The NFL season is quickly approaching and fantasy drafts are starting. At DraftKings, you can play an array of different season-long fantasy contests.
This is a look at the top five rookie tight ends to target in 2025 dynasty drafts.
1) Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears
Colston Loveland was the first tight end taken in the 2025 NFL Draft, with the Bears selecting him 10th overall. Loveland was a star at Michigan despite not operating in a pass-heavy offense throughout his career. Last season, Michigan ranked 120th out of 134 FBS teams in pass play percentage. Despite winning the national championship the year prior, Michigan ranked 117th in pass play percentage. Under Jim Harbaugh, Michigan was always run-heavy, defense-first team. Despite that, Loveland still earned top-10 draft capital.
He showed his grit as a player by blocking and being physical in the run game. However, he also proved he can be a dynamic receiver. Last season, he had more than double the receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns than anyone else on the team. He was Michigan’s only real offensive weapon through the air and provided value despite awful quarterback play. On their championship-winning team, Loveland ranked second in receiving yards and touchdowns.
The Bears are hoping Loveland will help their offense take a leap forward. Caleb Williams had a disappointing rookie season largely due to poor offensive line play and awful coaching. The Bears made the hire of the offseason, bringing in offensive guru Ben Johnson from Detroit to be their head coach. They improved the offensive line and are expecting to have a strong attack. Current Bears tight end Cole Kmet got a contract extension after a strong first couple of seasons, but the Bears have an out on his deal after this season. Loveland will split time with Kmet this season, but if he shines, he could be the tight end of the future in Chicago starting in 2026, making him a valuable asset alongside Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson.
2) Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
Many expected Tyler Warren to be a top-10 pick and the first tight end taken in the draft. However, Ben Johnson fell in love with Colston Loveland, causing Tyler Warren to drop to the Colts at No. 14. Warren should be a great receiving option from the jump; the bigger concern is around who is throwing him the football. Tyler Warren ranked second in receptions and seventh in receiving yards among all players in college football last season. He is more of a Travis Kelce-style receiving tight end in contrast to the Rob Gronkowski-style hybrid role that Loveland will play. The only issue for Warren is that the Colts currently have a quarterback battle between Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson for the starting job.
Jones and Richardson have been two of the worst-performing quarterbacks in the NFL over the last several seasons. Measuring by EPA+CPOE composite over the past two years, Daniel Jones ranks 28th and Anthony Richardson ranks 38th out of 38 eligible quarterbacks. It will be hard for Warren to thrive right away with those guys throwing him the football. However, as a tight end, he could be a good safety blanket for those quarterbacks. Warren’s talent still makes him worth drafting in dynasty fantasy leagues with the hope that the Colts upgrade at quarterback after this season.
3) Mason Taylor, New York Jets
Mason Taylor was the first of three tight ends taken in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Taylor was a standout player at LSU and is the son of former Hall-of-Famer Jason Taylor. This young tight end caught 55 passes for nearly 550 yards last season at LSU. He can block and be physical like a traditional tight end but is sneaky athletic and has great hands. He should be a great red-zone option for Justin Fields from the jump in New York. The Jets are coming into the season with very little high-end pass-catching talent beyond receiver Garrett Wilson and halfback Breece Hall, so Taylor should get a fair shot to be a top target right away.
The Jets moved on from Tyler Conklin over the offseason, meaning Taylor will likely be the starting tight end come Week 1. He will split time with 2022 draft pick Jeremy Ruckert, but Taylor will be the main man. Over quarterback Justin Fields’ three seasons in Chicago, Cole Kmet led the team in receptions and receiving touchdowns while ranking second in receiving yards. Fields loves to use the tight end, and with a dangerous weapon like Wilson on the outside, Taylor should see plenty of single or zone coverage in the middle of the field. He has a chance to be the best-performing rookie tight end this season with the targets that will be available for him.
4) Elijah Arroyo, Seattle Seahawks
Elijah Arroyo is an athletic freak out of Miami. There have been strong reports already out of Seattle’s training camp that Arroyo is making waves. The Seahawks replaced Geno Smith with Sam Darnold at quarterback this offseason, the latter of whom had an exceptional year in Minnesota last year and ranked fifth in the NFL in passing yards. The Seahawks brought in Klint Kubiak to be their offensive coordinator, moved on from former WR1 DK Metcalf and added Cooper Kupp as well. It has been a busy spring and summer, and it truly feels like a new era in Seattle. Arroyo will hope to be a major part of the offense from the jump.
Arroyo will be splitting time with 2024 draft pick AJ Barner this season. Barner wasn’t overly productive in his rookie year and there is a clear path for Arroyo to be the primary tight end this season and beyond if he takes the reins. Arroyo caught passes from this year’s No. 1 pick, Cam Ward, last season and should be ready to catch balls from an NFL quarterback right away. Ward’s ridiculous arm strength should have Arroyo ready for the NFL already. With Kupp and Smith-Njigba on the outside, Arroyo should be able to create space in the middle of the field and be an instant target for Darnold.
5) Terrance Ferguson, Los Angeles Rams
Terrance Ferguson was also taken in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. After re-signing Matthew Stafford, the Rams are officially all-in on this season. During the 2025 postseason, nobody came closer to beating the eventual Super Bowl champions than the Rams. In a winnable NFC, they could be closer to the Super Bowl than many people think. Stafford and Sean McVay combining their powers makes the Rams one of the hardest offenses to stop in the NFL. They have a superstar wide receiver in Puka Nacua, and are hoping Ferguson can be another weapon for Stafford right away.
Ferguson was a great pass-catcher at Oregon and will be an immediate threat to Tyler Higbee on the Rams’ depth chart. Higbee is in the final year of his contract with the Rams and played just three games last season due to an offseason knee surgery. Colby Parkinson filled in as the tight end in Higbee’s absence but was clearly not up to Higbee’s standard. While the veteran might be the starter on the depth chart, the Rams will definitely be looking to the future and trying to utilize Terrance Ferguson. If Ferguson proves himself, he could become the starting tight end as soon as next season, but certainly in 2026 once Higbee moves on.
