2025 NFL Draft: Top 10 Tight Ends
2025 NFL Draft: Top 10 Tight Ends As the annual NFL Draft approaches, Dynasty Football managers are gearing up to evaluate the incoming rookie class. The tight end position, often tricky to project for fantasy production, offers a promising group this year. While landing spots and draft capital will ultimately shape their rookie-year value, this pre-draft ranking focuses on talent, college production, and potential fantasy upside. FullTime Fantasy‘s 2025 NFL Draft: Top 10 Tight Ends is a great place to start. The 2025 tight end class lacks a singular elite prospect like Brock Bowers but boasts depth and variety. Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland headline the group as potential first-rounders with immediate fantasy relevance. Harold Fannin Jr.’s upside is undeniable, while players like Gunnar Helm and Elijah Arroyo offer intriguing value if they land in favorable situations. As the draft nears, keep an eye on team fits and offensive schemes—these will determine which of these rookies can make a splash in fantasy football come September 2025. For now, this ranking serves as a pre-draft roadmap for dynasty managers and forward-thinking redraft players alike. Here are the top 10 rookie tight ends for the 2025 fantasy football season. 1. Tyler Warren (Penn State) Tyler Warren stands out as the cream of the 2025 tight end crop. At 6’6” and 256 pounds, he’s a matchup nightmare with a rare blend of size, athleticism, and versatility. In 2024, Warren led Penn State with 104 receptions for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns, showcasing his ability to dominate as a receiver. His physicality after the catch—ranking second among tight ends in missed tackles forced—makes him a YAC threat. While his run-blocking needs refinement, Warren’s receiving prowess and red-zone potential position him as a potential Day 1 fantasy starter, especially if he lands with a pass-heavy offense. Check out Tyler Warren’s scouting report here. 2. Colston Loveland (Michigan) Colston Loveland is another blue-chip prospect with first-round buzz. At 6’5” and 248 pounds, he anchored Michigan’s passing game in 2024 despite a lackluster offense, hauling in 56 catches for 582 yards and five touchdowns in just 10 games before a shoulder injury sidelined him. His 37.6% target share and 2.67 yards per route run highlight his efficiency and reliability. Loveland’s versatility—he lined up in the slot, inline, and out wide—makes him a modern tight end with TE1 upside. If he lands with a quarterback who can maximize his skill set, he’s a prime fantasy target. 3. Harold Fannin Jr. (Bowling Green) Harold Fannin Jr. turned heads with a historic 2024 season at Bowling Green, setting NCAA tight end records with 117 receptions and 1,555 yards, plus 10 touchdowns. At 6’4” and 241 pounds, he’s a bit undersized for a traditional tight end, but his explosive receiving ability compensates. Fannin led all tight ends in forced missed tackles and posted elite yards-after-catch numbers (873 YAC in 2024). His production against Power Four teams like Penn State (11 catches, 137 yards, 1 TD) alleviates concerns about competition level. Fannin’s fantasy ceiling is sky-high if he lands in a creative offense. 4.. Elijah Arroyo (Miami) Elijah Arroyo’s limited usage at Miami belies his tantalizing potential. In 2024, he turned 35 catches into 590 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging an impressive 16.9 yards per reception—the second-best among this class’s tight ends. At 6’4” and 235 pounds, Arroyo’s speed (estimated 4.5-4.6 40-yard dash) and zero career drops scream upside. His versatility—lining up in the slot or as a wingback—adds to his appeal. Arroyo needs to bulk up and refine his route-running, but in the right system, he could emerge as a deep-league fantasy sleeper as a rookie. Miami TE Elijah Arroyo has a compelling second- and third-level acceleration that is magnified when he’s using burst motion. I would think that any NFL team using a lot of that would find him quite interesting. pic.twitter.com/vQwMpDcCTw — Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) March 30, 2025 5. Gunnar Helm (Texas) Gunnar Helm emerged as a breakout star for Texas in 2024, stepping up after Ja’Tavion Sanders’ departure. The 6’5”, 252-pound senior recorded 60 receptions for 786 yards and seven touchdowns, leading the Longhorns in catches. Helm’s 80% catch rate and short-area quickness make him a reliable chain-mover with sneaky upside. While not an elite athlete, his soft hands and ability to win above the rim suggest he could carve out a role as a possession tight end with red-zone appeal. His fantasy value hinges on landing with a quarterback who targets tight ends consistently. 6. Mason Taylor (LSU) Mason Taylor, son of NFL Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, brings a polished two-way skill set to the table. At 6’5” and 251 pounds, he finished his LSU career with 129 receptions for 1,308 yards and six touchdowns. In 2024, he posted 36-plus catches for the third straight year, showcasing consistency. Taylor’s athleticism and reliable hands give him a high floor, though his lack of elite production limits his ceiling. He profiles as a backup or committee tight end in the NFL, making him a late-round dynasty stash rather than an immediate fantasy contributor. 7. Terrance Ferguson (Oregon) Terrance Ferguson’s 4.63 40-yard dash at the combine—the fastest among tight ends—underscored his big-play potential. At 6’5” and 255 pounds, he averaged 13.7 yards per catch in 2024 (43 receptions, 591 yards). Ferguson’s speed and size make him a vertical threat, though his lack of run-blocking prowess could cap his snap count as a rookie. His fantasy value depends heavily on landing with a team that prioritizes his receiving skills over blocking. He also boasted a lofty 9.32 Relative Athletic Score. Terrance Ferguson is a TE prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.32 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 91 out of 1331 TE from 1987 to 2025. https://t.co/eU0MCtjhuQ pic.twitter.com/HQRrNyN6wr — Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 30, 2025 8. Oronde Gadsden II (Syracuse) Oronde Gadsden II’s classification as a tight end is debated—he’s often more of a big slot receiver—but at 6’5”
2023 Fantasy Tight End Values
2023 Fantasy Tight End Values It seems like tight ends are becoming more valuable as each fantasy season arrives. Much of that value can be attributed to the lack of depth available throughout the position. Also, many leagues have begun
It seems like tight ends are becoming more valuable as each fantasy season arrives. Much of that value can be attributed to the lack of depth available throughout the position. Also, many leagues have begun to mitigate that weakness by rewarding bonus points for tight end receptions.
