The 2025 NFL Draft has concluded, and while much of the fantasy football world focuses on the shiny new rookies at quarterback, running back, and wide receiver, savvy managers know to look for subtle yet significant shifts at the tight end position.
Often overlooked, the draft can profoundly impact a veteran tight end’s outlook—whether by confirming their role, eliminating competition, or placing them with a new quarterback who favors the position.
This post will highlight some veteran tight ends whose fantasy stock has changed — or remained — on the rise heading into offseason work.
Here are five tight ends whose stock is on the rise.
Trey McBride (Arizona Cardinals): Trey McBride is a clear top-tier fantasy tight end, and his outlook for 2025 is incredibly bright. After a breakout 2024 season where he finished as the TE2 in PPR, the Cardinals’ draft strategy further solidified his role. They focused heavily on defense, confirming that McBride remains a cornerstone of their passing attack. He commanded a massive target share in 2024 (114 targets, top 20 among all pass catchers), and with Kyler Murray fully healthy and another year of chemistry, McBride is poised to maintain his high volume. His athleticism, sure hands, and established connection with Murray make him a locked-in top-5 tight end with upside to be the overall TE1.
Sam LaPorta (Detroit Lions): Sam LaPorta’s 2025 fantasy outlook is still very attractive, even after a slight dip in targets in 2024. He finished as the TE1 in fantasy scoring in his sensational rookie year (2023) and followed it up with 60 receptions for 726 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2024. LaPorta actually improved his yards per catch and yards per target in 2024, showing his efficiency. With Jared Goff’s continued reliability and the Lions’ commitment to utilizing their tight ends, LaPorta is still a top-tier fantasy tight end with high touchdown upside, making him a safe bet for TE1 production.
Evan Engram (Denver Broncos): Evan Engram is poised for a fantasy rebound in 2025 after an injury-marred 2024 season. The Broncos signed him to a two-year deal in free agency and head coach Sean Payton has publicly stated his plan to make Engram the “joker” in his offense – a role that emphasizes run-after-the-catch ability, where Engram excels. In 2023, Engram had a career-high 114 catches for 963 yards, showcasing his immense volume potential. The Broncos did not invest heavily in a tight end in the draft (only adding a developmental player in the seventh round), solidifying Engram’s role as the primary pass-catching tight end. Engram offers excellent value as a mid-to-low-end TE1 with high upside in PPR leagues.
Pat Freiermuth (Pittsburgh Steelers): Pat Freiermuth’s fantasy stock has seen a positive shift, largely due to the Steelers’ offensive changes this offseason. With the Steelers adding D.K. Metcalf, trading George Pickens, and not drafting another tight end early, Freiermuth is set to absorb a significant portion of vacated targets. He’s a reliable target, especially in the red zone, and Arthur Smith has a history of involving tight ends prominently in his schemes. While the quarterback situation (Mason Rudolph is currently atop the depth chart while they pursue Aaron Rodgers) remains a question, Freiermuth’s increased target share and red-zone potential make him a strong high-end TE2 with legitimate low-end TE1 upside, provided he can stay healthy. (And a late update: if the Steelers do, in fact, trade for Jonnu Smith as rumors have suggested, you can just cancel this stock up altogether!)
George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers): George Kittle continues to be a fantasy football stalwart, and his 2025 outlook remains bright. The 49ers did not draft any tight end to challenge his role, and his contract extension further solidifies his long-term future with the team. Kittle put together another outstanding season in 2024, clearing 1,000 receiving yards for the second straight year with 78 catches, 1,106 yards, and 8 touchdowns despite missing two games. He remains a model of efficiency, with career bests in catch rate and yards per target. Even at 31, Kittle has shown no signs of slowing down, and with a potentially less clear “alpha” wide receiver in the offense (after the Deebo Samuel trade), Kittle is poised for another high-volume season, maintaining his status as a top-5 fantasy tight end.
