The Tight end position in fantasy football is a tricky one.
Brock Bowers and Trey McBride are the two clear top options at the position. However, you will need to take them early. In PPR leagues, Bowers is projected to go in the second or very early third round. McBride is going in the third round.
The next tier of tight ends is George Kittle, Sam Laporta, and T.J. Hockenson. In PPR leagues, Kittle will likely go in round four as he is the only reliable option in the pass game for the 49ers early on. Laporta will be selected either late in the fourth round or in the fifth round. Hockenson will go in late round five or round six at the latest.
If you elect to stock up on wide receivers and running backs in the first five or six rounds, there are still solid options with upside at the tight end position later in the draft. These are not as reliable as the top options, but they offer upside.
Fantasy Football 2025: Five Sleeper Tight Ends To Take Later In Draft
Don’t panic if you do not get a top tight end. There are plenty of startable options if you decide to pile up receivers and backs in the first five or six rounds.
Projections are based on PPR scoring.
Evan Engram, Denver Broncos
Just two years ago with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Evan Engram had 114 receptions, 963 receiving yards, and four receiving TDs.
His 2024 campaign was cut short as he played in just nine games. He still recorded 47 receptions, 365 receiving yards, and one receiving TD.
Now, Engram is on a surging Denver Broncos team with a promising QB in Bo Nix. Sean Payton loves using his tight ends, and Engram fits the perfect mold for Payton.
Engram is going to be the second option in the passing game behind WR Courtland Sutton.
If Engram can remain healthy, there is the potential for him to finish among the top five in fantasy football at the position.
Engram is the perfect tight end to target in round seven or eight that can help you win a fantasy football title. He should be taken over Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews this season, but he is projected to be selected behind both of them in drafts.
Projection: 75 receptions, 780 receiving yards, and five receiving TDs.
Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
Tyler Warren is a rookie who has tremendous upside.
Not to put much stock in the first preseason game, but when Warren was on the field, he was targeted heavily.
Warren had 3 receptions on three targets for 40 receiving yards in the first preseason game.
He will catch passes from either Daniel Jones or Anthony Richardson. Both QBs are shaky at best and will need high-percentage pass plays. This suits Warren perfectly as the Tight End. He will catch drag routes, screens, and short passes from Jones or Richardson.
Warren is moving up the draft board after a strong performance in week 1 of the preseason, but he is still not being selected till after round eight.
He has the potential to lead the Colts in receptions this season.
Projection: 68 receptions, 690 receiving yards, and four receiving TDs.
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
In 2023, Jake Ferguson had 71 receptions, 761 receiving yards, and five receiving TDs.
Last season, Ferguson played in 14 games, but he also did not have Dak Prescott for a lot of the season last year. He still posted 59 receptions and 494 receiving yards.
Ferguson is only 26 years old and is still entering the prime of his career.
This year, he hopes Dak remains healthy, and if Dak does, this is a Cowboys offense that can be elite. Despite competing for targets with CeeDee Lamb and the addition of WR George Pickens, Ferguson will remain one of the focal points in the pass game.
Dallas feels similar to the Bengals this year, where the defense is weak and the offense will need to score points.
Ferguson is going much later in drafts, but is a capable starter that can help you win a fantasy football title.
Projection: 70 receptions, 750 receiving yards, and five receiving TDs.
Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars
Brenton Strange takes over starting tight end duties in Jacksonville with Evan Engram now on the Denver Broncos.
When Engram missed games in 2024, Strange took over starting duties and saw three or more targets in seven of eight starts. He saw four or more targets in six of eight starts.
Now, with the starting role from the beginning of the year and a healthy Trevor Lawrence, Strange is in a good spot to see 3-5 targets per game.
He will compete for targets with Brian Thomas Jr and Travis Hunter, but Strange should still see a decent amount of targets in a Liam Coen offense.
Jacksonville struggles to run the ball, so they will need to rely more on the pass game.
Strange is a good tight end to target late in drafts to start if you wait a long time to select a tight end.
As noted above, Engram thrived in the starting tight end role for the Jags in 2023 and last year, despite missing a lot of time.
Projection: 63 receptions, 630 receiving yards, and three receiving TDs.
Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans
Chig Okonkwo has quietly put together back-to-back seasons of recording over 50 receptions and over 475 receiving yards.
Last year by week 11, Okonwo was playing 60%+ of the offensive snaps in seven of the final eight games of the year. The only week he did not play over 60% of the offensive snaps was week 18. Okonwo played 70% or more of the offensive snaps in five of the final eight games last season.
He has the starting job locked up in 2025 and has an upgrade at QB. Cam Ward was selected first overall by the Titans to be the new starting QB. Last year, the Titans had awful QB play from Will Levis and Mason Rudolph.
As he enters his fourth season in the NFL, he will be the second option in the passing game behind WR Calvin Ridley.
This will be his best season yet, and he is being drafted very late in drafts.
Projection: 60 receptions, 625 receiving yards, and three receiving TDs.
