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🔥 Tight Ends

Evan Engram (Broncos)

Once a Pro Bowl TE in Jacksonville, Engram was released and promptly signed by Denver . In SI’s June 2025 TE rankings, he slots in the top 10, part of a group of “familiar names” with upside . With Sean Payton calling the offense, Engram could regain volume and value in PPR formats.

Zach Ertz (Commanders)

Another veteran in the top‑10 SI tight end pool, Ertz re-signed with Washington . Though past his prime, he offers dependable targets and red-zone upside in a stable role.

Mike Gesicki (Bengals)

Cincinnati brought back Gesicki in free agency, and he made SI’s mid-tier veteran TE list . In a Bengals offense that keeps revolving, he may have sneaky value, especially if injuries or matchup play interestingly.

Jonnu Smith (Colts/Miami)

A breakout player last season, Smith ranks 10th among TEs on fantasy radars . He could be amongst the top veteran surprises—especially in deeper PPR formats.

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💎 Other Veteran Options

T.J. Hockenson (Vikings) and Mark Andrews (Ravens) continue to be premiums and SI’s 5th (Hockenson) and 8th (Andrews) ranked veterans — solid if earlier-round investment is viable .

Additionally, Evan Engram, as mentioned above, remains an intriguing bounce-back candidate under a new coaching regime.

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🧠 Strategy: Balancing Youth and Experience

Fantasy analysts emphasize that 2025’s TE landscape is deep. Top young talents (Brock Bowers, Trey McBride) are widely prioritized, but seasoned veterans like Kelce, Kittle, Andrews, Engram, Hockenson, and Ertz fill out the second tier .

Advantages of targeting vets:

Consistent target share

Known role in offense

Potential red-zone usage

Risks:

Age-related decline

Opportunistic rookie standout takeaways

Injuries

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🏈 Fantasy Picks to Watch

Veteran Team Why Grab Them?

Engram Broncos New system, regained volume
Ertz Commanders Stable role, red-zone favorite
Gesicki Bengals Volume rebound possible
Smith Miami Momentum-builder, sleeper appeal
Hockenson Vikings Secure mid-round TE1 safety
Andrews Ravens High-floor veteran in offense

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Bottom Line

While Kelce and Kittle will dominate headlines, savvy fantasy managers should monitor veteran tight ends like Engram, Ertz, Gesicki, Smith, Hockenson, and Andrews. They represent smart mid-to-late-round value plays—trusted production, upside in stable offenses, and fallback options if rookies stumble.

Want a deeper breakdown—such as bye weeks, ADPs, or PPR value—for one of these veterans? I can help with mock-draft targets or pick-by-pick strategy!