The tight end position in 2025 will once again be slim pickings, meaning most fantasy football managers will have to find the guys in late rounds in hopes that they can be usable starters. Interestingly, this year’s NFL Draft gave us two exciting first-round prospects who both went early: Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren.
After the instant success as rookies for fellow tight ends Brock Bowers and Sam LaPorta, can either find similar success in fantasy this season?
Colston Loveland’s 2025 Fantasy Overview
Loveland was a surprise selection by the Chicago Bears at No. 10 overall this past draft. Warren was the player mocked higher before the draft, but the Bears weren’t a common landing spot for either tight end.
An embarrassment of riches for weapons, Loveland will join veteran Cole Kmet in the tight end room, as well as wide receivers DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, and rookie Luther Burden III.
Colston Loveland’s career YPRR (2.22) is higher than Trey McBride’s, Sam LaPorta’s, & TJ Hockenson’s as a prospect.
Would’ve been my rookie TE1 in 2023, 2022, 2020.
One of the best picks you can make in the 1.10-2.02 range. pic.twitter.com/g5m2UHlKjT
— David J. Gautieri (@GuruFantasyWrld) April 21, 2025
The landing spot was ideal for both Loveland and the Bears. He won’t be required to carry the offense in any capacity, but he slides in as another threat for quarterback Caleb Williams and head coach Ben Johnson.
Defenses won’t be able to single out Loveland in the game plan. But conversely, it’s hard to envision a path to a significant target share. For context, Sam LaPorta, as a rookie, managed an excellent TE1 finish on 120 targets, 86 receptions, 889 yards, and 10 touchdowns, which came off a 20.5% target share.
So, Loveland’s early returns will come down to how fast he rises the depth chart. There’s a reality where he rivals only Moore as a premier threat, as the rest of the pieces fall around them. There’s an equal chance that Loveland is a specialist and doesn’t unseat Kmet as the starting tight end.
Buying into the Bears’ new-look offense is a savvy play to make. But unless they accelerate into truly elite status immediately, there’s going to be the cliché — too many mouths to feed for fantasy. Even in a favorable projection, Loveland is unlikely to be consistent enough to risk starting every week.
Tyler Warren’s 2025 Fantasy Overview
Warren enters a significantly different situation with the Indianapolis Colts. There are still a bevy of receivers that Warren will compete with, but the path to becoming the leader is far more straightforward.
Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs are strong bets to get good production, whereas Alex Pierce and Adonai Mitchell remain role players behind them. The main difference is that Warren will immediately step in as the Colts’ starting TE — a position Indianapolis has struggled to get right over the years.
Last season, Kylen Granson and Mo Alie-Cox combined for 26 receptions, 329 yards, and one touchdown, with both appearing in all 17 games. Not only will Warren be an immediate starter and a clear upgrade, but his versatility should get him the ball as much as anyone else in the passing game.
Tyler Warren had as many total yards just in 2024 as Colston Loveland had in his entire career (1,451 vs 1,456).
It’s crazy the way some people dismiss him just because he wasn’t an “early breakout.”
— David J. Gautieri (@GuruFantasyWrld) May 8, 2025
Warren was also seen as the more pro-ready prospect, so there’s little doubt that he should contribute earlier and more often than Loveland. The question with him won’t be about opportunity or usage, but rather the quality of the targets.
Anthony Richardson enters a make-or-break season and has struggled to improve as a passer. It’s no guarantee that he’ll start, but his backup, Daniel Jones, doesn’t spark much encouragement either.
The Colts may be the lowest passing volume offense in the league next season. With a handful of other players who also deserve work, Warren shouldn’t be expected to be a reliable option either.
Who Should I Draft in 2025?
In the end, if you feel better about one player or the other, I’d lean with him and hope it works out. There is a reasonable path to production for both, if the cards fall right, but neither is a sure thing.
Loveland could be the better receiver in a better offense, but still sees little work amidst a talented group. Warren could be more heavily featured early on, but in a low-volume, run-heavy offense, with worse quarterback play.
Typically, I’ll go with Warren in most cases. I’d expect him to see a significant amount of snaps early, and his tape as a prospect suggests he’s a player you can design touches for, making him slightly less reliant on the quarterback’s ability.
If you pass on the position entirely in your draft, Warren is a safer bet to give you some production early in the season. If you’re taking a shot on a TE2 late, Warren should still get your consideration, but you can justify holding Loveland in a produce-or-cut role on your bench, seeing if he can become a big part of a better offense that passes more.