Tight end is a tough position to forecast every week since opportunities ebb and flow within offenses and tight ends often carry lots of different responsibilities. However, if you can get value production from the position, it can be a great place to get big points from players with lower salaries. I list out my top fantasy football sleeper tight ends each Saturday from the main slate of the week to help you find the biggest production for the lowest salary. This week’s main slate includes the 10 games lined up for Sunday afternoon, providing several cheap but potentially productive tight ends to consider in my five fantasy football sleeper plays at tight end for Week 7.
The picks in this post can be excellent values for DFS contests and can also serve as sneaky plays in your season-long league since they are in a position to exceed expectations. Earlier this week, I highlighted my top-15 starters at tight end, and in this list, we’ll focus on players mostly outside those 15 players who still bring a high fantasy football ceiling in their Week 7 matchups.
Week 7 Fantasy Football Sleeper TEs (analysis below):
- Mason Taylor, New York Jets ($3,400)
- Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans ($3,300)
- Oronde Gadsden II, Los Angeles Chargers ($3,300)
- Ja’Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers ($3,200)
- Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints ($3,000)
Week 6 Results:
- Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints ($3,300; 2.5 FPTS)
- Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders ($3,100; 16 FPTS)
- Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals ($3,000; 0.0 FPTS–injury)
- Gunnar Helm, Tennessee Titans ($2,700; 3.5 FPTS)
- Hunter Long, Jacksonville Jaguars ($2,500; 3.9 FPTS)
Whether you’re looking for value plays in your DFS contests like the NFL $2.75M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st] or looking for a last-minute addition from the waiver wire, here are my top five fantasy football sleeper tight ends for Week 7 of the 2025 season:
Mason Taylor, New York Jets ($3,400)
The Jets will likely be without top receiver Garrett Wilson ($6,500; knee, doubtful) when they host the Panthers this week, which could set up a huge workload for rookie tight end Mason Taylor.
Wilson has a massive 56 targets through the first six games for the Jets this season, and Taylor is second on the team with 29 targets. Aside from running back Breece Hall ($6,300), no other player on the team has more than 12 targets this season.
Last week, the entire Jets passing offense was a lost cause against the Broncos, and Taylor was no exception with just one catch for two yards. He did have three strong games before that, though, with at least four catches in three straight games and over 11 fantasy points in Week 4 and Week 5.
The rookie from LSU is one of the most reliable options remaining in the passing game, and since the Panthers have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to the position, he could find room to work over the middle against Carolina.
Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans ($3,300)
Another big wide receiver absence this week is Calvin Ridley (hamstring), whose absence opens up more work for multiple Titans. I highlighted Elic Ayomanor earlier this week and also included Van Jefferson in my companion piece to this that covers fantasy football sleeper options at wide receiver.
In addition to the receivers needing to help carry the load, Okonkwo and rookie tight end Gunnar Helm ($3,000) could help carry the load. Okonkwo is a little more reliable, so if you have the salary, he brings a higher ceiling. Last week, he hauled in all six of his targets for a season-high six catches on his way to 46 yards.
With the exception of a blowout loss in Houston, Okonkwo has at least four catches and 40 yards in every week since Week 2. He is one of the go-to checkdown options for Cam Ward ($4,600) and could be one of the top beneficiaries of Ridley’s vacated targets, if last week is any indication.
The big man is sure-handed but can also make people miss after the catch.
He has a good matchup against the Patriots this week, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points to tight ends this season.
Oronde Gadsden II, Los Angeles Chargers ($3,300)
The Chargers snagged Gadsden in the fifth round out of Syracuse in the draft, and the rookie tight end seems to have established himself as the team’s starter going forward.
He didn’t play at all in the first two weeks of the season but worked his way up to a 54% snapshare in Week 5 and a 75% snapshare in Week 6. His targets have been inconsistent, especially compared to Okonkwo’s, but he did have seven targets in Week 3, when he posted 9.6 fantasy points, and he was even better last week against the Dolphins, posting 12.8 fantasy points by catching seven of eight targets for 68 yards.
Even with Will Dissly ($2,800) being active for the first time in three weeks after a knee injury, Gadsden remained the starter and very involved. The Chargers are coming home to host the Colts this week, and Gadsden’s growing role gives him a good upside against Indy.
At this salary, he’s higher risk than Okonkwo, but he’s also in a better overall offense, which gives him good upside.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers ($3,200)
The Panthers will get second-year tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders back in action after he missed the last three weeks with an ankle injury. He doesn’t have an injury designation, and he returns in a smash spot against the Jets.
Before his injury, Sanders posted a huge game in Week 2, totaling 12.4 fantasy points by hauling in seven of his nine targets for 54 yards as the Panthers tried to come back against the Cardinals. The comeback attempt came up just short, despite Sanders’ big day. The following week, Sanders hauled in both of his targets for 11 yards before leaving with an injury.
Sanders will be one of several returning options as both Jalen Coker ($4,000) and Chuba Hubbard ($5,800) are also ready to return from their injuries. Sanders brings especially good value upside, though, since the Jets have allowed the second-most fantasy points to tight ends this season, giving up an average of 44.5 yards per game to the position and a total of six tight end touchdowns in six games.
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints ($3,000)
Taysom Hill brings his own unique skill set at tight end and has a good ceiling in his versatile role at only $3,000.
He made his season debut in Week 5 with a 19-yard pass and six rushing attempts for a total of -1 yard.
He only had one carry in Week 6, but he got into the end zone last week against the Patriots for his first touchdown of the season.
He’s not back to 100% yet, but he’s effective enough to be involved in New Orleans’ offense. His involvement and versatility make him a unique play, giving him both an extremely high ceiling and a very low floor.
The Saints are visiting the Bears this week, and if the game is close throughout, it wouldn’t be surprising to see coach Kellen Moore continue to find ways to weave Hill into the mix. He’s boom-or-bust, but if you have to spend only $3,000, there aren’t many tight ends that can match his upside.
