Tight End Rankings: Players I'm High and Low On

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We went live with 2025 projections the day after the Super Bowl, putting us in a rare position of being among the first in the industry to have public numbers for you to reference, assess, question, and comment. It should go without saying that many of these projections and rankings will change significantly as rosters take shape and we get a clearer picture of each team's talent and skill profiles.

That said, we thought it would be helpful to compare my rankings (which are driven by my projections) against early industry consensus. I'm going to highlight some of the larger initial disparities, both to spark discussion and to help frame things as you all begin working on your rankings for the season.

Tight End Rankings: Players I'm High On

There are three tight ends I have rated significantly higher than the industry consensus.

Tyler Warren, Undrafted Rookie

• My Ranking: TE9
• Industry Ranking: TE20

This ranking has massive variance, and I could see mine coming down significantly or the industry's rising, depending on where Warren gets drafted. It's all about the landing spot. But remember, the days of avoiding rookie tight ends in redraft leagues are long gone. Sam LaPorta was the No. 1 fantasy tight end in 2023, and Brock Bowers was the No. 1 fantasy tight end in 2024. If Warren lands on a target-needy team, we must consider him an immediate fantasy starter.

Cade Otton, Tampa Bay

• My Ranking: TE14
• Industry Ranking: TE19

Most redraft leagues don't worry too much about second tight ends and typically rely on the waiver wire to fill that spot. So, ranking Otton as TE14 or TE19 doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things. However, I see him as having breakout potential that other tight ends in his tier do not. He finished as TE12 last year, and the Buccaneers could be without longtime contributor Chris Godwin, depending on how they approach free agency.

Tyler Higbee, LA Rams

• My Ranking: TE24
• Industry Ranking: TE37

If Tyler Higbee enters training camp as the Rams starter, the consensus and my current rankings will be too low. Higbee didn't return from injury until Week 16 last year and didn't ramp back up to starting snaps (82%) until the final playoff game. There's no reason he shouldn't enter 2025 as the full-time starter. With Cooper Kupp and Demarcus Robinson possibly gone, Higbee could surprise. On the other hand, the Rams could bring in a younger alternative, which would derail Higbee's viability entirely. 

Tight End Rankings: Players I'm Low On

There are three tight ends I have rated significantly lower than the industry consensus.

Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo

• My Ranking: TE18
• Industry Ranking: TE12

I understand the appeal and why the industry is slotting Kincaid into the mix of fantasy starters. But I fear it's a mistake. Kincaid had a good, but not great, rookie season. Everyone—including me—expected him to take the next step into the elite tier in 2024. Unfortunately, it didn't happen, despite Josh Allen having an MVP-caliber season and the Bills' offense ranking among the league's best. Even more concerning than Kincaid's overall numbers (TE21) was his declining usage as the season progressed. He routinely played less than 50% of snaps in the second half of the season, raising questions about whether OC Joe Brady views him as anything more than a sub-package complementary piece.

Kyle Pitts, Atlanta

• My Ranking: TE23
• Industry Ranking: TE15

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result. Why do we keep expecting Kyle Pitts to be more than a middling contributor? We made excuses for his rookie season because he eclipsed 1,000 yards and was merely a victim of negative touchdown variance. But in the three seasons since, he has finished TE22, TE17, and TE23. The Falcons have changed play-callers, schemes, and quarterbacks and have bolstered their supporting cast. Yet, Pitts has not delivered a fantasy-worthy season. Until he does, betting on him feels more aspirational than logical.

Zach Ertz, Free Agent

• My Ranking: TE33
• Industry Ranking: TE21

This ranking is particularly intriguing because I expect it to be binary. Ertz was a top-10 fantasy tight end last year and a key part of the Commanders' offensive resurgence. But we don't know if Washington plans to bring back the 34-year-old. Simply put, if Ertz re-signs in Washington, his ranking should skyrocket. But if he isn't re-signed, we can't rule out retirement.

Tight End Rankings: It Is Early in the Process

Please remember this is an incredibly early look at the 2025 fantasy landscape. We haven't had free agency or the pre-draft evaluation process yet, much less the draft, training camp, and the preseason. Suffice it to say that our opinions about these players and many others will evolve in the coming months.