Looking for an edge at tight end in Week 12? With injuries and disappointing early performances thinning out the position, hungry fantasy football managers need to hit the waiver wire for upside and volume. If stability and upside are what’s needed, these are the tight ends who could tip the scales in Week 12 fantasy matchups.
These rankings were last updated at 7:00 AM ET on Thursday, November 20, 2025.
Week 12 Fantasy TE Rankings
1) Trey McBride | Arizona Cardinals (vs. JAX)
2) Brock Bowers | Las Vegas Raiders (vs. CLE)
3) George Kittle | San Francisco 49ers (vs. CAR)
4) Tyler Warren | Indianapolis Colts (at KC)
5) Travis Kelce | Kansas City Chiefs (vs. IND)
6) Dallas Goedert | Philadelphia Eagles (at DAL)
7) Jake Ferguson | Dallas Cowboys (vs. PHI)
8) Hunter Henry | New England Patriots (at CIN)
9) Mark Andrews | Baltimore Ravens (vs. NYJ)
10) Theo Johnson | New York Giants (at DET)
11) Kyle Pitts Sr. | Atlanta Falcons (at NO)
12) Colston Loveland | Chicago Bears (vs. PIT)
13) Cade Otton | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at LAR)
14) Harold Fannin Jr. | Cleveland Browns (at LV)
15) Dalton Schultz | Houston Texans (vs. BUF)
16) Juwan Johnson | New Orleans Saints (vs. ATL)
17) AJ Barner | Seattle Seahawks (at TEN)
18) Pat Freiermuth | Pittsburgh Steelers (at CHI)
19) Noah Fant | Cincinnati Bengals (vs. NE)
20) T.J. Hockenson | Minnesota Vikings (at GB)
21) David Njoku | Cleveland Browns (at LV)
22) Mason Taylor | New York Jets (at BAL)
23) Dawson Knox | Buffalo Bills (at HOU)
24) Isaiah Likely | Baltimore Ravens (vs. NYJ)
25) Luke Musgrave | Green Bay Packers (vs. MIN)
26) Michael Mayer | Las Vegas Raiders (vs. CLE)
27) Jonnu Smith | Pittsburgh Steelers (at CHI)
28) Tyler Higbee | Los Angeles Rams (vs. TB)
29) Chig Okonkwo | Tennessee Titans (vs. SEA)
30) Ja’Tavion Sanders | Carolina Panthers (at SF)
Theo Johnson, TE, New York Giants
Theo Johnson has caught the eye at times this season, and he is no longer an overlooked piece of the New York Giants’ passing game. The former Penn State standout has averaged 9.2 PPR points per game this season, and 11.3 since Week 4. That makes him the TE13 over that stretch, and his consistent red-zone usage is a big reason for that.
Heading into Sunday, only 12 players had more red-zone targets than Johnson (10) this season, and the tight end had at least twice as many as any of his teammates. However, while many would have expected Johnson to have a better game with Jameis Winston airing it out on Sunday, his four targets were tied for his second-fewest of the year.
Jaxson Dart will hope to be cleared to start again in Week 12, with a daunting matchup with the Lions awaiting the Giants. New York then faces the New England Patriots in Week 13, and there is a strong chance of pass-friendly game scripts in both games.
The Giants then go on bye in Week 14 before facing a miserable Washington Commanders defense. Johnson has been on waivers for much of the year and may even still be there in many leagues. He has five touchdowns in his last seven games with Dart, and could well be a top-10 fantasy tight end for the rest of the season.
Dalton Schultz, TE, Houston Texans
Like Johnson, Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz has been included in our recent “streamers” articles. The veteran tight end has seen a production bump in recent weeks, most notably when playing with backup quarterback Davis Mills.
Of Mills’ 120 pass attempts this season, Schultz has been targeted 26 times, 21.67%. With Stroud, that number drops to 17.36%, as the third-year quarterback spreads the ball more evenly among his receivers.
Schultz has been targeted 28 times in his last three games, and has averaged 14.4 fantasy points per game in that stretch. With Stroud’s return imminent, the Texans’ offense should be more functional, and their overall control of games should improve.
Mills has won both of his starts since Stroud’s injury, but the Texans have had to come from behind to win both. The team faces some tough opponents in the coming weeks, but should find themselves in less desperate situations.
That, in turn, would mean fewer targets for Schultz. There won’t be a huge market for the tight end, but three consecutive top-10 finishes should fetch you some FAAB at the very least.
Should You Start or Sit Knox in Week 12?
There was no question as to who Buffalo tagged as their Dalton Kincaid replacement, as Dawson Knox more than double the snaps of Jackson Hawes and finished with as many targets as the backup had routes.
That’s not the issue.
With Keon Coleman out (discipline) and Khalil Shakir ineffective, Knox didn’t record a first half catch and pulled in his only look after the break.
This is a tough matchup where I do expect him to again be on the field plenty, but I’d rather bet on more traditional pocket-passing offenses to fill my TE streamer role (AJ Barner, Noah Fant, or even Brock Wright).
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Cheat Sheet.