Regardless of your league’s settings, securing a reliable weekly tight end is a huge advantage in fantasy football. And since there are so few elite options, most fantasy football managers will be searching for the top 2023 fantasy tight end values to target on draft day.
Here are the top-5 2023 fantasy tight end values that you should consider when assembling your roster this summer.
Last year, Travis Kelce (317.3 fantasy points) dominated the tight end pool. He had more than a 100-point edge over the second-best option (T.J. Hockenson – 216.40 fantasy points) while doubling the output of the sixth-ranked (Tyler Higbee – 152.00 fantasy points). Kelce had a floor of 15 fantasy points in 12 of his 17 starts, doubling the second-highest player (George Kittle – 6) in this area. Only three running backs and three wide receivers outscored Kelce in 2022 in PPR formats.
Eight tight end games with 30-plus fantasy points came from the top 12 best players. The TE1s scored between 20 and 29.99 fantasy points 17 times (12 by the top four tight ends). The other remaining options delivered just nine outcomes in this category.
During the year, there were 210 games by tight ends with a floor of 10 fantasy points. Here’s the breakdown by groupings:
- TE1 – 96
- TE2 – 56
- TE3 – 38
- TE4 – 14
- TE5 – 6
Below the top 18 tight ends last season, there were only four games with more than 20 fantasy points – Jordan Akins – 25., Mike Gesicki – 24.9, Mo Alie-Cox – 26.5, Shane Zylstra – 25.6, and Trey McBride – 20.8).
Here’s a look at the week-to-week scores by the top 24 tight ends in 2022…
WHO ARE THE TOP FIVE 2023 FANTASY TIGHT END VALUES TO TARGET DURING YOUR DRAFT OR AUCTION?
To read Shawn’s favorite tight end values…
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Dynasty Rookie Tight Ends Outlook
Rookie tight end is a deeper than expected class this year which includes an elite can’t miss prospect, but what does that mean for dynasty rookie drafts in the Dynasty Football World Championships? Let’s take a deeper dive into the
Kyle Pitts – Florida / 6’6″ – 245
Pitts is an athletic freak who is able to work in-line, in the slot, and outside the numbers. He will be a gigantic mismatch in the red zone by using his size and massive catch radius. With excellent body control and ability to adjust to back-shoulder throws, Pitts will be impossible to cover man-to-man. He holds his own as a blocker and does surprisingly well creating lanes in the run game. Though he shows the potential to be a high-end weapon, Pitts is not a can’t-miss prospect. He struggles to separate against man coverage and isn’t a fluid athlete, albeit difficult to fully coordinate a 6’6″ frame. He often double-clutches the ball, which will allow defenders an extra chance to break up the play.
- Grade: High-end starter
- Comparison: Jimmy Graham
- NFL Draft Projection: 1st
- Projected DFWC ADP: Mid 1st Round
- Bottom Line: Pitts has the ability to be a high-end, pass-catching tight end should he improve his route fluidity. He’s far from a generational player, but he will be a Noah Fant-level weapon for years to come. Ease the hype just a bit, folks.
Pat Freiermuth – Penn State / 6’5″ – 245
Freiermuth is an all-around player who will excel as a blocker just as much as a receiver. He has a strong, well-balanced frame to help engage and hold blocks with ease. Freiermuth is comfortable hitting the seam and is tough to bring down with the ball in his hands. He tracks the ball well but needs to come down with a higher percentage of contested catches. His speed is slightly above average, but he wins in all other facets. Knowing when and where to sit down in coverage is a plus and will benefit his NFL quarterback almost immediately. Once he refines his route running and boosts his confidence in his hands, watch out for the Freiermuth explosion.
- Grade: High-end starter
- Comparison: (reserved for members only)
- Draft Projection: (reserved for members only)
- Projected DFWC ADP (reserved for members only)
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