PlayerProfiler is home to award-winning dynasty rankings and tools. Our Dynasty Deluxe package includes complete Dynasty Rankings, Rookie Rankings, Trade Analyzer, Draft Planner, Mock Drafts, and more. Check it out! Below, Jeffrey Waalkes looks at Tight End Sleepers & Busts to know before you draft.
Also, check out Jeffrey’s QB Sleepers & Busts and RB Sleepers & Busts.
Finding value at the tight end position can be one of the biggest challenges—and biggest rewards—in fantasy football. After the elite names are off the board, many managers scramble to fill the spot with streaming options or touchdown-dependent flyers. But every year, a few under-the-radar players emerge from the mid-to-late rounds and become legitimate weekly starters.
Unlike other positions, tight end breakouts aren’t just about raw athleticism or depth chart movement. True sleepers at this position typically hit the trifecta of:
- Opportunity – A clear path to playing time as a full-time starter
- Talent – Athleticism or college production that hints at fantasy upside
- Offensive Role – Perhaps the most crucial, tight ends must carve out target volume, ideally as the first or second receiving option on their team
If a tight end can check all three boxes, they have the potential to vault from afterthought to top-10 status. Here are three tight ends sleepers & busts that could do just that in 2025.
Sleepers
Tucker Kraft – Green Bay Packers
Tucker Kraft’s Advanced Metrics
Tucker Kraft closed out 2024 as one of the league’s quietest risers at the position, finishing as TE14 in points per game while operating in a low-volume, spread-it-around offense. While his raw target share didn’t pop (20th among TEs), his efficiency did. Kraft ranked top-12 in yards per game, top-10 in yards per route run, and first in YAC per reception.
Even better? He saw the second-highest designed target rate among all tight ends. That tells us Green Bay wants to get him involved. If his role continues to grow and the Packers consolidate targets, Kraft has serious breakout appeal, especially at his current ADP outside the top 12.
Chigoziem Okonkwo – Tennessee Titans
Chig Okonkwo Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Chigoziem Okonkwo finished 2024 on a high note (TE9 in PPR from Weeks 12–17), finally flashing the upside many hoped for the year before. Now, in an offense led by rookie QB Cameron Ward and thin pass-catching depth behind Calvin Ridley, Okonkwo could step in as a safety blanket and primary target over the middle.
Head coach Brian Callahan has publicly praised his progress and confidence, and with no clear WR2 on the roster, Okonkwo has a direct path to fantasy relevance. He’s inconsistent, sure—but that’s baked into his bottom-barrel ADP. If you’re hunting for late-round upside, Okonkwo is one of the best bets.
Elijah Arroyo – Seattle Seahawks
Elijah Arroyo’s Advanced Metrics
A true deep sleeper, Elijah Arroyo enters the NFL with intriguing upside thanks to his athleticism and a wide-open TE depth chart in Seattle. With Noah Fant gone, Arroyo has a chance to emerge as a starter early in the season.
While Jaxon Smith-Njigba looks ready to ascend as the Seahawks’ WR1, there’s a realistic chance Arroyo ends up as the team’s second-most targeted option if Cooper Kupp—now past his production apex and fighting off injuries—continues to fade. QB Sam Darnold also has a history of leaning on tight ends under pressure, which could give Arroyo just enough volume to matter.
He’s raw, but in the late rounds or dynasty formats, Arroyo is a name to stash.
Busts
While sleepers offer the promise of upside at low cost, identifying busts is just as critical, if not more so. Paying top dollar for a name-brand tight end who underdelivers can derail your roster construction and force you into weekly desperation. These players carry more risk than their ADP suggests in 2025, and fantasy managers would be wise to think twice before investing.
Travis Kelce – Kansas City Chiefs
Travis Kelce Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Travis Kelce’s decline was subtle—but undeniable—in 2024. He posted career lows in receiving yards, yards per reception, and touchdowns. His fantasy points per game were the lowest in nearly a decade. At 36 years old, the cliff could be here.
The Chiefs have weapons in Rashee Rice (assuming limited suspension), Xavier Worthy, and Hollywood Brown. Noah Gray also played well enough to earn a long-term contract. While Kelce remains a red-zone threat, he’s no longer a lock for 1,000-plus yards, and his current TE6–TE7 draft price doesn’t reflect the downside. You’re paying for past production, not future returns.
Jonnu Smith – Pittsburgh Steelers
Jonnu Smith Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Jonnu Smith‘s Miami breakout (88/884/8) was impressive, but a trade to Pittsburgh dramatically dims his fantasy prospects. He now enters an Arthur Smith system that skews run-heavy and already features Pat Freiermuth, who had 78 targets last season.
In contrast, Smith commanded 111 targets in 2024, but that volume is unlikely to carry over. The Steelers have never prioritized tight ends in their offense under Smith, and a committee approach feels inevitable. Unless Smith’s ADP drops outside the top 15, he’s not worth the risk.
Sam LaPorta – Detroit Lions
Sam LaPorta Advanced Stats & Metrics
After a sensational rookie year and a volatile year two, Sam LaPorta enters 2025 as a polarizing figure. The concern? Volume. With Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, and an ascending Jameson Williams all demanding targets, LaPorta may struggle to maintain last year’s output.
The Lions also have a new offensive coordinator in John Morton, whose play-calling tendencies are still unknown. Add if LaPorta’s nagging ankle issues continue, you’re looking at a high-risk, high-reward profile. His ceiling is undeniable, but the floor is much lower than his TE4 price tag would suggest.
Final Thoughts: Target Upside, Avoid Decline
The tight end position is often a fantasy wasteland—but also a goldmine for those who draft wisely. Investing in upside like Kraft, Okonkwo, or Arroyo can pay off in a big way, especially if you’re passing on expensive early-round options.
At the same time, knowing when to fade names like Kelce, LaPorta, or Jonnu Smith can help you avoid overpaying for players with declining opportunity or changing roles.
In 2025, tight end success will again come down to recognizing value before the rest of your league does—and sidestepping the landmines that look good on paper, but can crater your season.
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