Tight finish breakout candidates for 2025

Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars

Strange is a 2023 second-round pick of Penn State who contributed little or no as a rookie in Jacksonville however was known as upon for a bigger function to step up in Evan Engram’s absence for a number of video games in Year 2 of his NFL profession. As a end result, Strange grew to become a fantasy-relevant waiver-wire goal and delivered on that potential with 4 top-12 finishes throughout the eight video games with out Engram within the lineup. With Engram off to Denver, Strange’s alternative grows exponentially, which may have him in play for a breakout fantasy season.

Locked in as a constant top-three choice within the passing recreation

The Jaguars offense is one prone to look a lot totally different than final season with Liam Coen taking up as head coach, Trevor Lawrence wholesome for all the 12 months, Travis Hunter being added to the combo, and Strange now taking up because the staff’s TE1. All of those adjustments could be considered as positives for the Jaguars’ 2025 offensive outlook, and Strange cementing himself as a constant receiving choice in that scenario ought to permit him to simply surpass his profession receiving totals.

Strange should earn his targets in Coen’s offense, because the tight finish place wasn’t a big a part of Tampa Bay’s passing offense except both Mike Evans or Chris Godwin was out. For Strange to earn a big sufficient function to be a constant fantasy choice, he’ll must construct on his success as a starter final season, particularly with Lawrence on the helm, to fill the void left by Engram, who was a top-two goal on the staff over the past two seasons. Strange’s effectivity was on par with Engram’s in 2024, ending proper behind Engram’s 1.51 yards per route run (1.49). Strange’s 8.6 PPR factors per recreation throughout eight video games with out Engram additionally got here near matching Engram’s 9.9 throughout his 9 video games final season. 

Strange’s finest stretch final season got here with Lawrence beneath heart from Weeks 2-5, incomes the ninth-most fantasy factors on the place over that stretch. A full offseason beneath his belt working because the staff’s prime receiving tight finish and constructing a robust rapport with Lawrence shouldn’t be neglected as an enormous a part of his improvement as he enters Year 3. Considering the dearth of depth behind Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter, Strange has a fantastic alternative to play a fantasy-relevant function within the Jaguars’ passing recreation.

Play like a beginning NFL tight finish

Being thrust right into a spot-starting function in Year 2 after having minimal impression as a rookie, it was comprehensible that Strange didn’t precisely thrive in that function by posting high-end numbers for his place. However, now that the staff has let Engram stroll and expressed confidence in Strange consequently, he’ll want to enhance even farther from Year 2 and into Year 3, as most of his receiving numbers had been basically common and replaceable on the entire final season. To qualify as a breakout, ideally, we’ll get greater than only one 12 months of beginning fantasy manufacturing. Strange should carry out effectively sufficient in 2025 for that to be attainable.

While Strange returned respectable fantasy worth in his eight video games with out Engram within the lineup, his general marks as a receiving tight finish have room for enchancment if he’s going to stay a starter going ahead. Strange ranked simply twenty fifth amongst 45 qualifying tight ends in receiving grade (68.2), tied for seventeenth in yards per route run (1.49) and seventeenth in goal fee (19.6%). Strange’s goal fee is probably going essentially the most encouraging mark proper now, as that might be a stable quantity throughout a whole season and a bigger snap share, however contemplating the small bucket of tight ends that we’re trusting on a weekly foundation for fantasy, he’ll nonetheless have to profit from these alternatives to crack beginning lineups and have a breakout fantasy season.

Brenton Strange’s TE ranks in 2024

Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens

Likely’s breakout potential is admittedly a extra hopeful one than an opportunity-based one like with Brenton Strange, as Mark Andrews poses a big risk to taking part in time and targets because the Ravens’ prime receiving tight finish. The hope for Likely comes from the truth that as Andrews has aged and declined in each taking part in time and a few key effectivity metrics, Likely has the chance to extend his function on this offense whereas finally taking up the TE1 function this 12 months. With Andrews usually a topic of commerce rumors as effectively, it’s attainable that his time in Baltimore may come to an finish this calendar 12 months, which might be huge for Likely’s breakout potential.

Continue to extend his function as a receiver

As alluded to above, since Likely was drafted, Andrews’ taking part in time as a receiver has steadily decreased every year whereas Likely’s function has grown to the purpose that by 2024 season’s finish, the splits had been almost even between the 2, as highlighted within the chart beneath. Despite Andrews’ historical past of being a high-end receiving choice and infrequently the staff chief in receiving manufacturing, the very fact of the matter is that these two gamers are on the reverse finish of the spectrum for his or her NFL careers, and that intersection of taking part in time is an effective indication of the Ravens recognizing that, so there may be potential for Likely to surpass Andrews in 2025.

The Ravens additionally run as excessive a fee of two-tight-end appears to be like as any staff within the league, main the NFL in 22-personnel proportion (14.7%) and rating prime 5 in 12-personnel (32.3%), which is unlikely to alter in 2025. Helping Likely’s potential on this regard is that he in the end ended up with extra taking part in time than Andrews in these two-tight-end conditions general when each gamers had been within the lineup. Likely ran 94% of the staff’s routes in these conditions, whereas Andrews ran 85% of routes with two tight ends on the sector. With these snaps accounting for almost half (44%) of the staff’s passing down snaps, if Likely can then lower extra into Andrews’ 11-personnel routes the place Andrews held a 51% to 39% edge over him, that delicate shift towards Likely as the highest receiving tight finish can be much more noticeable for fantasy in 2025.

Be too good to disregard

Likely’s function has additionally elevated at the price of Andrews by being actually efficient along with his alternatives. Likely delivered top-10 marks at his place in receiving grade (77.0), yards per route run (1.71), missed tackles compelled (11), yards after the catch per reception (6.1) and receiving touchdowns (seven). While Andrews was no slouch in his personal proper, it’s clear that the Ravens have a receiving weapon in Likely that they’ll, and have, utilized in an more and more bigger function.

If Likely can really emerge because the clear prime receiving tight finish on this offense, the rumors of Andrews as a commerce piece may change into extra lifelike, as there are a number of probably aggressive offenses in want of a good finish now. Miami simply traded away Jonnu Smith, and Mike MacDonald in Seattle has familiarity with Andrews from his time in Baltimore. Iif Bryce Young continues his high-end play in Carolina, the Panthers may make the most of a veteran like Andrews. Again, an Andrews commerce is the final word end result for Likely’s breakout 12 months, however even with Andrews there, Likely is trending in the precise course.

Isaiah Likely’s TE ranks in 2024