6 Hot Take Candidates – Fantasy Football TE1 Overall in 2025
With the 2025 fantasy football season quickly approaching, now is a great time to start prepping for your upcoming drafts. Today, we’ll be breaking down 6 tight ends who have immense upside for the 2025 season. Specifically, these are candidates to potentially finish as the TE1 overall. Continue reading and check out these hot take candidates with their absolute ceiling being the TE1 overall in fantasy. Keep in mind, many factors need to fall perfectly into place for this to happen.
Prior to the last two seasons, the top of the tight end market has been: Travis Kelce, rinse, repeat. Since 2022, we’ve seen a rookie at the top of the mountain at the end of each season. With a slew of powerful, young tight ends entering the NFL this year and the last few, along with veteran stalwarts like Mark Andrews and Evan Engram nearing the end of their careers, we’re in a sort of renaissance at the position. Let’s break down some hot candidates for 2025’s TE1!
T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
After suffering a late ACL tear in 2023, T.J. Hockenson missed the beginning of the 2024 season. Upon returning, he never looked like he was back to full speed, averaging just 60% of snaps and 6.1 targets per game, which was down from 80% and 8.5 targets in 2023. In those 10 games, he still managed 11.1 yards per reception last season, which is his career best in a season with more than 40 receptions.
Now, a year further recovered from his injury with an offense that still relies on the passing game, Hockenson looks to make waves. An expected early-season suspension of Jordan Addison will allow more looks to this talented tight end to start the year. It may come down to how successful J.J. McCarthy is in his debut under center, but I like their chances.
Evan Engram, Denver Broncos
Following a hot start to his career, averaging 11.9 yards per catch on his 109 receptions and nine touchdowns, Evan Engram came back to Earth. Over his next three seasons, he managed just 9.99 yards per catch. Then, he went to Jacksonville, where he caught 187 passes and scored eight times in his first two seasons with the club.
Over the offseason, he joined Denver and head coach Sean Payton. Payton had previously managed very successful tight end seasons with Jimmy Graham, finishing as the TE2 in three straight years with New Orleans. With an established quarterback and a very good offense, the stars could be setting up for Engram to have another great year.
Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills
Dalton Kincaid had a strong rookie season with 73 catches on 91 targets (80.2%). In 2024, the chances took a dip, which was due to eight different players seeing more than 30 targets each and just 495 passing attempts. Additionally, the 82 vacated targets from Amari Cooper and Mack Hollins will open up more chances.
Short of Buffalo selecting a bigger name pass catcher in the early rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, Kincaid looks to retain the second spot among targets for the team after seeing 75 last year. The Bills also scored 3.6 touchdowns per game in 2024 – the most in a season under Josh Allen. Even on a more balanced offensive attack, this sophomore tight end will have enough opportunities to make more than a splash.
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
It doesn’t seem like David Njoku is entering his ninth NFL season. That’s probably because he never seems to slow down. He’s caught at least four touchdown passes in six of his eight seasons, including last year when he scored five times in just 11 games. Additionally, only twice in his career has he averaged fewer than 10.8 yards per reception in a season, and those were both seasons where he played less than 12 games. Had he played all 17 games, Njoku’s 8.8 targets per game would’ve put him (149.9) ahead of Jerry Jeudy (145) in 2024.
On an offense that is severely lacking in pass-catching talent (outside of Jeudy), Njoku will be a key cog in the Cleveland offense this season. Like any player, health is a concern, perhaps more so with Njoku. A top rookie receiver could hurt his forecast, but the Browns have plenty of issues to address in the draft.
Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars
At first glance, this choice may seem a little wild. The positive outlook for Brenton Strange is glaring! In each game of 2024 when he caught at least four passes, Strange either scored or had at least 59 receiving yards. That also included an 11 catch, 73-yard performance in Week 15. He’s no longer sharing time with Evan Engram, making him the primary tight end in Jacksonville.
Another boost to the case for Strange is new head coach, Liam Coen. Coen has shown no fear in utilizing his tight ends. Previously, Tyler Higbee and Cade Otton have had notable seasons with 108 targets and 87 targets, respectively. Will that all be enough for Strange to climb to the top of the mountain? Maybe not, but there’s a chance for epic fantasy value.
Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
For a tight end that averages 12.7 yards per reception across his seven-year career, Mark Andrews should get more respect. Granted, he hasn’t seen more than 69 targets in the last two seasons after averaging 113 in the four prior seasons. Andrews will also turn 30 years old in September, making him one of the older players on this list.
With his limited numbers last year, Andrews was still the fourth-ranked tight end based on PFF grading. He’s one of the more athletic players at his position and part of a Baltimore offense that can typically score at will. With at least five touchdowns in each of his last six seasons, including six scores in 10 games of the 2023 season, Andrews is an easy choice for this list.
Honorable Mention – TE1 Overall Hot Take Candidates
Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
Not really a hot take, as he finished 2023 as the TE1. A revamped coaching staff could bring him back to the top after a disappointing sophomore campaign.
Tyler Warren, TBD
We’ve seen rookies take hold of the position in consecutive years. SO, why not a third time? Warren is the consensus first tight end drafted in mock drafts, and he’s got all the tools to continue the trend.
Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins
Smith set or met career highs in nearly all statistical categories in 2024, including targets, receptions, and first downs. If he starts as well as he finished with scores in five of his last seven games, he could beat out any tight end!
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