Continuing our roundtable series on rookie sleeper picks, the Footballguys staff shifts the focus to the tight end position today.

RELATED: See Rookie Sleeper Quarterbacks here
RELATED: See Rookie Sleeper Running Backs here
RELATED: See Rookie Sleeper Wide Receivers here

Today's question: Now that the NFL Draft is over and we know the landing spots, who is a rookie tight end sleeper pick who has the potential to surprise everyone?

Rams' TE1 in Waiting

TE Terrance Ferguson, Los Angeles Rams

Jeff Haseley: The Rams may have a prolific wide receiver corps under head coach Sean McVay, but they have also consistently utilized the tight end role in McVay's offense. Tyler Higbee, before his major injury, consistently recorded over 60 receptions. The tight end position has a vital role in the Rams' offense, and they have now invested second-round capital in a player who can make an immediate impact this season. He was the fastest tight end at this year's NFL Combine, and he has solid size at 6-foot-5 and 247 pounds. As long as he is committed to learning the offense and is ready for McVay's instruction, his athleticism and ability put him atop the depth chart among other options on the Rams' tight end list.

Meng Song: There's a lot of hype surrounding Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren in the 2025 rookie class, and for good reason. Both are phenomenal tight end prospects and carry first-round NFL Draft capital. There's even a bit of hype on Mason Taylor, who some had mocked as a potential first-round draft pick as well. However, there's been little to no mention in fantasy circles about Terrance Ferguson, who the Rams drafted just a few picks behind Taylor in the early second round.

Tyler Higbee is 32 and looked to have lost a step since his return from the ACL and MCL tear late last season. And while Ferguson won't be a focal point of the offense with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams in that Los Angeles offense, the rookie out of Oregon can be fantasy relevant immediately as a rookie if he finds the end zone. At 6-foot-5, Ferguson has the size to become a go-to red zone target for Matthew Stafford, and he also has enough speed to threaten up and seam and create yards after the catch.

Although the Rams have become more run-heavy in the red zone in recent seasons, there's still an opportunity for Ferguson if he can win the starting role over Higbee. Last year, Higbee, Colby Parkinson, and Davis Allen combined for six targets inside the opponent's 10-yard line, which would've tied Mark Andrews for 12th-most in the league. In 2023, the Rams' tight ends combined for nine such targets, which would've tied Sam LaPorta for fourth-most in the league. And in 2022, when Higbee played all 17 games, his 10 inside-the-10 targets tied Zach Ertz for second-most in the NFL behind only Travis Kelce. Given his second-round draft capital, age, and talent, Ferguson can quickly ascend the depth chart in Los Angeles and have close to double-digit touchdown upside if he's able to grasp Sean McVay's playbook.

Corey Spala: Terrance Ferguson looks to claim the TE1 role for the Rams. This selection comes one year after the Rams attempted to trade up and select Brock Bowers. Ferguson has the desired athleticism and blocking ability to play the position. He was one of the most productive tight ends in 2024 in yards per route run and yards after catch per reception. McVay should be scheming to Ferguson's strengths and finding creative ways to get the ball into his hands. I would not be surprised to see a 75+ target season for Ferguson.

A Deep Sleeper in Tennessee

TE Gunnar Helm, Tennessee Titans

Jeff Blaylock: Gunnar Helm, the seventh tight end taken in this year's draft, proved to be a reliable pass catcher for a loaded Texas offense during his breakout senior season. He caught a team-leading 60 passes, surpassing higher-drafted tight ends Colston Loveland (56), Mason Taylor (55), Terrance Ferguson (43), and Elijah Arroyo (35).

Helm lacks elite athleticism and speed to line up wide or threaten with deep routes. Helm's strength as a receiver is settling into zones and beating linebackers with his shiftiness, giving him enough space to attack the ball aggressively. His blocking is adequate but needs improvement to see the field regularly.

