2025 TE Rankings: Top-10 (Fantasy Football)
As we enter August, it’s time for fantasy managers to begin fine-tuning their thoughts on exactly where they value players at each position group ahead of fantasy drafts! To kick off their parade through each position, the Ballers are ready to work through their top-10 TEs to enter the 2025 season!
The TE position is one of the hardest spots to nail down for fantasy managers due to the “feast or famine” nature that has come with this onesie spot. Since 2019, 80% of the top-5 TEs have been drafted among the top-6 in ADP that season. That doesn’t mean there aren’t late-round values at the position, with four of the last five seasons producing a top-5 TE from the later rounds.
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10. Tucker Kraft (GB)
Andy: 9 / Jason: 19 / Mike: 8
Sleeper ADP: TE12/10.06
Things kick off with Tucker Kraft, who’s entering his third season in Green Bay. Fantasy managers may be surprised to learn that Kraft finished as the TE9 in 2024, mainly behind his seven receiving TDs. While Kraft’s TD production helped bolster his fantasy output, he really did great work with the ball in his hands, averaging 8.8 yards after catch per reception. In fact, Kraft made the most of the 70 targets he saw last season, with 17 receptions of 15+ yards – more than Sam LaPorta, Jonnu Smith, and David Njoku.
While there’s likely some value in Kraft’s current ADP, there should be plenty of questions around exactly how the targets will be dispersed in Green Bay’s offense this season. The Packers already had a bit of a crowded passing offense, with no player seeing more than 76 targets in 2024, but the addition of 1st round WR Matthew Golden and 3rd round WR Savion Williams only further complicates how the targets will be split up. Kraft represents a piece of an offense that fantasy managers want to be a part of at a minimal cost, but might be more of a streaming option this season.
First Four Matchups: Detroit / Washington / at Cleveland / at Dallas
9. Mark Andrews (BAL)
Andy: 11 / Jason: 11 / Mike: 19
Sleeper ADP: TE7/7.11
It was a roller coaster of a season for Mark Andrews in 2024 that ended much better than it started. Through his first five games last season, Andrews caused panic in the streets with ZERO receiving TDs and averaging just 3.4 fantasy points per game. From Week 6 onward, though, fantasy managers got more of the player they’d come to rely on in years past, seeing 11 receiving TDs down the stretch of the season, behind only Ja’Marr Chase during that span.
There are still plenty of questions for Andrews heading into the 2025 season. Andrews profiles as one of the more obvious regression candidates after leading all TEs in receiving TDs last season. Over the last decade, every TE who finished with 10+ TDs and less than 900 receiving yards regressed in TDs the following season. While the end may be near for his time in Baltimore, Andrews could be one of the later round values at TE who still holds top-5 potential at the position.
First Four Matchups: at Buffalo / Cleveland / Detroit / at Kansas City
8. Evan Engram (DEN)
Andy: 8 / Jason: 9 / Mike: 7
Sleeper ADP: TE9/8.07
After back-to-back top-6 TE seasons, Evan Engram couldn’t deliver in 2024, missing eight games en route to a TE32 finish. While Engram’s missed time really cost him for fantasy production, he was still demanding targets when he was on the field, averaging 5+ receptions per game, which was tied for the 5th-highest among TEs. There’s optimism that Engram’s move to Denver could reignite the PPR monster he became for fantasy managers in Jacksonville.
Joining a Broncos offense that has plenty of ambiguity behind lead WR Courtland Sutton could be exactly what Engram needs to find his fantasy groove again for fantasy managers. It feels like the “Joker” role has been attached to Engram inside Sean Payton’s offense, which has seen quality TEs demand a high percentage of targets come their direction. If Engram can add more TDs to his 2025 output (he hasn’t scored 5+ since his rookie season), Engram presents a pretty high upside for fantasy managers this season.
First Four Matchups: Tennessee / at Indianapolis / at LA Chargers / Cincinnati
7. David Njoku (CLE)
Andy: 6 / Jason: 7 / Mike: 9
Sleeper ADP: TE10/9.03
Despite a revolving door of QBs yet again in Cleveland, David Njoku was still able to provide quality starts for fantasy managers last season. Njoku wasn’t quite the league-winning type of player that fantasy managers rode to titles in 2023, but he still averaged nearly 6six receptions and 45.9 receiving yards per game.
