Dynasty fantasy football earthquake: Travis Kelce finally falls from TE1 – what does this mean for your draft strategy?

As NFL teams gear up for training camps and the 2025 season looms on the horizon, the dynasty fantasy football landscape has been rocked by a major piece of news. Travis Kelce, the undisputed king of tight ends for years, has been dethroned from his pedestal. This fundamental change demands an immediate re-evaluation of draft strategies for managers seeking victory.

The 2025 offseason was relatively quiet for the tight end position overall. Outside of some promising draft picks (such as Tyler Warren to the Colts and Colston Loveland to the Bears) and Jonnu Smith’s trade to the Steelers, the real upheaval has come in the ratings of key players.

Travis Kelce’s fall

Travis Kelce’s dominance, which kept him as the TE1 in almost every ranking for an extended period, has come to an end. The new generation of talent and recent performances have reshuffled the top. For the 2025 campaign, the hierarchy of the most coveted tight ends is as follows:

• Brock Bowers: Emerging as the new absolute leader of the position after a stellar freshman season.
• Trey McBride: Rises to second place, consolidating his growing offensive influence.
• Sam LaPorta: The former TE1 holds firm in third place, confirming his elite status.
• George Kittle: He continues to be a standout figure, securing fourth place in these new projections.
• Travis Kelce: Surprisingly, he drops to sixth place, marking the end of an era.

What does Travis Kelce’s fall mean?

Kelce’s relocation in the rankings reflects a growing perception among analysts: the days when he was a sure-fire early-round fantasy draft pick are over. At 36 years old and despite finishing last season as the seventh tight end in PPR points per game (with 12.2), the signs of physical decline are evident. Observers have noted a decline in his explosive ability and his skills after the reception.

Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings 2025

Rk | Player | Team | Bye

1. | Brock Bowers | LV | 8
2. | Trey McBride | ARI | 8
3. | George Kittle | SF | 14
4. | Sam LaPorta | DET | 6
5. | T.J. Hockenson | MIN | 6
6. | Travis Kelce | KC | 10
7. | David Njoku | CLE | 9
8. | Mark Andrews | BAL | 7
9. | Evan Engram | DEN | 12
10. | Jake Ferguson | DAL | 10
11. | Tucker Kraft | GB | 5
12. | Dalton Kincaid | BUF | 7
13. | Tyler Warren | IND | 11
14. | Dallas Goedert | PHI | 9
15. | Jonnu Smith | PIT | 5
16. | Colston Loveland | CHI | 5
17. | Zach Ertz | WAS | 12
18. | Hunter Henry | NE | 14
19. | Darren Waller | MIA | 12
20. | Brenton Strange | JAC | 8
21. | Kyle Pitts | ATL | 5
22. | Mike Gesicki | CIN | 10
23. | Cade Otton | TB | 9
24. | Dalton Schultz | HOU | 6
25. | Pat Freiermuth | PIT | 5
26. | Isaiah Likely | BAL | 7
27. | Mason Taylor | NYJ | 9
28. | Theo Johnson | NYG | 14
29. | Chigoziem Okonkwo | TEN | 10
30. | Juwan Johnson | NO | 11
31. | Ja’Tavion Sanders | REC | 14
32. | Noah Fant | SEA | 8