Helm slots behind Chig Okonkwo and Josh Whyle on the Titans' depth chart, which will limit his potential this season. Dynasty managers with deep benches or taxi squad slots can afford to be patient with Helm as he develops. He may never become an everyday starter, but he has the potential to be one of the top second tight ends in the league.

Rachel Tootsiepop: Chig Okonkwo has finished as the TE21 in PPR formats in each of the last two seasons—hardly a mark of fantasy significance. With the Titans entering a rebuild and rookie quarterback Cam Ward now under center, there's an opportunity for a new tight end to emerge. The team added veteran wideout Tyler Lockett in free agency and drafted Elic Ayomanor to bolster their receiving corps. Still, they selected tight end Gunnar Helm in the fourth round, at pick 120, ahead of Ayomanor. Helm posted 60 receptions for 686 yards in his final season at Texas, showing he's capable of contributing as a pass-catcher. Rookie quarterbacks often lean on tight ends as safety valves, which could work in Helm's favor in 2025.

Targets Up For Grabs

Mason Taylor, New York Jets | Gunnar Helm, Tennessee Titans

Jason Wood: Here's the good news: We're in the midst of a halcyon era for rookie tight end value. Historically, the tight end position was the least likely to produce fantasy-relevant rookies because of the complexities of the position, having to master blocking and receiving. However, the last few years have brought us Evan Engram (TE5), Kyle Pitts (TE8), Sam LaPorta (TE1), and Brock Bowers (TE1).

Now, here's the bad news: Those players are still the exceptions, not the rule. For the sake of this discussion, let's agree that neither Colston Loveland nor Tyler Warren can be considered. They're both first-round draft picks filling immediate needs for their teams. I'll be surprised if both are consistent redraft assets this year, but let's be clear that if we're going to have a fantasy-relevant rookie tight end, they're by far the most likely.

While not a universal rule, almost all valuable fantasy tight ends are on teams where the receiving corps lacks productive depth, allowing the tight end to be one of the two top targets in the passing progressions. That removes the Rams' Terrance Ferguson from the conversation. You can love Ferguson long term, but he's not going to matter in redraft unless Puka Nacua and Davante Adams miss considerable time.

The two rookies with relatively empty receiving alternatives are the Jets' Mason Taylor and the Titans' Gunnar Helm. Taylor steps into OC Tanner Engstrand's system, which made heavy use of tight ends in Detroit. The only question is whether Justin Fields will have the passing volume to fuel a Taylor breakthrough. Helm is a deeper option, but the Titans have few proven options behind Calvin Ridley.

TE Mason Taylor, New York Jets

Bob Harris: Jason Taylor II played for the Jets late in his Hall of Fame career. Now, his son, Mason Taylor, will start his NFL run with the AFC East club after New York made him the 42nd pick in the NFL Draft. Taylor set LSU's single-season record for tight ends with 55 catches last year and became the only tight end in school history to top 100 catches and 1,000 receiving yards.

He doesn't have the same timed speed as some of the league's top tight ends, but his routes are clean, and he knows how to put defenders in a bad spot.

Also, landing with the Jets is a positive.

With all due respect to veterans Jeremy Ruckert and Zack Kuntz, as well as newcomer Stone Smartt, it's a fairly open path to playing time in new coordinator Tanner Engstrand's Detroit-style offense. Throw in a wide-receiving corps with Allen Lazard and Josh Reynolds as the top options behind Garrett Wilson, and Taylor's chances of earning targets look even better.

TE Elijah Arroyo, Seattle Seahawks

Phil Alexander: Jason is right: valuable fantasy tight ends often emerge from teams with thin receiving depth, and I have questions about the Seahawks' pass catchers behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Cooper Kupp is 31 and faded down the stretch in 2024. Marquez Valdes-Scantling is a journeyman. Tory Horton is a promising rookie, but as a fifth-round pick, he's unlikely to contribute right away. So why can't Arroyo — the 50th overall pick — emerge as the team's No. 2 target?

