2025 Dynasty Rookie Preview: Top 10 Rookie Tight Ends
With the 2024 fantasy football season in the books, it’s now time to dive into the 2025 NFL Draft and the rookie draft class. Today, I’ll be breaking down the top 10 rookie tight ends in this dynasty rookie preview. More importantly, we’ll be breaking down the dynasty league football outlook for these talented prospects.
2025 Dynasty Preview – Top 10 Rookie Tight Ends
The past few NFL Draft classes have produced multiple elite tight ends for fantasy players. Trey McBride was a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He finished this past season as the TE3, averaging 12.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game.
Furthermore, Sam LaPorta was a second-round in the 2023 NFL Draft. After an impressive rookie year, he finished this season as the TE7, averaging nine fantasy points per game. However, the best tight end prospect in forever was Brock Bowers in last year’s draft class. Ultimately, he ended this season as the TE1. Impressively, averaging 12.2 fantasy points per game despite having low expectations as a rookie.
Unfortunately, the 2025 NFL Draft class lacks a Bowers-like tight end prospect. However, the class has multiple high-end prospects with significant fantasy upside.
Let’s look at the top 10 tight ends in the 2025 NFL Draft class.
TE1 – Tyler Warren, Penn State
Penn State has produced multiple starting-caliber tight ends, including Pat Freiermuth and Mike Gesicki, over the past several years. However, Warren has a chance to be one of the best tight ends in the NFL, even as a rookie. He was the focal point of Penn State’s offense in 2024.
The do-it-all tight end led the team in receptions (104), receiving yards (1,233), and touchdowns (eight), easily setting career highs in every category. Furthermore, Warren is an excellent athlete, totaling 26 rushing attempts for 218 yards and four touchdowns. He is the perfect mix of T.J. Hockenson with Taysom Hill’s rushing abilities and athleticism.
TE2 – Colston Loveland, Michigan
Unfortunately, Loveland missed multiple games in 2024 because of injury. Yet, the start tight end was Michigan’s only consistent and reliable weapon in the passing game, totaling 56 receptions for 582 receiving yards and a career-high five touchdowns despite the team’s disaster at the quarterback position.
Loveland has the speed to beat linebackers and slower safeties while being big enough to overpower typical defensive backs. He didn’t have eye-popping numbers in college, totaling 1,466 receiver yards in 39 career games. However, the talented tight end should be a difference-maker early in his NFL career.
TE3 – Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
While Bowling Green hasn’t produced many high-end NFL prospects, Fannin could become only the second first-round pick in school history. The MAC star led the conference and all of FBS in receptions (117) and receiving yards (1,555). He also had a team-high 10 receiving touchdowns after totaling seven over his first two years.
Furthermore, Fannin had arguably the best season ever by a tight end in 2024. Additionally, he set FBS records for receptions and receiving yards by a tight end. The Bowling Green star also set several PFF-era records by a tight end, including yards after contact (868), missed tackles forced (32), and receiving grade (96.5).
TE4 – Gunnar Helm, Texas
The tight end class takes a significant dip after the first three prospects. Yet, Helm is far from a consolation prize. The former Longhorn had little impact before the 2024 season, playing behind Ja’Tavion Sanders, totaling 19 receptions and two touchdowns over his first three seasons at Texas.
However, he had a breakout Senior season with Sanders off to the NFL, leading the Longhorns with 60 receptions for 786 yards and seven touchdowns. Furthermore, Helm was a reliable middle-of-the-field option for Quinn Ewers. The former Texas star should be a top-60 pick with potential fantasy value as a rookie.
TE5 – Mason Taylor, LSU
Taylor didn’t have massive numbers during his time at LSU. He finished with 129 receptions for 1,308 receiving yards and six touchdowns. However, Taylor’s final season was the best of his college career, totaling 55 receptions for 546 receiving yards and two scores despite losing Jayden Daniels to the NFL.
Offensive play-callers will love the former LSU tight end. Taylor can play all over the field, creating mismatches on offense. Notably, some scouts believe he has the most natural hands of any tight end in the draft class. While Taylor likely won’t be a top-50 draft pick, he should have a fantasy-relevant NFL career.
TE6 – Elijah Arroyo, Miami
Many believe Arroyo could be the biggest riser between today and the NFL Draft in April. The Miami star had little impact early in his career, totaling 11 receptions for 163 receiving yards before last season. However, he had a breakout year in 2024.
After totaling one receiving touchdown over his first three years at Miami, Arroyo had seven last season, the third-most on the team. Overall, he is a raw prospect but has meaningful upside thanks to his athleticism. Arroyo can become a consistent big-play threat once he gets more experience.
TE7 – Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse
Gadsden started his college career as a wide receiver, totaling 63 receptions for 999 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 21 games. However, he made the move to tight end in 2023. Unfortunately, Gadsden only played in two contests, finishing with seven receptions for 67 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Therefore, many had low expectations for him this past season. Yet, Gadsden was one of Syracuse’s top weapons in the passing game. The converted tight end finished with 73 receptions for 934 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, all career highs.
TE8 – Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
Oregon had one of the top offenses in college football last season. While he wasn’t the team’s top weapon in the passing game, Ferguson had a critical role in the unit’s success. He had 43 receptions for 591 receiving yards and three touchdowns, setting career highs in receptions and yards.
The former four-star recruit earned first-team All-PAC-12 honors last season. Ferguson finished his college career tied for fourth all-time in receptions by an Oregon tight end with 91, while his 13 career touchdown catches were tied for third-most. Overall, he is one of my favorite mid-round tight end prospects.
TE9 – Jake Briningstool, Clemson
While he built more like a wide receiver than a traditional tight end, Briningstool is an appealing mid-round draft prospect. The former Clemson star had a productive career, totaling 127 receptions for 1,380 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns.
Furthermore, Briningstool had at least 49 receptions for 498 receiving yards and five touchdowns in back-to-back seasons. He tied a school record with nine receptions in the 2023 bowl game win over Kentucky. Ultimately, his size, catch radius, and leaping abilities make him an appealing red zone weapon for NFL teams.
TE10 – Luke Lachey, Iowa
Lachey is the son of former NFL All-Pro Jim Lachey. The Iowa tight end finished his career with solid but not eye-popping numbers, totaling 74 receptions for 893 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He had fewer than 400 receiving yards every year.
Unfortunately, Lachey hasn’t scored a touchdown since 2022. Notably, he had all four career receiving scores that season. Yet, he should get drafted in the middle rounds because of his soft hands and strong concentration at the catch point. Lachey wraps up this 2025 dynasty rookie preview, just cracking the top 10 rookie tight ends.
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