The 2024-25 NFL season is about to begin which means fantasy football is back! Most fantasy football team managers don’t make major lineup moves in the first week of the season. Typically managers will start the players they drafted in the earlier rounds. However, since every week is important it would be irresponsible to start a player with a rough matchup over a player with a more favorable one because he was drafted to be a starter. Here are fantasy football week 1 tight end rankings.
Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They Will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.
Starting TE1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a solid floor.
TD Dependent Starter- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not because of depth at the position. Their production is based on whether they can get in the end zone or not. It can be the difference between a top 10 performance or a top 25 performance
Deep League Starter- a player whose ceiling isn’t high but should put up enough production to be started in deep leagues. When a player like this is started it is because their production though it will likely be low, will be better than a few options.
Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.
| Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
| Must Start | Travis Kelce | vs Baltimore Ravens | TE1 |
| Must Start | Mark Andrews | vs Kansas City Chiefs | TE2 |
| Starting TE1 | Sam LaPorta | vs Los Angeles Rams | TE3 |
| Starting TE1 | Trey McBride | vs Buffalo Bills | TE4 |
| Starting TE1 | Dalton Kincaid | vs Arizona Cardinals | TE5 |
| Starting TE1 | Evan Engram | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | TE6 |
| Starting TE1 | Jake Ferguson | vs Cleveland Browns | TE7 |
| Starting TE1 | George Kittle | vs New York Jets | TE8 |
| Starting TE1 | David Njoku | vs Dallas Cowboys | TE9 |
| Starting TE1 | Dallas Goedert | vs Green Bay Packers | TE10 |
| Starting TE1 | Kyle Pitts* | vs Seattle Seahawks | TE11 |
| TD Dependent Starter | Dalton Schultz | vs Indianapolis Colts | TE12 |
| TD Dependent Starter | Brock Bowers* | vs Los Angeles Chargers | TE13 |
| TD Dependent Starter | Pat Freiermuth | vs Atlanta Falcons | TE14 |
| TD Dependent Starter | Tyler Conklin | vs San Francisco 49ers | TE15 |
| TD Dependent Starter | Juwan Johnson | vs Carolina Panthers | TE16 |
| TD Dependent Starter | Cole Kmet | vs Tennessee Titans | TE17 |
| Deep League Starter | Colby Parkinson | vs Detroit Lions | TE18 |
| Deep League Starter | Hunter Henry | vs Cincinnati Bengals | TE19 |
| Deep League Starter | Taysom Hill | vs Carolina Panthers | TE20 |
| Deep League Starter | Jonnu Smith | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | TE21 |
| Deep League Starter | Johnny Mundt | vs New York Giants | TE22 |
| Deep League Starter | Chigoziem Okonkwo | vs Chicago Bears | TE23 |
| Deep League Starter | Cade Otton | vs Washington Commanders | TE24 |
| Deep League Starter | Luke Musgrave | vs Philadelphia Eagles | TE25 |
| Leave on the Bench | Noah Fant* | vs Denver Broncos | TE26 |
| Leave on the Bench | Zach Ertz | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | TE27 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tucker Kraft* | vs Philadelphia Eagles | TE28 |
| Leave on the Bench | Hayden Hurst | vs Las Vegas Raiders | TE29 |
| Leave on the Bench | Greg Dulcich | vs Seattle Seahawks | TE30 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kylen Granson | vs Houston Texans | TE31 |
| Leave on the Bench | Isaiah Likely | vs Kansas City Chiefs | TE32 |
| Leave on the Bench | Mike Gesicki | vs New England Patriots | TE33 |
| Leave on the Bench | Theo Johnson | vs Minnesota Vikings | TE34 |
| Leave on the Bench | Gerald Everett | vs Tennessee Titans | TE35 |
| Leave on the Bench | Michael Mayer | vs Los Angeles Chargers | TE36 |
| Leave on the Bench | Dawson Knox | vs Arizona Cardinals | TE37 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tommy Tremble* | vs New Orleans Saints | TE38 |
| Leave on the Bench | Ben Sinnott | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | TE39 |
| Leave on the Bench | Josh Oliver | vs New York Giants | TE40 |
TE11 Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
Kyle Pitt was limited in practice on Wednesday with a hamstring injury. He is expected to be “100% healthy” before Atlanta’s first game of the season. If Pitts misses Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers Charlie Woerner or Ross Dwelly would fit in for Pitts in the starting lineup.
TE13 Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
Brock Bowers returned to practice Wednesday after missing time with a foot injury. He is expected to play in the first game of the season. If Bowers misses Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers Michael Mayer becomes the TE21 between Jonnu Smith and Johnny Mundt.
TE26 Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks
Noah Fant dealt with a foot injury during training camp. It is unclear if he will be able to play in the first game of the season. If Fant misses Week 1 against the Denver Broncos Pharaoh Brown would become TE36 between Michael Mayer and Dawson Knox.
TE28 Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers
Tucker Kraft was limited in practice on Wednesday with a back injury. It is unclear if Kraft will be available for the first game of the season. If Kraft misses Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles Ben Sims will be the backup tight end to Luke Musgrave.
TE38 Tommy Tremble, Carolina Panthers
Tommy Tremble missed practice on Wednesday with both a hamstring and a back injury. It is unclear if he will be healthy enough to play in the first game of the season. If Tremble misses Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints Ja’Tavion Sanders becomes the TE38 between Dawson Knox and Ben Sinnott.
T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
T.J. Hockenson is starting the year on the PUP list after tearing his ACL late last season. This means he will miss the first four games of the season. While Hockenson is out Johnny Mundt and Josh Oliver will fill in as the Vikings’ starting tight ends.
Tyler Higbee, Los Angles Rams
Tyler Higbee is starting the year on the PUP list after tearing his ACL and MCL last season. He will miss at least the first four games of the season. The Rams made a major investment giving Colby Parkinson a three-year deal this offseason. He will likely be Los Angeles’ starting tight end for most of the season.
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