a reliable fantasy starter if his volume stays steady.
Tucker Kraft benefits from a wide receiver group in Green Bay that lacks dominant players. Last year the top target, Dontayvion Wicks, had only 76 targets. That leaves the door wide open for Kraft to carve out a larger role. Both of these players have the chance to outperform their draft position and should be moved up draft boards.
Sleepers Worth Watching
Several names emerge as sleepers outside the top twelve. Jonnu Smith is one of the most intriguing. He showed flashes in Miami and now lands in Pittsburgh with DK Metcalf leading the receiver group. If Smith reaches 100 targets, he could finish inside the top twelve fantasy football tight ends.
Dallas Goedert still has value, especially if A.J. Brown or DeVonta Smith miss time. He blocks well and plays every snap, but his production depends on opportunity.
Brenton Strange in Jacksonville is a sneaky option. Trevor Lawrence targets tight ends, and Strange has the IQ and athleticism to produce. With Evan Ingram gone, Strange could easily climb into the top two target spots.
Among rookies, Harold Fannin Jr. stands out. He is already competing for slot snaps in Cleveland and has a real chance to put up numbers. The hype around other rookies like Colston Loveland or Tyler Warren is real, but Fannin has the clearest path to volume.
Draft Strategy Takeaway
The strategy for fantasy football tight ends is simple. If Bowers, McBride, or Kittle fall to you early, grab one. If not, wait. Kelce in the middle rounds provides huge value. Fading names like Hockenson, LaPorta, Andrews, Ferguson, and Kincaid avoids risk. Target late risers like Njoku, Kraft, Jonnu Smith, or Harold Fannin Jr.
At the end of the day, this position is about value. Waiting can pay off when you target players who can be the top two options on their team. The landscape is changing, but the path to winning your league comes from drafting smart and finding the right tight end at the right time.
