Week 1 Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings: David Njoku Cracks Top 5, No Rookies in Top 10
Morgan gives his week 1 fantasy football rankings for tight ends.
We just started a fantasy football series where we rank the top fantasy players at each position.
We looked at quarterbacks first, and now are going to go over the tight end position. I'll go over the top-25 players at the position. I'll cover things with PPR leagues in mind.
Check out week 1 fantasy football projections for tight ends on FantasySP as well.
1. Brock Bowers
Bowers will take on the Patriots in week 1. It's a tougher matchup based on last year's numbers, but there's no matchup I won't trust Bowers in.
He's a must-start fantasy asset all season, and after taking him first in fantasy drafts, it's only fitting to have him ranked first.
2. Trey McBride
McBride also has a tougher test against the Saints in week 1, but again, there's not many matchups I won't trust McBride in.
He could lead the Cardinals' pass catchers any week, and that's why you have to trust McBride.
Kittle has another below-average matchup in week 1, taking on the Seahawks. Again though, after drafting Kittle early, you have to trust him.
He could power the Niners' pass-catching group early in the season, and that makes him a great fantasy option in all matchups.
4. David Njoku
Finally breaking from the top-drafted tight ends here to take advantage of a matchup. Njoku takes on the Bengals, who were the worst defense when it came to slowing opposing fantasy tight ends last year.
Njoku is a good fantasy asset most weeks anyway, and in the favorable matchup, could end up leading the position in scoring, especially if he finds the end zone.
5. Sam LaPorta
LaPorta will battle the Packers in week 1. It's a so-so fantasy matchup based on last year's numbers.
LaPorta is looking for a bounceback season in 2025, and this matchup could help him get off to a strong start in that effort.
6. Travis Kelce
Kelce has a tougher matchup against the Chargers, but the veteran is more trustworthy because we've seen him deliver in all matchups over his career.
He should put up decent marks in week 1, especially with Rashee Rice out of the picture.
7. Evan Engram
Engram has an even tougher matchup against the Titans in week 1.
He's one of the better fantasy options at the position though, so that's why he's ranked where he is.
8. Mark Andrews
Andrews has a clash against the Bills in week 1. It's a so-so matchup based on last year's numbers.
He's coming off a big season and is due for some regression, but Andrews is still a quality starting option every single week, including this one.
Hock has a matchup against the Bears in week 1. It's another so-so matchup, but it's maybe ever so slightly above average.
I was high on Hockenson early in the season with Jordan Addison suspended, but the addition of Adam Thielen knocks Hock down a couple pegs. He still could be a pretty solid fantasy asset for week 1, and should be starting in nearly every 10-team league.
10. Dallas Goedert
Goedert will go up against the Cowboys in week 1.
Division games are always fun to kick off the season, but it also means the opposition knows you better. Goedert is the team's third-best pass catcher, and the matchup is average, so I expect Goedert to contribute some, but not a ton.
11. Tyler Warren
Warren has a slightly above-average clash against the Dolphins for week 1.
I'm high on the rookie tight end going into the season, and he could make a statement with a big showing right away. Warren would rank higher if he had better quarterbacks throwing to him.
12. Kyle Pitts Sr.
Pitts has a matchup against the Buccaneers in week 1. That's a pretty solid matchup based on last year's numbers.
Pitts has underwhelmed several fantasy seasons in a row, but could get his year off to a good start in this matchup. If he doesn't do much, fantasy owners could give up on him for good.
13. Hunter Henry
Henry has a test against the Raiders, which is one of the weaker defenses when it came to slowing fantasy TEs last season.
Henry is one of the better pass-catching options for the Pats, and could easily be a top-10 option this week. I just feel safest putting him in the teens.
14. Tucker Kraft
I am a pretty big fan of Kraft, but don't love his week 1 matchup against the Lions.
That was the toughest matchup for a TE last season, and with all the pass-catching options Green Bay has already, it could lead to a poor showing from Kraft, unless he scores.
15. Cade Otton
Otton will go up against the Falcons in week 1. It's another slightly above-average fantasy test for a tight end.
Otton could be a bit more involved with a couple Tampa Bay wideouts injured to start the season. The only problem is that Otton himself is injured, battling through a leg injury.
16. Chig Okonkwo
Okonkwo has a stiffer test against the Broncos in week 1.
He's had an inconsistent career, but could be a great checkdown option for Cameron Ward early in his career. We'll see if the Titans' tight end can get his season off to a strong start.
17. Mason Taylor
I have highlighted Taylor as a sneaky good fantasy asset in 2025, and a decent matchup against the Steelers is his first one.
He's over some notable fantasy tight ends, but I really do believe in Taylor right from the start of the season.
18. Colston Loveland
Loveland has a matchup against the Vikings for his NFL debut game. It's a below-average matchup based on last year's numbers.
Chicago has a ton of pass-catching options, and everyone appears to be healthy, so that's why Loveland doesn't appear until now.
19. Jake Ferguson
Ferguson has a very tough test against the Eagles, which is why he ranks so low for week 1.
Ferguson is probably third on the pass catcher hierarchy after CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, so that also works against him going into the year.
20. Zach Ertz
Ertz takes on the Giants, who were surprisingly one of the tougher defenses for a fantasy TE to face last season.
Ertz is likely to be a pretty big pass-catching option for Washington though, so I'm still thinking he can deliver some decent numbers in the stiffer tests.
21. Brenton Strange
Strange will face the Panthers in week 1. That was one of the most favorable matchups in 2024 for a TE.
I'd like to see Strange deliver once before feeling confident in starting him, and that's why he ranks where he does. There's a decent chance he easily outperforms my ranking this week.
22. Dalton Kincaid
The Ravens are a pretty average test for Kincaid in week 1.
He's yet to explode like fantasy owners have expected him to, but a good week 1 showing could maybe be the start of his breakout season.
23. Darren Waller
The Colts represent another very favorable matchup for tight ends, and that's who Waller gets in week 1.
He's still ramping up after un-retiring this offseason. Waller could be a pretty big part of the team's offense as the third-best pass catcher, but again, I need to see it before I believe enough to start him in many fantasy matchups.
24. Pat Freiermuth
The Jets are a tough matchup for Freiermuth, who could also be replaced by Jonnu Smith on this list.
It's tough to say who the best tight end will be for the Steelers this year, but maybe we'll get a clearer picture after this week. I don't trust either guy in week 1, but would take Freiermuth as he's been in this offense longer than Smith.
25. Theo Johnson
Johnson gets the final spot in my top 25. He has a pretty average test against the Commanders in week 1.
Johnson needs to prove himself before I'd feel comfortable putting him inside the top 20. We'll see if he can put his name on the map with a good showing.
