Fantasy football managers are smarter than ever, so finding a player who\u2019s actually being slept on can be difficult. With that in mind, we\u2019re shifting our focus to late-round targets who could drastically outproduce their ADP in 2025.<\/p>\n
[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season<\/a>]<\/p>\n Over the next week, I\u2019ll shine the spotlight on my favorite sleeper candidates at every key fantasy position. Today, we\u2019re taking a look at tight ends.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Justin Boone’s Fantasy SleepersChig Okonkwo, Titans<\/p>\n When constructing my rosters this season, if I miss out on an elite tight end I normally aim for one of the promising young options like Tucker Kraft, Dalton Kincaid, Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland. Sometimes you end up on the wrong end of a position run and even those names are off the board before you can draft them.<\/p>\n That\u2019s where this list comes into play.<\/p>\n Okonkwo has been one of my favorite targets in best ball this year after a very strong finish to his 2024 campaign. When his playing time finally ramped up from Week 12 on, Okonkwo averaged the 12th most fantasy points among tight ends, including top-seven weekly finishes in 50% of those outings.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n It\u2019s even more exciting to hear the positive reports from beat writers, with some suggesting Okonkwo looks like he has an extra gear<\/a> entering his fourth NFL season.<\/p>\n As tight end guru Andrew Cooper of Fantasy Alarm always preaches, when looking for late-round breakouts at the position we should be searching for athleticism and opportunity. That means a tight end with a chance to be one of the top-two targets in their offense.<\/p>\n Aside from Calvin Ridley, the Titans are hoping to get contributions from a soon-to-be 33-year-old Tyler Lockett who dropped off completely in the second half of last season or one of their fourth-round rookies Elic Ayomanor or Chimere Dike.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n After back-to-back seasons with at least 70 targets and 50 receptions, it\u2019s not a stretch to project Okonkwo as the second option in this passing attack.<\/p>\n Okonkwo also gets over the athleticism bar thanks to a 97th percentile 40-yard dash and a 92nd percentile speed score.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no doubt we\u2019re digging deep into the barrel here in hopes of pulling out a starter, but I have Okonkwo as the TE17 in my rankings and truly believe he could contend for a spot as a back-end fantasy TE1 this year.<\/p>\n Elijah Arroyo, Seahawks<\/p>\n With Noah Fant out of the picture, the Seahawks have put their faith in Arroyo to play a big part in the passing game right out of the gate.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The second-rounder was overshadowed in a deep class of rookie tight ends, but with Fant being released, Arroyo might have the clearest path to Year 1 production among that group.<\/p>\n His teammate A.J. Barner should do the heavy lifting as a blocker, freeing Arroyo up to be featured where he\u2019s strongest \u2014 as a receiving threat.<\/p>\n His skillset makes him a difficult matchup for defenses and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has been moving him around<\/a> to take advantage of that, including lining him up as the \u201cX\u201d receiver where DK Metcalf used to play.<\/p>\n Volume could be an issue if Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp continue to earn targets like they have in the past, but Arroyo is going to make a fantasy impact as a rookie. Consider him a TE2 with low-end TE1 potential if he carves out a big enough target share.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Mason Taylor, Jets<\/p>\n Aside from Garrett Wilson, the Jets’ receiving corps leaves a lot to be desired. Journeyman veterans like Josh Reynolds, Allen Lazard and Tyler Johnson are decent contributors, but not players you want to rely on as your No. 2 pass-catcher. And though Day 3 rookie Arian Smith has impressive speed, he\u2019s not likely to command a significant amount of targets.<\/p>\n That points to the Jets\u2019 passing attack revolving around Wilson, running back Breece Hall, and their rookie tight end Taylor.<\/p>\n While Taylor might not have the same explosiveness as Arroyo, he\u2019s a better all-round prospect and was making just as many plays in training camp until a recent high-ankle sprain sent him to the sidelines.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Rookies who suffer injuries in the summer miss out on valuable reps and can often start the season slow. So, keep that in mind.<\/p>\n However, once healthy, Taylor will be in the mix as one of the top targets In New York\u2019s offense. He\u2019s a late-round stash or at worst, a name to put on your waiver wire watchlist for early in the season.<\/p>\n Ja\u2019Tavion Sanders, Panthers<\/p>\n As a fourth-round rookie last season, Sanders had to fight for playing time with veteran Tommy Tremble and battled through a neck injury which disrupted his campaign. There were flashes of fantasy potential though.<\/p>\n In the six games where Sanders played over 70% of the Panthers\u2019 snaps last season, he put up at least 49 yards or a touchdown on four occasions.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n To his credit, the 22-year-old worked on his conditioning this offseason and reported to the team 10 pounds lighter<\/a>. That should only aid in his quest towards being the Panthers\u2019 full-time starter.<\/p>\n