The tight end position is arguably the toughest to navigate in dynasty, given the lack of top-end talent and depth. Last month, I covered a handful of my favorite tight end targets this offseason, regardless of team build. If you missed that article, you can check it out here.
In today’s article, I wanted to switch things up and tailor it towards 2025 contending rosters. The three dynasty tight end targets I’ll bring you below are all ranked outside the top 24 for the position, according to expert consensus rankings (ECR). These extremely affordable options can score consistent PPR points this coming season to get you through bye weeks or unforeseen injuries.
Dynasty Tight End Targets
Mike Gesicki (TE – CIN) | ECR: Dynasty TE26
Mike Gesicki signed a three-year, $25.5 million extension with Cincinnati, putting him on contract through 2027. The Bengals could technically cut ties after this season, but in terms of cap space, they would only save $3 million in 2026 and $8 million in 2027. Barring a major injury, I imagine Cincinnati keeps its veteran tight end through the end of the contract.
The rest of the Bengals’ tight end depth chart includes Drew Sample, Tanner Hudson, Tanner McLachlan and Erick All Jr. None of these four should seriously threaten Gesicki’s starting role. All is expected to miss the entire 2025 season while he recovers from another ACL injury.
Below is a breakdown of the total routes run from each Cincinnati tight end in 2024:
- Gesicki: 420 (TE16)
- Sample: 239
- All: 107
- Hudson: 79
- McLachlan: 0
Gesicki ran five fewer routes than the rest of this depth chart combined. He’s playing for a Bengals team that will be forced to light up the scoreboard weekly if they want to stay competitive. Also, Joe Burrow loves to target his tight ends. Gesicki was third on the team with 83 targets in 2024, and the Bengals were sixth overall in tight targets with 155.
Regarding efficiency, Gesicki posted 1.58 yards per route run (YPRR) in 2024, ranking TE15 overall. In a tight end-premium format, Gesicki should be a good bet to average double-digit fantasy points per game this next season. He finished with just two touchdowns in 2024; we can expect to see some positive regression there, assuming he runs 400+ routes again in 2025.
Given the number of defensive holes the Bengals need to fill, I find it highly unlikely they will grab a tight end in the first round of the NFL Draft. They could grab someone like Harold Fannin Jr. in round three, which would put a damper on things, but I believe that risk is baked into the price.
The dynasty market currently values Gesicki in line with an early-to-mid 2025 third-round pick. This is a palatable price for a starting tight end in an offense that should be atop the NFL.
Zach Ertz (TE – WSH) | ECR: Dynasty TE30
Zach Ertz recently finalized a one-year deal with the Commanders for $6.25 million, seemingly keeping Ben Sinnott as the backup for one more season. At age 34, this will almost certainly be Ertz’s final season, but the same can be said about Travis Kelce, and he’s nearly twice the price in dynasty.
Ertz finished as the TE9 overall in 2024, while Kelce was the TE6. Ertz finished second in total routes amongst tight ends with 615, behind only Travis Kelce. These pass-catchers are similar enough that I’d much prefer taking the massive discount with Ertz. I don’t think we would be surprised if he outscores Kelce in 2025 and posts one last TE1 (top-12) finish before retirement.
Ertz is currently valued at around a late-2025 third-round pick by the dynasty community. On a strong, contending team, I’d be very willing to sell that pick to shore up my tight end position and make a push for the 2025 championship.
Ertz has lost some efficiency from a per-route basis, but we can reasonably expect him to be out there for nearly every pass play. Ertz was a major red zone target for quarterback Jayden Daniels in 2024, hauling seven touchdowns on the season. We should see more of the same in 2025.
Brenton Strange (TE – JAX) | ECR: Dynasty TE33
Like the Bengals, the Jaguars have several defensive holes to fill in the draft before looking at the tight end position. They’ll also want to add another competent wide receiver to pair with Brian Thomas Jr. and help Trevor Lawrence take that next step in his career. With Evan Engram in Denver now, Brenton Strange is suddenly the top man on the tight end totem pole in Jacksonville. He will be an excellent candidate for a Year 3 breakout if he can survive the NFL Draft.
We saw glimpses of production from Strange early in the 2024 season following Engram’s hamstring injury, which sidelined him from Weeks 2-5. Strange posted three top-10 tight end finishes through those four weeks and a snap share of 68% or more. He disappeared mid-season after Engram’s return, but a torn labrum kept Engram out again to end the year, bringing Strange back to relevance. His best performance came in Week 15, where he posted 11 receptions on 12 targets for 73 yards, good for 18.3 PPR points.
Strange saw a 19.6% target rate in 2024, proving he could have legitimate fantasy upside if he becomes an every-week starter. I was surprised by his fantasy football ranking, with Strange valued as a low-end TE3 for dynasty. I think the general dynasty market values him more in line with a low-end TE2, and he could be acquired for an early 2025 third-round pick.
I’d be willing to embrace the uncertainty and buy Strange pre-draft. If Jacksonville grabs a tight end early, you’re not out too much value. And if they pass on tight end entirely, suddenly you have a young, promising prospect with potential TE1 upside.
If you’re confident your dynasty team is in a position to compete for a 2025 championship, I’d encourage you to test the waters and see if you can acquire these veteran TEs before the NFL Draft. The cost of entry is minimal, and they could provide much-needed depth for your team in-season. If you have any general dynasty questions you’d like to run by me, I can be reached on X @jim_DFF. Let’s talk some fantasy football.
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