- Brock Bowers may enhance on his historic rookie 12 months: Bowers ought to have a brand new quarterback and offensive play-caller however may additionally see extra competitors for targets.
- Will the rookie pattern proceed?: Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland look to observe in Bowers and Sam LaPorta’s footsteps as elite fantasy choices of their rookie seasons.
- 2025 NFL Draft season is right here: Attempt PFF’s best-in-class Mock Draft Simulator and find out about 2025’s prime prospects whereas buying and selling and drafting in your favourite NFL workforce.
Estimated studying time: 9 minutes
With the conclusion of the 2024 NFL season, these way-too-early 2025 fantasy soccer rankings are an preliminary have a look at how gamers may very well be ranked this summer time.
Participant motion in free company can have a big issue within the rankings. For now, gamers anticipated to be unrestricted free brokers are marked as free brokers within the workforce column.
These rankings are for redraft PPR leagues.
Final Up to date: 7:00 a.m Monday, January 27
Tier 1: The one tight ends you may belief
These three tight ends averaged 15.5-15.8 PPR factors per recreation final season, and there was a full two-point hole between them and everybody else. They had been additionally the three tight ends with an 88.0-plus PFF receiving a grade whereas solely two different tight ends completed with a grade within the 80.0s. They every earned over 1,100 receiving yards whereas no different tight finish surpassed 900 yards. The hole between these three tight ends and the remainder of the league might be sufficient to drive up their ADPs, as solely three fantasy managers can decide a decent finish they are often absolutely snug with.
Bowers presently leads the group after having arguably the perfect rookie season for a decent finish of all time. He achieved this regardless of the Raiders firing their offensive coordinator midseason and a relentless revolving door of quarterbacks, combining for the second-lowest workforce passing grade. We don’t know who the offensive play-caller or quarterback might be, however it’s more likely to be an enchancment than a regression. Nevertheless, the Raiders additionally completed bottom-three in working again and extensive receiver workforce grade. He can even probably see extra competitors for touches this season.
McBride and Kittle will probably hold the identical play-callers and quarterbacks. McBride ought to see some constructive landing regression, and if Bowers positive factors an excessive amount of competitors for touches, McBride may very well be the general TE1. Kittle will flip 32 years previous early within the season and can have extra competitors for touches from Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk. Regardless of this, his consistency every season and fantasy managers’ want for a top-three tight finish ought to push Kittle’s value nearer to Bowers and McBride.
Tier 2: The tight ends with a cause for optimism
There are eight tight ends with a PFF receiving grade above 75.0 during the last two years mixed. Three are within the prime tier, whereas two have a transparent cause for concern. The remaining three tight ends make up this tier.
LaPorta’s numbers weren’t as robust in his sophomore season as his rookie 12 months, however his PFF grade remained very comparable. His goal price declined, primarily as a result of Jameson Williams turned an asset to the Lions offense. This led to decrease yards per route run, however his explosive play price elevated whereas his drops decreased to assist make up for the less targets. Ideally, the Lions dropping each their offensive and defensive coordinator will cause them to play in additional shut video games, main the workforce to go extra.
Hockenson was a top-six fantasy tight finish in factors per recreation every season from 2020-2023. He tore his ACL and MCL in late December 2023 and returned in early November 2024. Unsurprisingly, he wasn’t as efficient as a participant, however he nonetheless achieved at the very least 60 receiving yards in 4 of 11 video games. If he’s again to 100%, he belongs within the first tier, however the danger of him not being the identical participant pushes him all the way down to the second tier.
Smith was the breakout star of 2024, scoring 194.4 fantasy factors from Weeks 7-18, main all tight ends. Smith solely had two video games of at the very least 70 yards in his first six seasons and posted two shock large video games with the Atlanta Falcons in 2023. He doubled his whole in 2024 in his first 12 months with the Dolphins. He scored eight touchdowns after scoring 4 over the earlier three years mixed. Whereas Smith had constantly graded effectively in a restricted position, this was his first 12 months being featured in an offense. There’s a concern that Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle will bounce again after a down 2024, which may imply fewer targets for Smith.
Tier 3: They aren’t completed but
Kelce and Andrews spherical out the highest eight highest-graded receiving tight ends during the last two seasons.
The priority with Kelce is he acquired a pointy decline in PFF receiving grade. He completed with an 83.0 grade or higher yearly from 2016-2023 however recorded a 70.5 receiving grade within the 2024 common season. His prevented deal with price was in a freefall, resulting in a career-low 1.43 yards per route run. The decline pushed Kelce from the clearcut total prime tight finish to TE5 in 2024, however he’ll flip 36 years previous early within the 2025 season. Rashee Rice‘s return and Xavier Worthy‘s emergence may result in fewer targets for Kelce, assuming he doesn’t retire.
