It’s finally here – NFL Draft week! And I’m here for provide the final group of my preseason rankings – Top 12 TEs for fantasy football.
This can be fickle group as we have some aging stars and up-and-coming standouts littering the list. But today I’m going to hit the first 6, and we have to keep in mind this group can be the most volatile group to predict in fantasy football.
As we ramp up for the NFL Draft, Blitz Sports Media is having a Giveaway, featuring 1 NFL jersey, five items of Blitz merch, and 10 Hall of Fame memberships. Check it out! Giveaway ends on April 22.
And check out our Blitz memberships and merchandise!
No. 1: Trey McBride, Arizona
It was apparent after the Cardinals’ Week 11 bye last season that McBride was the No. 1 target. In those last seven games, he saw 82 targets and had 62 receptions in the process. Despite spending a No. 1 pick on WR Marvin Harrison Jr. last season, McBride is Kyler Murray’s preferred option.
McBride saw a 28 percent target share for the whole season and finished as the TE2 in PPR. But if he had scored the Top 12 TEs’ average of 6 TDs, McBride would have been the TE1 last season. Positive TD regression should be on McBride’s way this season.
No. 2: Brock Bowers, Las Vegas
What a year Bowers had for the Raiders as he broke three rookie records during the 2024 season. He broke Mike Ditka’s rookie TE yards receiving record (1,076 yards) with 1,144 yards, broke Sam Laporta’s rookie TE reception record (86) and Puka Nacua’s rookie reception record (105) with 112 catches.
An encore to last season could be hard pressed, especially with Geno Smith at quarterback. The Seattle offense only targeted their TEs 7.6 times a game, but Bowers is more talented than the likes of Noah Fant, A.J. Barner and Pharaoh Brown.
No. 3: Sam LaPorta, Detroit
LaPorta was an early 2024 season disappointment for fantasy owners as he was being drafted as a Top 3 TE. But he returned to form after he missed the Lions’ Week 11 game against Jacksonville.
From Week 12-18, LaPorta finished as a Top 12 TE five times and saw six or more targets in that seven game stretch. However, he saw 37 less targets in 2024 as the Lions got RB Jahmyr Gibbs more involved in the overall offense.
No. 4: George Kittle, San Francisco
Kittle will enter the 2025 season as the 49ers most reliable receiver after the trade of Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk recovering from a knee injury. And Kittle has the pedigree to be the team’s lead man.
Kittle has four 1,000-yard seasons, including 1,106 yards receiving in last season, and he has seen more than 90 targets in the last four seasons. And he has been relatively healthy the last four seasons, averaging 15 games played.
No. 5: Jonnu Smith, Miami
Smith came out of nowhere in the second half of the season as the Dolphins went to a quick release passing offense when Tua Tagovailoa returned from his concussion injury.
From Week 11-15, Smith benefitted from the Dolphins’ new offensive approach. He finished with five Top 5 finishes as he had 37 receptions for 393 yards and five TDs. And with offseason rumors surrounding WR Tyreek Hill, Smith could in line to another big season.
No. 6: Mark Andrews, Baltimore
Baltimore RavensIf you were one of the lucky ones to pick up Andrews off the waiver wire early in 2024, I tipped my hat to you. Andrews was left for dead in the fantasy football world after he totaled 10 catches for 120 yards and no TDs in the Ravens’ first five games.
But from that point, Andrews had nine Top 12 TEs games in the final 12 games. Andrews big run was buoyed by his 11 TD receptions. However, he only finished with 55 catches for 17 games, the third lowest mark for his career ahead of his rookie season (34) and injury-plagued 2023 season (45).
– Follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @fantasyfbguru2 or on Bluesky @fantasyfbguru2.bsky.social and don’t forget to check our main page with coverage of college football, NFL, fantasy football and a few best bets added.