It can be a tough choice deciding when to pull the trigger on the TE position in fantasy football auction (salary cap) drafts. TE is one of the riskiest early picks you can make now that the consistent Travis Kelce has fallen.
This year is simple when it comes to who is at the top. By taking a Brock Bowers or Trey McBride, you are essentially guaranteed a top 3 TE in fantasy. However, this is not what you need to repay that price tag.
When selecting a Bowers or McBride, you are taking the bet that they will not just finish as the TE1 or TE2, but that they will finish in another stratosphere compared to the other TEs.
For example, in 2022, Kelce was at the peak of his powers, averaging 5.9 more fantasy points per game than the TE2. Whereas last season, Bowers finished as the TE1 in PPR leagues and only averaged 2.4 fantasy points more than the TE4 per game.
This isn't meant to be a knock on Bowers; it's more so pointing out that the talent at this position is deeper now. But taking a Bowers or McBride gives you that comfort level and upside of a major season.
2025 DRAFT SLEEPERS: QB | RB | WR | TE | DST | Deep Sleepers | 1 Sleeper From Each Team
However, if you don't want to spend that chunk of your budget, that's fine too. In that case, though, do not spend on a middle-round TE; the math does not support this.
In 2024, the difference between the TE8 and the TE15 was a mere 1.5 fantasy points per game. There is zero reason to spend $13 when you could spend $3 and get the same production.
It's quite simple, either spend on George Kittle, Bowers, or McBride and if not, wait until the end to grab your TE.
Keep scrolling to get the full salary cap picture with these TE auction values for 2025.
Note: Dollar values courtesy of FantasyPros and based on 12-team leagues with $200 budgets for both PPR and non-PPR formats.
Fantasy Football TE Auction Values 2025: Tight end dollar projections for PPR leagues
Scoring based on full-point PPR formats. All players not listed are valued at $0.
| Rk | Tight Ends | Value |
| 1 | Brock Bowers, LV | $35 |
| 2 | Trey McBride, ARI | $32 |
| 3 | George Kittle, SF | $26 |
| 4 | Travis Kelce, KC | $16 |
| 5 | Sam LaPorta, DET | $15 |
| 6 | T.J. Hockenson, MIN | $15 |
| 7 | Mark Andrews, BAL | $13 |
| 8 | David Njoku, CLE | $13 |
| 9 | Evan Engram, DEN | $6 |
| 10 | Jake Ferguson, DALDTD | $5 |
| 11 | Tucker Kraft, GB | $5 |
| 12 | Tyler Warren, IND | $4 |
| 13 | Robbie Ouzts, SEA | $3 |
| 14 | Dallas Goedert, PHI | $3 |
| 15 | Zach Ertz, WAS | $3 |
| 16 | Dalton Kincaid, BUF | $3 |
| 17 | Hunter Henry, NE | $2 |
| 18 | Kyle Pitts Sr., ATL | $1 |
| 19 | Darren Waller, MIAPUP | $1 |
| 20 | Colston Loveland, CHI | $1 |
| 21 | Jonnu Smith, PIT | $0 |
| 22 | Brenton Strange, JAC | $0 |
| 23 | Cade Otton, TB | $0 |
| 24 | Mike Gesicki, CIN | $0 |
| 25 | Chig Okonkwo, TEN | $0 |
| 26 | Pat Freiermuth, PIT | $0 |
| 27 | Dalton Schultz, HOU | $0 |
| 28 | Isaiah Likely, BAL | $0 |
| 29 | Juwan Johnson, NO | $0 |
| 30 | Tyler Higbee, LAR | $0 |
| 31 | Theo Johnson, NYG | $0 |
| 32 | Mason Taylor, NYJ | $0 |
| 33 | Elijah Arroyo, SEA | $0 |
| 34 | Will Dissly, LAC | $0 |
| 35 | Ja'Tavion Sanders, CAR | $0 |
| 36 | Noah Fant, CIN | $0 |
| 37 | Tyler Conklin, LAC | $0 |
| 38 | AJ Barner, SEA | $0 |
| 39 | Noah Gray, KC | $0 |
| 40 | Cole Kmet, CHI | $0 |
| 41 | Michael Mayer, LV | $0 |
| 42 | Austin Hooper, NE | $0 |
| 43 | Foster Moreau, NO | $0 |
| 44 | Dawson Knox, BUF | $0 |
| 45 | Terrance Ferguson, LAR | $0 |
| 46 | Harold Fannin Jr., CLE | $0 |
Compare these salary cap dollar values with our 2025 TE PPR rankings.
Fantasy Football TE Auction Values 2024: Tight end dollar projections for standard, Non-PPR leagues
Scoring based on Non-PPR formats. All players not listed are valued at $0.
| Rk | Tight Ends | Value |
| 1 | Brock Bowers, LV | $30 |
| 2 | George Kittle, SF | $30 |
| 3 | Trey McBride, ARI | $26 |
| 4 | Mark Andrews, BAL | $17 |
| 5 | Sam LaPorta, DET | $16 |
| 6 | Travis Kelce, KC | $12 |
| 7 | T.J. Hockenson, MIN | $12 |
| 8 | David Njoku, CLE | $10 |
| 9 | Tucker Kraft, GB | $6 |
| 10 | Tyler Warren, IND | $5 |
| 11 | Dallas Goedert, PHI | $4 |
| 12 | Zach Ertz, WAS | $3 |
| 13 | Dalton Kincaid, BUF | $3 |
| 14 | Evan Engram, DEN | $3 |
| 15 | Kyle Pitts Sr., ATL | $3 |
| 16 | Jake Ferguson, DALDTD | $2 |
| 17 | Hunter Henry, NE | $1 |
| 18 | Darren Waller, MIAPUP | $1 |
| 19 | Isaiah Likely, BAL | $1 |
| 20 | Jonnu Smith, PIT | $0 |
| 21 | Colston Loveland, CHI | $0 |
| 22 | Cade Otton, TB | $0 |
| 23 | Brenton Strange, JAC | $0 |
| 24 | Robbie Ouzts, SEA | $0 |
| 25 | Mike Gesicki, CIN | $0 |
| 26 | Chig Okonkwo, TEN | $0 |
| 27 | Juwan Johnson, NO | $0 |
| 28 | Dalton Schultz, HOU | $0 |
| 29 | Pat Freiermuth, PIT | $0 |
| 30 | Tyler Higbee, LAR | $0 |
| 31 | Theo Johnson, NYG | $0 |
| 32 | Elijah Arroyo, SEA | $0 |
| 33 | Mason Taylor, NYJ | $0 |
| 34 | Will Dissly, LAC | $0 |
| 35 | Noah Fant, CIN | $0 |
| 36 | Ja'Tavion Sanders, CAR | $0 |
Compare these salary cap dollar values with our 2025 TE Non-PPR rankings.