Tight end is one of the most difficult positions to nail down each week. It’s a position where you can spend all the way up, pay all the way down, or look somewhere in between. Tight ends derive a bunch of their value from scoring touchdowns, which can be difficult to predict on a week-to-week basis.
In this piece, I highlight tight ends who stand out in our large suite of analytical fantasy tools, most specifically, our FantasyLabs Player Models. While the models are built for DFS contests, this is an all-purpose fantasy article with actionable information for all formats.
As news breaks throughout the week and we adjust our projections (powered by Sean Koerner), player ratings in our Player Models will change as the projections change. For updates, visit the models directly.
And don’t forget about the tools that FantasyLabs has to offer, like our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
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Finally, make sure to check out all the projections available for purchase (Chris Raybon’s come included with a FantasyLabs subscription) within the FantasyLabs Models. Subscribers now have the option to purchase Derek Carty’s THE BLITZ from our Marketplace. Projections from One Week Season and Establish the Run are available if you’re a subscriber to those specific sites (our optimizer is a separate add-on feature).
You can also combine them to create your own aggregate projections:
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Harold Fannin ($3,100 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel)
Fannin was one of the most interesting prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. He was absolutely unstoppable during his final collegiate season. He racked up 117 receptions, 1,555 yards, and 10 receiving touchdowns, which was enough to make him an All-American.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go great for Fannin after the season. He measured small at the combine, checking in at just 6’3”, and he ran a subpar 4.67. Given that he dominated at a smaller college (Bowling Green), it was fair to wonder if he could measure up at the NFL level.
That caused him to slide to the third round of the draft, and the Browns ultimately selected him. It wasn’t an ideal landing spot. They already had an established No. 1 tight end in David Njoku, so expectations for Fannin were minimal entering the season.
That said, the Browns got Fannin on the field much more than expected in Week 1. He ran a route on 65% of their dropbacks, which is a decent enough figure for a tight end. More importantly, he was a clear focal point when he was available. He was targeted on 29% of his routes run, which was the top mark among the team’s pass-catchers.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what Fannin measured at during the combine – this dude is a weapon. He should maintain a significant role in Week 2, and he leads the position in projected Plus/Minus on DraftKings. There are plenty of high-priced running backs to consider using in cash games this week, and grabbing Fannin at $3,100 makes that much more doable.
Tre McBride ($6,000 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel)
While it’s going to be tough to fit McBride on DraftKings, it’s much easier to spend up a bit for a tight end on FanDuel. McBride stands out as the clear No. 1 option on that site. He was in a tier with Brock Bowers and George Kittle at the start of the year, but Kittle landed on IR after Week 1. Bowers is not available on the main slate, leaving McBride as the top option by default.
McBride picked up basically right where he left off in Week 1. He ran a route on 97% of the Cardinals’ pass plays, which was the best mark in the league at tight end. His 29% target share was the third-best mark at the position, and McBride was among the leaders in that department last year as well.
The only thing McBride didn’t do last season was catch touchdowns. He only finished with two receiving scores, and they came in his final two games of the year. McBride was credited with the second-most expected receiving touchdowns at tight end per PFF, so he’s a massive positive regression candidate in that department this year.
McBride didn’t get in the end zone in Week 1, but perhaps that will change in Week 2. He draws an outstanding matchup vs. the Panthers, who were 31st in pass defense EPA last year. They allowed the sixth-most PPR points per game to the position, and the Cardinals own an excellent 25.5 implied team total.
McBride owns the top projected Plus/Minus at the position on FanDuel, and he leads all tight ends in median and ceiling projection across the industry. If you can afford him, he’s an elite option.
Now available: our NFL DFS SimLabs Lineup Generator that creates advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation.
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Jake Ferguson ($3,800 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel)
It seems people may have forgotten how good Dak Prescott is when healthy. His final stat line vs. the Eagles doesn’t jump off the page, but the Cowboys pretty consistently moved the ball against a really good defense in Week 1. The fact that the Eagles lost Jalen Carter before he played a single snap certainly didn’t hurt, but it’s possible that the Cowboys’ offense was a bit undervalued this offseason.