Andrews completed with the sixth-most fantasy factors this season due to his 11 touchdowns, three greater than every other tight finish. He ranked 14th on the place in receptions after dropping taking part in time to Charlie Kolar in clear run conditions and, at occasions, Isaiah Probably in passing conditions. It’s extra probably that his touchdowns per reception price lower than his taking part in time and targets improve.
Njoku rounds out the tier after averaging 13.5 fantasy factors per recreation final season, which was fourth-best on the place. His 23.4% targets per route during the last two seasons ranks fourth among the many 44 tight ends that ran at the very least 400 routes, however his 69.5 receiving grade is tied for twentieth. The Browns had the second-lowest workforce receiving grade from extensive receivers throughout that interval, and if something, the workforce will look to enhance the unit this offseason. Most quarterbacks within the prime three tiers have comparatively secure quarterback conditions, and it’s unclear who would be the quarterback subsequent 12 months. This offseason will decide if Njoku deserves to be bumped up or dropped down a tier.
Tier 4: The younger tight ends to take an opportunity on
This tier begins with two rookie tight ends who’re anticipated to be first-round picks. Our most up-to-date mock draft put each gamers within the top-24 draft picks on groups the place they might immediately turn out to be the highest receiving possibility. Whereas the highest potential touchdown spots aren’t essentially nice, Brock Bowers had loads of success in a less-than-ideal scenario this previous 12 months. There are current examples of different extremely drafted tight ends who additionally struggled of their rookie season. Their odds of turning into a top-three fantasy tight finish this season might be a bit increased than every other tight finish on this vary.
Kincaid and Ferguson spherical out the tier as two different tight ends who may escape. Kincaid was a first-round decide in 2023 and is taking part in with one of many NFL’s finest quarterbacks on a workforce with restricted extensive receiver choices, but he was held beneath 55 receiving yards in each recreation this season and solely caught two touchdowns. There may be nonetheless a possibility for him to interrupt out, however there may be additionally an opportunity he won’t ever be a fantasy starter in 2025. Ferguson equally adopted up a momentum-building 2023 with a momentum-halting 2024. He didn’t rating a landing all season and was held to 40 receiving yards or much less in 9 of his final 10 video games. Whereas a part of that was dropping Dak Prescott at quarterback, the Cowboys may enhance at extensive receiver and working again this offseason, which may cap Ferguson’s goal potential.
Tier 5: Their TE1 days won’t be over
Goedert and Engram had been top-12 fantasy tight ends in 2022 and 2023, however accidents took their toll on the 2024 season. Goedert’s constantly averaged 9.6-11.7 PPR factors per recreation in every of the final six seasons, the final two seasons had been within the decrease finish of that vary. He turned 30 years previous this month, and his PFF grade dipped beneath 70.0 for the primary time in his profession. He is usually a fantasy starter in the proper matchup, however his upside is minimal. It’s at the very least doable the Eagles spend money on a brand new younger tight finish to take over for Goedert ultimately.
Engram is equally on the fallacious facet of 30 years previous. His backup, Brenton Unusual, achieved almost the identical receiving grade as Engram this season. Unusual gained extra receiving yards on fewer targets due to extra explosive performs. Engram has the second-largest cap quantity on the workforce, so Jacksonville may transfer on from Engram in favor of Unusual being the starter.
Tier 6: Excessive danger, excessive reward
This group of tight ends are full wild playing cards attributable to issues round their taking part in time and goal price.
Pitts performed 55% of his workforce’s offensive snaps or much less in eight of his final 10 video games, whereas run blocker Charlie Woerner earned a rise in taking part in time. Throughout that stretch, he was held beneath 20 receiving yards six occasions. Pitts posted just a few large video games early within the season and the expertise is there, however he can have no fantasy worth if his position to finish 2024 continues in 2025.
Freiermuth ended the 2024 season with the ninth-most fantasy factors for a decent finish however ranked thirteenth in factors per recreation. He had a robust ground with at the very least two receptions in all 17 common season video games, however he was held to 25 yards or much less in seven common season video games, together with their playoff recreation. He was held beneath 70% of offensive snaps in over half of his video games, along with his video games over 70% of snaps largely coinciding with MyCole Pruitt being out attributable to harm.
Kraft ranked fifteenth in fantasy factors per recreation final season. He was tied for the fourth-most touchdowns at seven however caught the 18th-most receptions at 50, regardless of not lacking a recreation. Luke Musgrave missed almost your complete season and can probably reduce into Kraft’s taking part in time subsequent 12 months. For each Freirmuth and Kraft, there’s a probability their groups will add extra gamers at extensive receiver, which may reduce into their goal share.
