Fantasy football managers know that every lineup decision can make or break a week, and choosing the right players to start or sit is where championships are won. With the 2025 NFL season underway, matchups, stats, and trends are more important than ever. From favorable matchups and scoring trends to players you should avoid in tough spots, my weekly positional start and sit guide is built to give you an edge.
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Tight Ends to Start
Tyler Warren IND
Tyler Warren is one of the most exciting rookie tight ends to watch in Week 1 fantasy football. He finished his college career ranking top-three at the position in yards per route run, missed tackles forced, and yards after the catch, traits that translate well to the NFL. Miami’s defense struggled against tight ends in 2024, allowing the 12th-most fantasy points and 10th-most missed tackles after the catch. With Josh Downs and Michael Pittman drawing defensive attention, Warren could easily open his career with a TE1 performance in a favorable matchup.
David Njoku CLE
David Njoku enters Week 1 as one of the best fantasy football tight end starts thanks to both the matchup and quarterback connection. The Bengals were a liability against tight ends last year, allowing the second-most fantasy points, fourth-most yards, and second-most touchdowns to the position. With Flacco, Njoku averaged 18.2 fantasy points per game and earned a 24% receiving market share, making him the TE2 during that stretch. Against a Bengals defense that already allowed 236.2 passing yards per game last year, Njoku is in a position to pick up right where he left off with Flacco.
Hunter Henry NE
Hunter Henry is an overlooked fantasy tight end who should be started in Week 1. In Drake Maye’s full starts last season, Henry posted a 19.2% target share, averaged nearly 50 receiving yards per game, and finished with 11.3 PPR points per contest, production that would have ranked him as the TE8. He now faces a Raiders defense that was shredded by tight ends in 2024, giving up the fourth-most fantasy points per game, 104 receptions, and over 1,100 yards to the position. Combine Maye’s league-leading 32.7% tight end target rate with Henry’s proven chemistry, and you’ve got a strong fantasy start to kick off 2025.
Tight Ends to Sit
Evan Engram DEN
Evan Engram lands in Denver with big expectations, but Week 1 is not the time to start him. Tennessee’s defense was one of the toughest in the NFL against tight ends last year, allowing the second-fewest fantasy points per game (7.98) and just 636 receiving yards all season. Engram struggled against this same Titans defense in December, managing only four catches for 33 yards. While the Broncos’ offense projects to be better than Jacksonville’s 2024 unit, the matchup is risky to open the season.
Colston Loveland CHI
Colston Loveland has dynasty appeal, but he’s a risky Week 1 fantasy football play. The Bears have one of the most crowded pass-catching groups in the league with DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Olamide Zaccheaus, and running back D’Andre Swift demanding targets. On top of that, Cole Kmet remains in the tight end rotation, which clouds Loveland’s immediate role. Minnesota’s defense was middle-of-the-pack against tight ends last season, ranking 15th in yards allowed and 17th in yards per reception. Until Loveland earns a clear starting workload, fantasy managers should view him as a volatile TE2 with a wide range of outcomes.
Zach Ertz WAS
Zach Ertz turned in a surprisingly steady 2024 campaign, finishing as the TE10 in fantasy points per game, but Week 1 sets up poorly for him. The Giants were one of the stingiest defenses against tight ends last season, allowing the fourth-fewest receiving yards and third-fewest schedule-adjusted fantasy points to the position. Ertz’s volume is also at risk with Deebo Samuel joining Washington, likely absorbing many of the short-yardage opportunities that propped up Ertz’s value last year. Fantasy managers should look for streaming options instead of forcing Ertz into lineups this week.
