2025 Fantasy Football Post Hype-Sleepers: Tight Ends

I'll never let go...

Before fantasy football became mainstream (shoutout Matthew Berry), sources of advice, analysis, and “taeks” were mainly limited to magazines that had outdated information the second they hit shelves. If you kept up with training camp news and preseason risers, you could legitimately find fantasy gold in players your league mates had never heard of. But with the wealth of information available on the interwebz, Sleepers in a traditional sense no longer exist.

Post-Hype Sleepers are a different story. The definition varies based on who you ask. But for me, a post-hype sleeper is a player who was once highly touted and fell out of favor for whatever reason, who now presents an opportunity to be drafted at a value.

Just as in the “Flag Plants Series” (Which, if you haven’t checked out, do so here, here, here, and here), I’ll go through each position and give you my Post-Hype Sleepers for 2025.

You may notice there is one less name in this article than in the rest of the series. To reiterate what I mentioned in the “Flag Plants” series, I’m not going to force a name on a list just to hit an imaginary quota. I’ll never recommend or write up a player I don’t believe in, and there are only two tight ends I’m comfortable calling Post-Hype Sleepers.

Now let’s head to Tight End University.

 

Dallas Goedert – Philadelphia Eagles

(The “Has literally put up the same stats” Sleeper)

 

I target two types of players when it comes to post-hype sleepers. Either guys who are being virtually drafted at their floor, or guys who have sky-high upside and little investment cost. Dallas Goedert is the former of the two. I haven’t found any particularly noteworthy or surprising statistics regarding Goedert. It’s pretty straightforward if you examine the numbers and apply common sense.

  • Dallas Goedert had the worst fantasy finish of his career in 2024.
  • Dallas Goedert played in only 10 games, the fewest of his career.

However, compared to the prior five seasons, Goedert’s stats either exceeded or remained virtually unchanged in 2024.

Dallas Goedert 2019-2024 averages:

Yards per target – 8.7

Yards per reception – 11.9

Yards after the catch per reception – 6.2

Targets per game – 5.7

Receptions per game – 4.1

Receiving yards per game – 48.8

 

Dallas Goedert 2024 averages:

Yards per target – 9.5 – Better

Yards per reception – 11.8 – Same

Yards after the catch per reception – 6.1 – Same

Targets per game – 5.2 – Worse

Receptions per game – 4.1 – Same

Receiving yards per game – 49.6 – Better

 

Out of the six categories highlighted here, his 2024 averages were worse in just one. His targets went down, whopping — checks notes — half a yard. His yards per route run last season ranked 17th. Not at the tight end position, among all players. Among tight ends? Goedert’s YPRR ranked 2nd to George Kittle (2.5 to 2.4). There is zero risk drafting Dallas Goedert at TE14.

Sometimes, fantasy football is simple.

Draft Dallas Goedert.

 

Kyle Pitts – Atlanta Falcons

(The “Yeah, this guy again” Sleeper)

 

I debated leaving Ian’s tweet here and letting that be my entire argument. But I guess I can provide a bit of context. I’ll always shoot it straight with you guys. I’ve been a Kyle Pitts stan since day one. Not someone that would reach or overpay for him, but let’s say I’ve never given up hope. To see plays like this, yet continue to get what most see as underutilized, is maddening.  

Kyle Pitts is the latter of my two types of post-hype sleeper targets, boasting sky-high upside with a reasonable price tag. For the first time in his career, Pitts has an ADP outside of the top 10 tight ends. You can pick him up for an 11th or 12th round pick as TE17 off the board. Even with no stats to back up why he’s been better than you think, he’s worth it merely for his ceiling.

A few fun facts about Kyle Pitts.

  • He’s never had a yards per reception under 12.
  • He’s finished outside of the Top 15 tight ends just once, in his sophomore season, when he played just 10 games.
  • Last season, he ranked 13th at the position in receiving yardage (602) and touchdowns (4).
  • He was tied for the 5th most targets over 20+ yards among tight ends.

He was more involved in the Falcons’ offense than most realize. His 12.5% target share was the 17th best at the position. Nothing to get too excited about, but look at it this way. Based on last year’s pass attempts for Atlanta, if Pitts saw just 11 more targets, his target share would jump to 14.5%. That would bump him all the way to 8th.

I’ll admit, a few things are already working against Pitts. He’s supposedly dealing with an “undisclosed injury” and yet to attend OTAs. If the injury is legit and lingers into the season, that obviously would not be a good thing. There have also been trade rumors swirling around Pitts this offseason; it’s possible the “injury” is a mutual agreement between him and the team to ensure he doesn’t suffer a catastrophic injury until the situation is settled. But on the bright side, a trade to the right situation could increase his value.

All in all, there is a wide range of outcomes for Kyle Pitts this season. But in that range is a top-five finish. With the state of the tight end position, he won’t have to do much to finish as a TE1. Being drafted among backup running backs and 3rd string wide receivers, Pitts is easily worth the dart throw at his next to nothing cost.

Sometimes, fantasy football is simple.

Draft Kyle Pitts.

(Data sourced from FTN Fantasy. Qualifying TEs include a minimum of 50 targets unless otherwise stated.)

 

 

Be sure to check out my Post-Hype Sleepers for other positions:

Quarterback

Running Back

Wide Receiver

 

 

Photo by Rich von Biberstein | Adapted by Parker McDonald (@TheCarbonFox on Twitter/X)