Ferguson has displayed solid chemistry with Prescott in the past, and he had a strong 19% target share in his first game of the year. He ultimately caught five of his six targets, though he finished with a disappointing 23 yards.
Ferguson’s matchup in Week 2 should be better. He’ll square off with the Giants, who allowed Zach Ertz to score a touchdown against them last week. Ferguson has had at least 11.9 DraftKings points in back-to-back games vs. New York (per the Trends tool), and he’s priced reasonably across the industry.
Chig Okonkwo ($3,300 DraftKings, $4,900 FanDuel)
Okonkwo is another cheap option with some upside in Week 2. He had a respectable 16% target share for the Titans in Week 1, though the team only threw the ball 28 times. Cam Ward only completed 12 passes, so Okonkwo finished with a disappointing three catches for 19.
Fortunately, the Titans aren’t going to have to face the Broncos every week. They have one of the best defenses in football, and Ward was able to make some throws when he had the time. With better matchups in the future, the Titans’ passing attack should provide a bit more value.
This week’s matchup vs. the Rams could be much better. They were one of the worst defenses in football against the pass last season, and they allowed the second-most PPR points per game to opposing tight ends.
Okonkwo has fantastic athleticism for the position, including a 97th-percentile 40-yard dash time. He doesn’t need a ton of opportunities to potentially do damage.
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Sam LaPorta ($4,800 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel)
LaPorta was one of the most frustrating tight ends in fantasy last season. He was phenomenal as a rookie in 2023, racking up 86 receptions, 889 yards, and 10 touchdowns. That was good enough to finish as the No. 3 TE in terms of PPR points per game.
Unfortunately, he took a step back as a rookie. It wasn’t entirely his fault; his involvement in the offense just wasn’t as high. He dipped from a 22% target share in 2023 to a 16% mark last season, while his air yards share dipped from 22% to 18%. As a result, his numbers fell across the board, and he finished as just TE9 in PPR points per game.
The good news is that LaPorta’s usage was excellent in his first game of 2025. His 22% target share was second on the team to Jahmyr Gibbs, and he was on the field for 88% of the team’s pass plays. If he can maintain those figures moving forward, he’s poised for a big bounce-back campaign. His salary is slightly down compared to his peak in 2023, and no TE has a greater disparity between their optimal lineup rate and projected ownership in Sim Labs.
Tyler Warren ($4,500 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel)
One of the biggest developments in recent years has been the emergence of stud rookie tight ends. Tight end has historically been a position that has taken some time to figure out. Even some of the best players at the position have struggled right out of the gates.
However, LaPorta broke out as a rookie in 2023, and Bowers posted an even bigger season as a rookie in 2024. Could Warren follow suit this year?
It seems like a possibility after Week 1. He was a clear focal point of their passing attack when he was on the field, garnering a target on 38% of his routes run. He ultimately finished with a 31% target share overall, resulting in seven catches for 76 yards.
Like Bowers and LaPorta, Warren was considered an elite prospect at the position. Many were surprised that he wasn’t the first TE off the board in the NFL Draft, so it’s possible the Colts got a massive steal. Indianapolis probably won’t be as productive moving forward as they were in Week 1, but there’s a chance that Warren is already among the best TEs in fantasy.
Grant Calcaterra ($2,500 DraftKings, $4,100 FanDuel)
Going with a min-priced player at tight end always has some appeal, and Calcaterra will likely get the start for the Eagles on Sunday. Dallas Goedert missed the entire week of practice with a knee injury, and players who are inactive on Friday almost always sit out on Sunday. We’ll have to wait for his official injury designation, but there’s a good chance that he’s out of the lineup.
If that’s the case, Calcaterra could step into a decent role vs. the Chiefs. Goedert was busier than usual in Week 1, leading all tight ends with a massive 35% target share. That’s a clear outlier, but Calcaterra could still approach a 15-20% mark vs. the Chiefs. That would be enough to make him relevant.
Pictured: Harold Fannin
Photo Credit: Imagn