While the QB this season is still unknown for Cleveland, Njoku seemingly isn’t affected by whoever is under center, having caught passes from 13 different QBs during his time with the Browns. Most importantly, the fact that Deshaun Watson won’t be the starting QB could be all Njoku needs to continue being a late-round TE option for fantasy managers. Njoku is averaging 3.6 more fantasy points per game since 2022 with literally any other QB that isn’t Watson. At his current draft price, Njoku should still be on fantasy managers’ radars as one of the few TEs who can command a large enough target share to matter in fantasy lineups.
First Four Matchups: Cincinnati / at Baltimore / Green Bay / at Detroit
6. Sam LaPorta (DET)
Andy: 7 / Jason: 5 / Mike: 6
Sleeper ADP: TE4/5.04
After exploding onto the scene as a rookie, Sam LaPorta’s high draft cost left many fantasy managers feeling shortchanged in 2024. In reality, LaPorta was still a solid TE, but other players getting more involved in the Lions offense saw the TE lose ground in both target share in first-read targets. LaPorta still finished inside the top-10 TEs eight times last season, including in four of his last six games to end the year, but the TD and target regression was too much to overcome with such a high ADP.
Knowing exactly what the Lions offense will look like with Ben Johnson leaving town makes it even more difficult for fantasy managers to invest in LaPorta in 2025. While his draft price has come back to a more reasonable value, it’s possible LaPorta could be one of the perpetual “middle round TEs” that always feel difficult to draft given the WR and RB values around them. There’s still a reality where LaPorta returns his ADP and catches 10 TDs this season, but that’s a difficult bet for fantasy managers to place.
First Four Matchups: at Green Bay / Chicago / at Baltimore / Cleveland
5. Travis Kelce (KC)
Andy: 5 / Jason: 6 / Mike: 5
Sleeper ADP: TE6/7.05
For the first time since 2016, Travis Kelce didn’t finish a season as a top-5 TE in 2024. While Kelce still had some very useful stretches for fantasy managers, finishing as a top-7 TE in six of seven games from Weeks 4-10, the veteran TE posted career lows in yards per reception (8.5), average depth of target (6.8), and receiving TDs (3). Kelce did lead all TEs in Red Zone targets with 25, but he was only able to convert three of those into what fantasy managers are really needing from a TE they spent high draft capital on.
As Kelce enters what many suspect could be his swan song season, the draft price for the future Hall of Fame TE has never been lower. What fantasy managers will have to decide is if there’s still enough upside to having Kelce locked in as their starting TE. The questions around the other receiving targets to start the season in Kansas City could prove useful for Kelce’s fantasy value to start the year, especially with Rashee Rice’s looming suspension. Maybe the biggest concern for what Kelce can bring to the table is what happens when the Chiefs have their full arsenal of receiving weapons in what is being projected to be a heavier passing offense than we’ve seen over the past several seasons.
First Four Matchups: at LA Chargers / Philadelphia / at NY Giants / Baltimore
4. T.J. Hockenson (MIN)
Andy: 4 / Jason: 4 / Mike: 4
Sleeper ADP: TE5/5.11
Despite not seeing the field until Week 9 last season, T.J. Hockenson still saw 62 targets and reminded fantasy managers what made him so valuable when he finished as a top-4 TE in three of the previous four seasons. While Hockenson was seeing plenty of passes come his way, he failed to get into the end zone, becoming one of just 5 TEs over the last decade to fail to score a TD with 60+ targets.
The positive momentum Hockenson generated to end the 2024 season could make him a value in fantasy drafts this season, especially with J.J. McCarthy set to take his first snaps as a pro. Over the last decade, TEs on average see 21% of their teams’ targets with rookie QBs. While McCarthy isn’t technically a rookie, he’s still going to be the youngest starting QB in the league to start the season. There could also be added value for Hockenson with Jordan Addison potentially facing a suspension and Justin Jefferson already dealing with a hamstring injury. Over the last two seasons, if J-Jettas isn’t on the field with Hockenson, he’s averaging 5.78 fantasy points more. Fantasy managers will have to decide if they still believe that the high-end upside is there for Hockenson, given his 5th round draft price.