He has the size, speed, and receiving chops to create mismatches, and the knee injury that cost him parts of 2022 and 2023 finally seems behind him. It's telling that Seattle prioritized a receiving tight end over a wide receiver in new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak's first draft. Kubiak has a track record of getting tight ends involved, with stops in Minnesota (Kyle Rudolph), Denver (Greg Dulcich), San Francisco (George Kittle), and New Orleans (Juwan Johnson).

Arroyo will likely open the year behind Noah Fant, but Fant is a known quantity — and Seattle can still save $9 million in cap space by cutting him. Don't be surprised if Arroyo earns meaningful targets early.

TE Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns

Ben Cummins: Harold Fannin Jr. was drafted by the boring Cleveland Browns' franchise and projects to back up David Njoku. Don't overreact. Fannin is a target. He just caught 117 passes for 1,555 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns as a Junior. He's an early declare who won't turn 21 until late July. At the tight end position in 2024, Fannin Jr. led the Nation in Yards Per Route Run (3.77) and Missed Tackles Forced (34). He ranked second in Deep Catches (9), third in Deep Yards (333), fourth in Contested Catches (12), and 24th in Yards After Catch per Reception (7.5). He has a chance to be Cleveland's slot target this season, and his value will increase if that happens. Regardless, Fannin Jr. is a strong target for 2026 and beyond.

Gadsden II: Size, Skill, and a Shot

TE Oronde Gadsden II, Los Angeles Chargers

David Zacharias: Oronde Gadsden II is a 6-foot-5, 220-pound route-running technician with the hands of a wideout and the frame of a move tight end. He wins with route pacing, zone awareness, and elite catch-point control — traits you might expect from a seasoned possession WR, not a TE convert. He missed most of 2023 with a Lisfranc injury after notching 61 catches, 969 yards, and six touchdowns in 2022.

Gadsden isn't a burner. He's raw as a blocker. He needs to add 10 to 20 pounds of functional mass without sacrificing movement skills. He has the hands to make tough grabs in traffic and the ability to manipulate coverage. His best player comp is Darren Waller.

Gadsden sits behind Will Dissly and Tyler Conklin on the Chargers' tight end depth chart. Dissly turns 29 and Conklin turns 30 before the season begins. Given the typical long onboarding time for rookie tight ends, the Chargers have made a timely and inexpensive investment in their tight end succession plan.

Oronde Gadsden II is your classic sleeper: a fifth-round NFL draft pick, big frame, good hands, and time to develop behind aging veterans. He should be available in the fifth round of your dynasty rookie draft.

Maurile Tremblay: Oronde Gadsden II may be a Day 3 selection, but his profile deserves redraft attention. The Los Angeles Chargers traded up to No. 165 specifically because head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman needed a true receiving tight end—a gap Gadsden fills thanks to his wide receiver background. Historically, Roman's offenses emphasize the tight end position when talent merits it: Vernon Davis earned 95 targets in 2011, and Mark Andrews drew 98 in his first season as a starter in 2019, both under Roman's play-calling. Gadsden will not approach that workload, but roughly 40 targets would place him in comfortable TE2 territory—within realistic expectations, albeit on the high side.

The Chargers' current depth chart bolsters Gadsden's projection. Will Dissly primarily serves as an in-line blocker, and Tyler Conklin arrived on a modest one-year deal, leaving significant opportunities for a versatile, big-slot hybrid like Gadsden to secure immediate snaps. Gadsden will likely go undrafted in most redraft leagues, but his potential upside makes him worth considering in the final rounds—or at least atop early-season waiver lists.

Andy Hicks: As Maurile said, the location is ideal for a rookie tight end to develop and become fantasy-useful faster than others drafted late. Those of us old enough to remember his father playing for the Dolphins will hope he can emulate his numbers from 1998 to 2002. The son is much bigger, and given his experience at wide receiver, he makes for a better fantasy option than others at the position. Learning how to block in the NFL will be one of his biggest challenges. It may take a couple of years for him to develop his body and skillset to that of a reliable dynasty fantasy tight end. Still, he has several advantages over other tight ends entering the NFL: location, good coaching staff, opportunity, and size.