The TE position continues to be limited in fantasy football. For the longest time, it was either you drafted Travis Kelce or waited until the end.
This strategy is not completely outdated; there are just a few more options at the top to pick from.
When you decide to take an early TE, it can be the largest risk of your draft. Missing out on other high-end WRs and RBs can be nerve-racking.
However, hitting on the TE1 will give you an every-week positional advantage. Who this will be seems like it's up for debate, but there can only be one TE1.
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Who's the top fantasy TE in 2025?
Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
In his rookie season, Bowers broke records for catches and receiving yards at the TE position. He caught 112 passes for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns.
The most impressive part was who his quarterbacks were during this historic outing. Throughout the season, Bowers played with three different starting QBs. This list includes Gardner Minshew, Aiden O'Connell, and Desmond Ridder.
In 2025, Bowers will get a much-needed upgrade with Geno Smith taking over as the starting QB.
Yeah Brock Bowers is that guy
(via @Raiders)pic.twitter.com/tWWyuEg9IN
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) August 14, 2025
Another great addition for Bowers is rookie RB Ashton Jeanty. This could hopefully open up the passing game a bit more with a run game that is at least threatening.
Bowers dominated as a rookie despite a poor offense plagued by subpar quarterback play and ineffective coaching. His situation this season is immensely better on every level.
The ceiling could be nothing like we've ever seen before at the TE position.
TE FANTASY DRAFT RANKINGS: PPR TEs | Non-PPR TEs
Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
McBride might be the safest guy on this list. From a usage standpoint, he gets sought out as the alpha WR in this Arizona Cardinals offense.
Last season, McBride was tied with Bowers for the most games with 10 or more targets. While he was 6 targets shy of Bowers, McBride actually averaged more targets per game.
The biggest thing when it comes to McBride is the touchdowns. There is no such player who is immune to touchdowns; McBride has simply gotten unlucky.
McBride has only had 6 career receiving touchdowns in three seasons. To put into perspective how bad that is: Bowers had five in his rookie season alone.
However, McBride is expected to see an increase in touchdowns in 2025:
Actual TDs in 2024 versus "expected" TDs
(based on rush attempts/targets and their distances from the end zone)
> George Pickens and Trey McBride are positive regression candidates
> Mark Andrews and James Cook ran pretty hot pic.twitter.com/FV0Vupn90o
— Fantasy Points Data (@FantasyPtsData) August 15, 2025
The upside for McBride relies on him catching TDs. Since touchdowns are an unpredictable stat, the ceiling is capped for the Cardinals' TE.
George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
Despite great 2024 seasons from McBride and Bowers, Kittle was still the overall TE1 in fantasy football. The 49ers’ injury depletions on offense never even stopped Kittle from dominating.
This season, Kittle is seemingly stepping into a bigger role with the offense. Between departures (bye bye, Deebo Samuel) and injuries (TBD on Brandon Aiyuk’s return from a devastating knee injury), the founder of National Tight Ends Day is the most reliable and elite weapon they have.
It's telling how strongly the Niners value Kittle, having paid him a $76 million contract through 4 years. This makes him the highest-paid TE in the NFL.
The main concern with Kittle: He’s 31 years old. As the offseason has gone on, Kittle's ADP continues to rise.
While he still goes below McBride and Bowers, it's not by much in home leagues anymore.
MORE: Fantasy auction values for tight ends 2025
The decision: Who is the best fantasy TE to draft in 2025?
While all three of these TEs are going to be the top three, Bowers separates himself from the rest of the group.
The upside of Bowers is unmatched; we truly do not know how high his ceiling is after a historic rookie season.
Bowers could be better than Travis Kelce’s prime fantasy years; that is in the range of outcomes when it comes to the second-year TE out of Georgia.
McBride and Kittle are nothing short of amazing options for fantasy, but if you take the first TE, it needs to be Bowers.
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