The tight end position in fantasy football has long been known for its scarcity, often leaving owners scrambling for consistent production outside of the top few elite options. However, as we head into the 2025 season, the landscape at tight end appears particularly tumultuous.
A fascinating mix of aging superstars, injured veterans, and promising yet unproven talents presents a unique challenge for fantasy rankings. Understanding the myriad factors contributing to their week-to-week and season-long volatility will be crucial for navigating this tricky position and finding the diamonds in the rough, or wisely avoiding the landmines.
Here are 7 tight ends I’m finding difficult to rank.
Kyle Pitts (Atlanta Falcons): Pitts continues to be fantasy football’s most frustrating enigma. Despite elite athleticism and draft capital, he has consistently underperformed since his rookie year. The biggest question for 2025 is whether having Michael Penix Jr. at the helm will finally unlock Pitts’ potential. While there’s a belief the offense will be more pass-friendly, Pitts’ 2024 season still saw modest target volume and a low touchdown rate. His foot injury and potential trade rumors add further uncertainty. He has the upside of a top-five tight end, but his floor has been incredibly low, making him a true boom-or-bust pick.
T.J. Hockenson (Minnesota Vikings): Hockenson’s 2025 ranking is inherently volatile due to his severe ACL and MCL injury suffered late in 2023. While he came back and played in the latter half of the 2024 season, his effectiveness was a major question. He’ll be catching passes from a new, first-time NFL quarterback in J.J. McCarthy, and it often takes time for tight ends to regain full form after such significant knee injuries. He’s a proven target hog when healthy, but the risk of a slow ramp-up, reduced explosiveness, or further setbacks makes him a risky pick with a high ceiling.
Dallas Goedert (Philadelphia Eagles): Goedert is difficult to rank because his fantasy production is often capped by his role in the Eagles’ offense. While he’s a highly efficient tight end, the Eagles boast two elite wide receivers in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, who command a large share of targets. Goedert also has a history of missing games due to injury, which consistently hampers his overall fantasy output. He’s a reliable security blanket for Jalen Hurts, but his weekly volume and touchdown dependency mean he often hovers in the low-end TE1 to high-end TE2 range, making him more of a floor play than a true ceiling pick.
Cole Kmet (Chicago Bears): Kmet’s 2025 fantasy value is significantly impacted by the Chicago Bears’ dynamic offensive changes. While he’s shown chemistry with Caleb Williams and has been an iron man, having other weapons in D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III and now rookie tight end Colston Loveland creates a much more crowded target tree. Kmet saw his targets, receptions, and yards decline in 2024 with Williams, and while new offensive guru Ben Johnson has embraced two-tight end sets, it’s unclear how targets will be distributed. Kmet could be touchdown-dependent or see his volume capped, making his weekly production hard to predict.
Evan Engram (Denver Broncos): Engram’s 2025 ranking is volatile after a disappointing, injury-shortened 2024 season. He has now moved to the Denver Broncos where he could become Sean Payton’s “joker” weapon, a position that has historically done fantasy players well. Engram’s health and his ability to regain his 2023 form (where he had over 100 receptions) are major concerns. He’s expected to be a key target for Nix, especially in the short and intermediate game, but if his health issues persist or the Broncos’ offense struggles, his production could be inconsistent. He’s a potential rebound candidate, but the variables make him a risky selection.
Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs): Kelce, the long-reigning king of fantasy tight ends, is now entering his age-36 season, making his 2025 ranking the most volatile of his illustrious career. While he’s still Patrick Mahomes’ go-to target and showed flashes of his dominance in the 2024 playoffs, his regular season production in 2024 saw a noticeable dip in yards per catch and overall efficiency. The Chiefs have added more weapons, potentially reducing his target share. He could still provide elite weeks, but the cumulative effects of age and workload introduce a higher risk of injury or further statistical decline. There’s a good chance the Chiefs preserve him during the regular season for a playoff run at this point in his career.
Tucker Kraft (Green Bay Packers): Kraft is difficult to rank for 2025 due to the looming return of fellow tight end Luke Musgrave, who missed significant time in 2024 with an ankle injury. Kraft stepped up admirably in Musgrave’s absence, showcasing impressive YAC ability and becoming a consistent target for Jordan Love. However, with Musgrave expected back, the Packers’ tight end targets could be split, diminishing Kraft’s overall volume. This, of course, says nothing of the amount of pass catchers the Packers have when you add up all their wide receivers. With all those weapons, plus a run-heavy philosophy, predicting Kraft’s numbers is extremely difficult.
