The past four weeks have shown just how tough it is to find and start the right tight end. In that span, Brenton Strange, Juwan Johnson, Zach Ertz, Hunter Henry, Colby Parkinson, Dalton Schultz and Theo Johnson all ranked in the top 12 in PPR PPG. Making matters even more difficult is that regular fantasy starters like Jake Ferguson and Mark Andrews were not in the top 12, and Sam LaPorta is no longer available after being placed on injured reserve.

The tight end position has always been troublesome for fantasy managers, with most just hoping their TE can secure a touchdown any given week. But the dearth of stalwarts at the position in 2025, coupled with this week-to-week turbulence, presents an opportunity that savvy managers can capitalize on. So, to paraphrase a classic Jeremy Irons line from the movie “Margin Call,” now that we know there is a problem, what can we do about it?

Like Mr. Sullivan in that film (played brilliantly by Zachary Quinto), I’ve done some analysis and am here to help. Below are the rest-of-season tight end rankings. Each player is graded on a 1-100 scale, with 100 being the best. These grades are based on four factors: rest-of-season matchups, current points-per-game pace, percentage of team targets and percentage of team targets on passes inside the 10-yard line. The PPG pace is given priority over the other three, but to do well here, a player needs to have quality figures in all four categories. And here’s the best part: Of the 14 tight ends listed below, almost half are available in at least 30% of leagues, meaning you can very likely find an upgrade on your current TE in this list.

Unless otherwise mentioned, the statistics below are from TruMedia/PFF, NFL Next Gen Stats or Stathead; PPR scoring is used for point totals. Roster rates are in Yahoo leagues.

1. Trey McBride, ARI

Overall rating: 100

If you have McBride on your squad, you’re set. He has scored 21+ points in five of the past seven games and has two favorable matchups remaining.

2. Tyler Warren, IND

Overall rating: 89

Warren could overtake McBride as the most impactful playoff tight end. Indianapolis has favorable tight end coverage matchups in each of the next four weeks.

3. Mark Andrews, BAL

Overall rating: 78

As noted earlier, Andrews was not in the top 12 in TE scoring over the past four weeks. So, why does he rate so high? Because of his target pace inside the 10-yard line. Andrews accounted for two-thirds of the Ravens’ targets in that area of the field over the previous month. He also has a Week 15 matchup against a Cincinnati defense that has been legendarily poor at covering tight ends. Get him into your lineups even as a flex. Consider adding Isaiah Likely in deeper leagues for that Week 15 Bengals contest.

4. George Kittle, SF

Overall rating: 74

Kittle is third on the 49ers in team target percentage and thus could rate higher here, but his rest-of-season schedule is holding him back. The Niners are on a bye in Week 14 and have no favorable matchups after that. Kittle still belongs in fantasy lineups, but he might be relegated to mid-tier TE1 production.

5. Zach Ertz, WAS (61% rostered)

Overall rating: 72

Ertz would have led all tight ends in points in Week 13 had he not dropped a sure touchdown pass in the fourth quarter against Denver. He should continue his production level with the highest target pace among this group. Start him if you have him on a roster and prioritize getting him on waivers if you don’t.

T6. Travis Kelce, KC

Overall rating: 69

Kelce has been far too touchdown-dependent this year, which is a problem since he has only two red zone targets and one end zone target over the past four weeks. Kelce also has a tough Week 14 matchup against Houston.

T6. Brock Bowers, LV

Overall rating: 69

Bowers rates this low in part because this analysis includes his 3.7-point dud in Week 10. He’s obviously a must-start and has a very favorable TE coverage matchup against Denver in Week 14 (the Broncos rank 31st in TE PPG since Week 10). Bowers has a much tougher road after that with unfavorable matchups in Weeks 16 and 17.

8. Theo Johnson, NYG (57% rostered)

Overall rating: 66

Johnson has yet to play in Week 13 as of this writing. That doesn’t keep us from recognizing his superb value. He’s tied for the group lead in inside the 10-target pace over the past four weeks. Johnson also posted six 10+ point games in Weeks 4-12. This is the profile of a tight end who should be rostered and started in a lot more than 57% of leagues.

9. Juwan Johnson, NO (71% rostered)

Overall rating: 57

It was assumed that Johnson’s value would notably drop once Tyler Shough took over as the Saints’ starting quarterback. That didn’t happen. Johnson ranks sixth in PPG since Week 10. He had only one red zone target in that span, but Johnson is a reliable high-floor safety valve for New Orleans and fantasy teams.

10. Brenton Strange, JAX (32% rostered)

Overall rating: 56

It’s possible that Strange should be rated even higher than this. He has the fourth-highest PPG among this group, but he achieved this in his two weeks since returning from injury and was targeted nine times in Weeks 12-13 combined. None of those targets were inside the 10-yard line, and only one was in the red zone. It’s worth adding him to rosters in the event the production of the past two weeks is sustainable.

11. Dalton Schultz, HOU (46% rostered)

Overall rating: 55

The Texans have a lot of receiving talent, yet Schultz accounted for 22.2% of the team’s targets over the past four weeks. It’s a pace that makes him a great player to put in lineups if you are aiming to avoid a low-floor score in Week 14.

12. Colby Parkinson, LAR (2% rostered)

Overall rating: 54

Parkinson has had three games with 9.4 or more points over the past four weeks. The Rams have a favorable TE coverage matchup against Seattle in Week 16. The Seahawks rank 30th in PPG allowed since Week 10. The issue with stashing Parkinson for that matchup is that Tyler Higbee could return by then. I suggest adding Parkinson in deeper leagues and potentially replacing him with Higbee if/when Higbee’s return date is clarified.

13. AJ Barner, SEA (13% rostered)

Overall rating: 53

Barner is second only to Jaxon Smith-Njigba in targets, receptions, target rate and targets per route run among Seattle wide receivers and tight ends since Week 10. A lot of this rating is due to a 17.1-point game against the Rams in Week 10, but Barner has six 10+ point games this year. Those looking for a high percentage fill-in should strongly consider adding Barner.

14. Jake Ferguson, DAL

Overall rating: 49

Why is Ferguson rated so low? There are several reasons. He’s 13th in PPG since Week 10. Ferguson’s 2.71 aDOT is the second lowest among tight ends in that span (min. 15 targets). The schedule has no favorable matchups and an unfavorable matchup in Week 14. Ferguson has just not been the same since the Cowboys’ passing game figured out how to fully utilize both CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. This isn’t a suggestion to bench Ferguson, but rather to have reasonable expectations when starting him.