A changing of the guard in 2025?

By Martin Richardson

As we get closer to the NFL being back, with camps opening up for teams in the coming weeks, are we now seeing a changing of the guard when it comes to those tight ends that we have come to know and love? There is certainly a case for it. There are lots of younger names creeping into the lists that are here when it comes to a difficult position to quantify. Those legacy names may feel like a solid pickup, but is now the time to take a risk on those rookies or younger players to ensure some immediate success?

When it comes to these tight ends, there are unfortunately no real prime players based on those previous years. How we would all want someone like prime Gronk starting for us locked in at TE1.

As you will see in Part 2, the names are perhaps more traditional in nature, but we all need those TE1s and TE2s for bye weeks. So, who is someone to look for, and who is someone to maybe avoid.

24. Elijah Arroyo

First of all, let’s look at a player who could well be a bigger piece on an offense, should Noah Fant be cut or traded; both of which has some value as we progress through the offseason. If he does get cut, Arroyo will end up being a typical ‘boom or bust player’ towards the end of the season. If you have him in any dynasty leagues, this move may pay off once the Fant situation is resolved one way or another.

23. Terrance Ferguson

Stash, stash, stash! Tyler Higbee can’t stay healthy and is in the last year of his contract. McVay loves an offense that will have some dynamism in those clutch moments. He will be someone who gets you some valuable yards after the class. He was not drafted too far below Mason Taylor this season, so he has value and potential. Sneak him onto you bench if you can.

22. Mike Gesicki

This is very much a ‘lets use him if Higgins or Chase get injured’ which is criminal as he is so good as a TE and in those contested catches. He may be worth watching, but he’s a legitimate example of the ‘boom or bust’ tag that hits so many tight ends.

21. Brenton Strange

Another rookie on the list here, in an offense with some questions. Now, my Bucs bias may be coming in here, and I love Cade Otton, but when the Bucs had no wide receivers healthy, Liam Coen made Fantasy players everywhere scramble to get Otton off waivers. Now down in Jacksonville, could Strange become an Otton-esque piece for the Jags? This could well be a sneaky pick up late on if you are in need of that TE2 with plenty of upside.

20. Zach Ertz

It’s 2024 and here is your headline: Commanders player X shocks with surprise performance.

Zach Ertz was no exception to this. He finished just outside the top 10 last season in an offense that just clicked and was a force in the NFC. There are some questions that surround how Ertz will fit in next season: Ben Sinnott is a very good pickup, and I expect to see him more involved. But there is also the fact they traded for Deebo Samuel who plays in those similar parts of the field where Ertz was so good for Jayden Daniels last season. He is probably a later round pick up ready for those bye weeks but still has some upside if Deebo can’t stay healthy.

19. Kyle Pitts

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IS THIS THE YEAR?

IS IT?

Who knows. Which worries me for Fantasy football.

Does he fit into this offense? I have no idea, but we are now in the theoretical stage of a player who is nearing a new deal and needs to get a deal somewhere. Someone will take him in your league. Probably someone who has a memory of those college days. I just don’t know how he fits into the Falcons team. Their wide receiver play has been focused on those slot players and that is normally where you would see those short gimme targets, but Kyle Pitts isn’t getting a look in. He ends up being the player who makes the bigger runs downfield and because Drake London and Darnell Mooney get the lion’s share, Pitts loses out. If this is the season, you’ll be delighted that you gambled. If it is not the season, there’s always next year, right?

18. Mason Taylor

He will start for the Jets, but purely because they lack any other real options for the new QB in Justin Fields. Average Draft Position has him over 90 places below our TE17 in the rankings, which is crazy when you think that Taylor is only really contending with newly minted Garrett Wilson and Alan Lazard for catches in this offense. He should be in the TE2 discussion pretty early in the season, so stash him and see what happens.

17. Dalton Kincaid

He was not good last year. There is not denying that. There may be a case that he would be lower in the rankings than this. The Bills need him to be better. What is crucial to know however is that they put up a lot of points without him involved in the offense at all. This can’t be the same as last year because there will be some adaptations to the offense. He will no doubt be a TE2 for people and end up being used in bye weeks. Just hope it’s a week where Josh Allen remembers he exists on offense.  

16. Tyler Warren

Who knows what will happen at the Colts? They love a tight end, and he fits the bill. Warren will be part of the offense due to a lack of talent elsewhere, which means he will benefit Fantasy players. However, the uncertainty of who will be throwing him the ball makes me nervous to think about what type of season he will have. Richardson is an unhealthy wildcard who could be benched for Danny Dimes after one bad quarter. Is this something you want to risk your Fantasy future on? 

15. Isaiah Likely

How many people will draft him this season: Likely lots.

Ok, that’s it. I’ll only do it once.

Will he be TE1 by the end of the season for the Ravens? There is talk of it. Mark Andrews showed signs of regression and with Likely having over 8 yards per target, he is on an upward trajectory. He also had 13 Red Zone targets, which is the most for anyone not considered a primary starter for a TE1. It would be bold to take him early in the draft but keep an eye on him as your draft progresses. If you see him as you approach the 10th– 11th round, he would be worth taking.

14. Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith

I have no idea what the Steelers have planned on offense anymore. Moving on from George Pickens and get DK Metcalf, seems a no brainer. Having Pat Freiermuth as an outlet on offense makes a ton of sense. But then they went and added Jonnu Smith, who was the person tied with the amount of targets Justin Jefferson inside the 10 yard line. Sounds great in theory. The Dolphins couldn’t run the ball, so Smith flourished. The Steelers love to run the ball. Let us not forget as well that Arthur Smith has generational talent Kyle Pitts and used him woefully. These two slotting in here is a total gamble, both could be a fantastic duo for Aaron Rodgers, but are they good for Fantasy players in 2025?

13. Tucker Kraft

We end Part 1 with some real upside when it comes to the tight position. Kraft led all TEs in per yard receptions in the NFL last season at 8.8 yards. He was a player used in the open field and when he was released, he was incredible. What Fantasy players don’t want to hear is that he is a very good blocking TE for the Packers and he allows other players to make those bigger plays. He has a place in the offense even though they drafted well and at wide receiver too. His upside is very high and he could be in line for breakout year given how he played last season. Certainly one to take a look at as a TE2 if he is available in those later rounds.

MARTIN RICHARDSON

NFL/FANTASY FOOTBALL ANALYST

A Yorkshireman living in Lancashire, Martin is a massive NFL fan but his heart belongs to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Also a huge Fantasy Football enthusiast and spends far too long crunching the numbers! Follow him at @MRBucsFan31

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