First Four Matchups: at Chicago / Atlanta / Cincinnati / at Pittsburgh
3. George Kittle (SF)
Andy: 2/ Jason: 3 / Mike: 2
Sleeper ADP: TE3/4.02
Perhaps the sneakiest TE to finish inside the top-5 at the position in six of the last seven seasons, George Kittle really delivered for fantasy managers last season. In 2024, Kittle saw career-highs in red zone targets, red zone receptions, and red zone TDs, all while being targeted on a TE-leading 33% of his routes inside the 20. More importantly, the Purdy-Kittle connection feels cemented in San Francisco for the foreseeable future. Over the last three seasons, with Purdy at QB, Kittle averages 5.23 more fantasy points per game and 67 yards per game.
The passing attack for the 49ers seems to be Kittle’s for the taking to start this season, with no more Deebo Samuel in town and question marks surrounding nearly every other receiving option that’s still on the team. Deebo’s departure frees up 17.2% of San Francisco’s targets, but some of those passes figure to go Christian McCaffrey’s direction. Still, there should be plenty of upside available for Kittle to be one of the featured attractions in an offense that fantasy managers have always wanted pieces in. Kittle’s current ADP puts him as the last of the TEs with elite potential, which has him listed as one of the Ballers’ favorite values in the draft this year.
First Four Matchups: at Seattle / at New Orleans / Arizona / Jacksonville
2. Trey McBride (ARI)
Andy: 2 / Jason: 3 / Mike: 2
Sleeper ADP: TE2/2.12
After his breakout campaign in 2023, Trey McBride backed up the hype with a TE3 finish in 2024. McBride proved to be the true lead receiving option in the Cardinals’ passing game last season, leading all TEs with a 26.5% target share and matching Justin Jefferson with 116 “first read” targets. Even though he finished second in receptions at the position, McBride’s 111 receptions rank as the fourth-most all-time in a season by a TE. What’s even scarier for McBride going forward is that he only got into the end zone TWICE on the season and still managed to be extremely valuable for fantasy managers.
The draft cost heading into 2025 is as high as it gets for effective TEs in fantasy, but McBride should be poised to deliver again for fantasy rosters. Maybe the biggest threat to McBride’s alpha status in Arizona is a year-two step forward for WR Marvin Harrison Jr. Fantasy managers will have to decide if there’s room for both Harrison and McBride to be high-end fantasy options in the desert. At the end of the day, McBride is still a very strong bet to be one of the few difference-makers at the TE position and give fantasy managers a positional advantage every week.
First Four Matchups: at New Orleans / Carolina / at San Francisco / Seattle
1. Brock Bowers (LV)
Andy: 1 / Jason: 1 / Mike: 1
Sleeper ADP: TE1/2.04
Fantasy managers got to witness maybe the greatest rookie TE season of all time in 2024 with the TE1 season from Brock Bowers. Bowers stepped into one of the more consistent TE roles as a rookie on a bad Raiders team, seeing a target on 27% of his routes run, which was just slightly ahead of Justin Jefferson. As a rookie, Bowers finished third in the league in total receptions with 112 and was great with the ball in his hands, averaging 5.35 yards after the catch per reception, the same as CeeDee Lamb.
It’s scary to think that there’s still room for improvement from Bowers, but the lackluster Raiders offense left plenty of meat on the bone, especially inside the red zone. Inside the 10-yard line, Bowers only saw six targets and zero TDs. An upgrade at QB with Geno Smith should help raise the TD potential for Bowers, and a more consistent rushing game behind rookie RB Ashton Jeanty could help open things up more for the Raiders’ passing game as a whole. The decision fantasy managers have to make is whether or not the early 2nd round pick they’ll have to spend on Bowers is worth the positional advantage they’ll get over the WRs and RBs they can add at the same spot. Overall, though, Bowers should still prove an elite fantasy asset once again this season.
First Four Matchups: at New England / LA Chargers / at Washington / Chicago