2025 NFL Draft: Top 10 Tight Ends

2025 NFL Draft: Top 10 Tight Ends

As the annual NFL Draft approaches, Dynasty Football managers are gearing up to evaluate the incoming rookie class. The tight end position, often tricky to project for fantasy production, offers a promising group this year. While landing spots and draft capital will ultimately shape their rookie-year value, this pre-draft ranking focuses on talent, college production, and potential fantasy upside. FullTime Fantasy‘s 2025 NFL Draft: Top 10 Tight Ends is a great place to start.

The 2025 tight end class lacks a singular elite prospect like Brock Bowers but boasts depth and variety. Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland headline the group as potential first-rounders with immediate fantasy relevance. Harold Fannin Jr.’s upside is undeniable, while players like Gunnar Helm and Elijah Arroyo offer intriguing value if they land in favorable situations.

As the draft nears, keep an eye on team fits and offensive schemes—these will determine which of these rookies can make a splash in fantasy football come September 2025. For now, this ranking serves as a pre-draft roadmap for dynasty managers and forward-thinking redraft players alike.

Here are the top 10 rookie tight ends for the 2025 fantasy football season.

1. Tyler Warren (Penn State)

Tyler Warren stands out as the cream of the 2025 tight end crop. At 6’6” and 256 pounds, he’s a matchup nightmare with a rare blend of size, athleticism, and versatility. In 2024, Warren led Penn State with 104 receptions for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns, showcasing his ability to dominate as a receiver. His physicality after the catch—ranking second among tight ends in missed tackles forced—makes him a YAC threat. While his run-blocking needs refinement, Warren’s receiving prowess and red-zone potential position him as a potential Day 1 fantasy starter, especially if he lands with a pass-heavy offense.

Check out Tyler Warren’s scouting report here. 

2. Colston Loveland (Michigan)

Colston Loveland is another blue-chip prospect with first-round buzz. At 6’5” and 248 pounds, he anchored Michigan’s passing game in 2024 despite a lackluster offense, hauling in 56 catches for 582 yards and five touchdowns in just 10 games before a shoulder injury sidelined him. His 37.6% target share and 2.67 yards per route run highlight his efficiency and reliability. Loveland’s versatility—he lined up in the slot, inline, and out wide—makes him a modern tight end with TE1 upside. If he lands with a quarterback who can maximize his skill set, he’s a prime fantasy target.

3. Harold Fannin Jr. (Bowling Green)

Harold Fannin Jr. turned heads with a historic 2024 season at Bowling Green, setting NCAA tight end records with 117 receptions and 1,555 yards, plus 10 touchdowns. At 6’4” and 241 pounds, he’s a bit undersized for a traditional tight end, but his explosive receiving ability compensates. Fannin led all tight ends in forced missed tackles and posted elite yards-after-catch numbers (873 YAC in 2024). His production against Power Four teams like Penn State (11 catches, 137 yards, 1 TD) alleviates concerns about competition level. Fannin’s fantasy ceiling is sky-high if he lands in a creative offense.

4.. Elijah Arroyo (Miami)

Elijah Arroyo’s limited usage at Miami belies his tantalizing potential. In 2024, he turned 35 catches into 590 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging an impressive 16.9 yards per reception—the second-best among this class’s tight ends. At 6’4” and 235 pounds, Arroyo’s speed (estimated 4.5-4.6 40-yard dash) and zero career drops scream upside. His versatility—lining up in the slot or as a wingback—adds to his appeal. Arroyo needs to bulk up and refine his route-running, but in the right system, he could emerge as a deep-league fantasy sleeper as a rookie.

Miami TE Elijah Arroyo has a compelling second- and third-level acceleration that is magnified when he’s using burst motion. I would think that any NFL team using a lot of that would find him quite interesting. pic.twitter.com/vQwMpDcCTw

— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) March 30, 2025

5. Gunnar Helm (Texas)

Gunnar Helm emerged as a breakout star for Texas in 2024, stepping up after Ja’Tavion Sanders’ departure. The 6’5”, 252-pound senior recorded 60 receptions for 786 yards and seven touchdowns, leading the Longhorns in catches. Helm’s 80% catch rate and short-area quickness make him a reliable chain-mover with sneaky upside. While not an elite athlete, his soft hands and ability to win above the rim suggest he could carve out a role as a possession tight end with red-zone appeal. His fantasy value hinges on landing with a quarterback who targets tight ends consistently.

6. Mason Taylor (LSU)

Mason Taylor, son of NFL Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, brings a polished two-way skill set to the table. At 6’5” and 251 pounds, he finished his LSU career with 129 receptions for 1,308 yards and six touchdowns. In 2024, he posted 36-plus catches for the third straight year, showcasing consistency. Taylor’s athleticism and reliable hands give him a high floor, though his lack of elite production limits his ceiling. He profiles as a backup or committee tight end in the NFL, making him a late-round dynasty stash rather than an immediate fantasy contributor.

7. Terrance Ferguson (Oregon)

Terrance Ferguson’s 4.63 40-yard dash at the combine—the fastest among tight ends—underscored his big-play potential. At 6’5” and 255 pounds, he averaged 13.7 yards per catch in 2024 (43 receptions, 591 yards). Ferguson’s speed and size make him a vertical threat, though his lack of run-blocking prowess could cap his snap count as a rookie. His fantasy value depends heavily on landing with a team that prioritizes his receiving skills over blocking. He also boasted a lofty 9.32 Relative Athletic Score.

Terrance Ferguson is a TE prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.32 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 91 out of 1331 TE from 1987 to 2025. https://t.co/eU0MCtjhuQ pic.twitter.com/HQRrNyN6wr

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 30, 2025

8. Oronde Gadsden II (Syracuse)

Oronde Gadsden II’s classification as a tight end is debated—he’s often more of a big slot receiver—but at 6’5” and 233 pounds, he’s a mismatch weapon. In 2024, he showed flashes of brilliance, though exact stats are harder to pin down pre-draft. Gadsden’s route-running and athleticism suggest he could thrive in a pass-first offense. However, if he’s utilized as a traditional tight end rather than a receiving specialist, his fantasy outlook dims. He’s a wild card worth monitoring in dynasty formats.

9. Jake Briningstool (Clemson)

Jake Briningstool rounds out the top tier of this class with a solid 2024 campaign at Clemson: 49 catches, 530 yards, and seven touchdowns. At 6’6” and 230 pounds, he’s a leaner tight end with adequate athleticism but no standout trait. His size and production suggest he could develop into a backup or situational receiver in the NFL. For fantasy, Briningstool is a long-term project rather than a rookie-year contributor, best suited for deep dynasty leagues.

10. Luke Lachey (Iowa)

Luke Lachey, a 6’6”, 251-pound Iowa product, brings the physicality you’d expect from a Hawkeye tight end. Injuries derailed his 2023 season, but in 2022, he flashed potential with 28 catches for 398 yards and four touchdowns. In 2024, he remained a solid blocker and functional receiver, though his stats don’t jump off the page. Lachey’s high football IQ and blocking ability could earn him early playing time, but his limited receiving ceiling makes him a fringe fantasy option—think TE2 at best in redraft leagues.