A former four-star dual-threat QB at Texas A&M, Eli Stowers has now entirely reinvented himself as one of the top fantasy tight ends in the country. After transitioning to TE at New Mexico State in 2023, Stowers followed OC Tim Beck and QB Diego Pavia to Vanderbilt. In 2024, he turned 76 targets into 49 receptions, 638 yards and 5 TDs. Through his first 8 games, he was averaging 14 fantasy points a game before seeing his target share drop to end the year.
At 6’3", 240 pounds with legit 4.55 speed, Stowers is a matchup nightmare who rarely stays in to block. He ran routes on 92% of his snaps and consistently created separation and yards after the catch. He’s got strong hands, athleticism, and is Pavia’s go-to guy. In a year that is light on proven fantasy tight ends, Stowers stands out as one of the few sure things.
There is plenty of CFF hype surrounding Kenyon Sadiq, and it’s easy to see why. The top four leaders in targets are either gone or potentially unavailable (Evan Stewart). What's left is a group of young, unproven, or returning from injury pass catchers. The door is wide open for Sadiq, and the buzz coming out of spring only added fuel to the fire. Sadiq reportedly had a standout camp, and the coaches made it clear: They want to get him the ball.
Sadiq brings WR athleticism to the TE position. He’s explosive, runs precise routes and is just a matchup nightmare. Even better, the TE role is proven. Over the last two seasons, with Will Stein as the offensive coordinator, TE usage has increased. Terrance Ferguson averaged nearly six targets per game in 2024 and was consistently used in red-zone packages. With Dante Moore settling in and Oregon looking for new offensive weapons, Sadiq has a clear path to top-tier TE production.
When it comes to returning target volume for TEs, Joe Royer is at the top of the list. He saw 80 targets last season, turning them into 51 receptions, 531 yards and three touchdowns. Overall, a strong season for a tight end. The problem is that he has only broken 100 yards once, and his touchdown rate is low. Royer had more targets than any other TE under OC Brad Glenn, but also the least amount of touchdowns. Still, the volume was bankable. He finished as a top 20 tight end despite scoring just three times. Outside of two games last season, he was going to get you 10-13 fantasy points, offering consistency at a position known for volatility. His ceiling isn’t as high as others in the top tier, but we like the consistency.
Any time you can secure a team's top receiving target, you're in a strong position. If that target is the team's tight end, it's even better. Justin Joly led the Wolfpack with 661 receiving yards on 43 receptions. Combine that with an 84.6% contested catch rate, and you have a sure-handed and routinely reliable target.
Joly's versatility allows him to line up anywhere, creating mismatches against opposing defensive backfields. With his good hands, he's a dependable option, especially across the middle and in the red zone. Expect Joly to be heavily featured in the NC State passing game again this year, making him a top target in fantasy drafts.
Matthew Lauter had a career year in 2024, setting a new single-season record for tight end receptions at Boise State. Last year, he was the 6th-ranked tight end in the FBS in yards after the catch for the Broncos, recording 619 yards on 47 receptions and seven touchdowns.
He has a knack for clutch plays and plans to bring that back to the field this season. Lauter has some of the most reliable hands in all of college football, dropping only three balls on 60 career catches. His combination of quickness and physicality helps him get open and create separation after the catch. Lauter has one of the best fantasy floors of all FBS tight ends, and you can draft him with confidence.
The California Golden Bears leaned on Jack Endries during the 2024 season, where he recorded 56 receptions for 623 yards and two touchdowns. While earning Honorable Mention All-ACC honors, he only dropped one pass and secured 9 of 12 contested catches.
With Gunnar Helm's departure, Endries has the potential to play a consistent role in what should be a potent Texas offense. Expect Endries to serve as a reliable safety valve for a new quarterback, such as Arch Manning. Texas has no shortage of great options through the air, but as long as Endries can capture around 12% of the target share, he should be a solid TE1 in all formats.
Elija Lofton is a breakout candidate you need to know heading into 2025. He saw limited run as a true freshman, but when he was on the field, the flashes were electric, averaging over 16 yards per grab with the fluidity of a wideout and the power of a former H-back. Miami’s offense is in flux, but Lofton’s hybrid skill set gives him a legitimate path to becoming a featured weapon. He should step into the TE1 role this season, and spring reports have been glowing. He’s still developing as a route-runner, but the YAC ability and red zone upside — including potential goal-line packages — make him a mismatch nightmare. If the usage matches the talent, 40+ catches and 6+ TDs are well within reach. Lofton is a high-upside CFF sleeper with the kind of athletic profile we crave at the TE position.
John Michael Gyllenborg is one of the best tight ends in the Mountain West. He led all Wyoming pass-catchers in both receptions and receiving yards in 2024, serving as a dependable chain-mover with sneaky upside in the red zone. At 6'5", 247, he’s got NFL-ready size and just enough athleticism to create mismatches against linebackers. While Wyoming has historically been a run-first program, the offense is starting to open up under the new regime, and Gyllenborg is positioned to benefit. He’s not flashy, but his role is locked in, and the volume is real. He’s a rock-solid option with 500-plus yards and 5-plus touchdown upside in 2025.
Trey’Dez Green looks like he was built in a lab for the modern TE role — 6'7", fluid mover, and a red-zone killer. As a true freshman in 2024, he made the most of limited targets, finding paydirt four times and flashing mismatch potential all over the field. With Mason Taylor off to the NFL, Green is poised to become a key piece of a loaded LSU offense. Expect his snap share and route rate to spike in 2025. The only concern is his target volume given LSU's depth at WR, but Green doesn’t need heavy volume to return CFF value. He’s a top breakout candidate at the position, with double-digit touchdowns firmly in play if his usage increases.
When healthy, RJ Maryland is one of the few tight ends in the country who operates as a true focal point in his offense. Before tearing his ACL late in the 2024 season, he averaged over 13 yards per catch and consistently delivered chunk plays in SMU’s uptempo scheme. He’s a reliable chain-mover with red-zone chops and vertical ability up the seam — a rare combination at the TE position. Maryland’s connection with QB Kevin Jennings remains intact, and he should reclaim a prominent role once cleared. With the Mustangs pushing tempo and returning solid weapons around him, he offers one of the most stable weekly floors among CFF tight ends. If the knee holds up, 600+ yards and 6–8 touchdowns are firmly in play. As long as he’s on the field, Maryland is a top-10 TE with weekly startability in all formats.
