Fantasy Index

Dynasty Leagues

September 13, 2025

Starting with a bang

Tyler Warren, Harold Fannin catch 7 passes in their first pro games

I will be interested to see what Harold Fannin does on Sunday. He set pass-catching records at Bowling Green, and it seems like he’s going to be a big part of Cleveland’s offense.

The Browns already have David Njoku, of course, who might be one of the top 10 tight ends in the game. But they used a lot of 12 formations in their opener, and they were getting the ball to Fannin a lot.

Fannin caught 7 passes against the Bengals. Per the search tools at Pro-Football-Reference.com, that ties as the most ever by a rookie tight end in a season opener. (With another 2025 player – Tyler Warren.)

BUSIEST DEBUTS BY ROOKIE TIGHT ENDS
YearPlayerOppResultNoYardsAvgTD
2025Tyler Warren, Ind.Mia.W, 33-877610.90
2025Harold Fannin, Cle.Cin.L, 16-177639.00
2019• T.J. Hockenson, Det.at Ari.T, 27-27613121.81
2012Coby Fleener, Ind.at Chi.L, 21-4168213.70
1975Oscar Roan, Cle.at Cin.L, 17-2466911.50
2024• Brock Bowers, L.V.at LACL, 10-226589.70
2010Jermaine Gresham, Cin.at N.E.L, 24-386254.21
2001Todd Heap, Balt.Chi.W, 17-655711.40
2013Tyler Eifert, Cin.at Chi.L, 21-245479.40
2023• Sam LaPorta, Det.at K.C.W, 21-205397.80
2013Jordan Reed, Was.Phil.L, 27-335387.60
2006Vernon Davis, S.F.at Ari.L, 27-345377.41
2017• George Kittle, S.F.Car.L, 3-235275.40
1998Cam Cleeland, N.O.at St.L.W, 24-1748220.50
2002Randy McMichael, Mia.Det.W, 49-2147318.31
1997Freddie Jones, S.D.at N.E.L, 7-4147318.31
1997Jay Riemersma, Buff.Min.L, 13-3445413.51
2008John Carlson, Sea.at Buff.L, 10-3445213.00
1989Darryl Ingram, Min.Hou.W, 38-744511.30
1973Charle Young, Phil.St.L.L, 23-3444511.30
2017• Evan Engram, NYGat Dall.L, 3-1944411.00
2004Kellen Winslow, Cle.Balt.W, 20-34399.80
1983Chris Dressel, Hou.G.B.L, 38-414389.50
2005Alex Smith, T.B.at Min.W, 24-134348.52
2001Eric Johnson, S.F.Atl.W, 16-134348.50
2021• Kyle Pitts, Atl.Phil.L, 6-324317.80
2023• Dalton Kincaid, Buff.at NYJL, 16-224266.50
1994Andrew Jordan, Min.at G.B.L, 10-164235.80
1977Jimmie Giles, Hou.NYJW, 20-04235.80

Seven other active tight ends caught at least 4 passes in their first game, and they’ve tended to have good careers. (In the chart, those guys are tagged with black dots.)

Aside: One of those seven, Brock Bowers, was a limited participant at practice today; there’s some chance he might play on Monday night. They’re calling him questionable. Ideally, those wanting to use Bowers will have the roster room to also add Mike Mayer, giving them a backup plan if Bowers isn’t available. (And if we’re playing the guessing game, I will guess that Bowers misses this one.)

For dynasty purposes, it’s early, but I think some thought could be given to whether Fannin is now one of the top 10 tight ends on the board. With guys like Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews, George Kittle and Dallas Goedert, they’re at the end of their careers. Warren for sure and Fannin to a more uncertain degree look like they’ll be catching a lot of passes for a lot of years.

Dalton Kincaid is in the young tight end group, but he hasn’t quite been able to get over the hump. Most recently, he caught only 4 passes in the opener, despite Josh Allen throwing for 394 yards.

The other tight end selected in the first round – Colston Loveland – looks very promising, but I’m not sure when it’s going to happen. I can’t guarantee he’ll even be the most productive tight end on his own team this year. I saw one catch in the preseason where Loveland’s long arms were on display, but I’m not sure he’ll be a top-20 tight end in a rookie. We may have to wait for it.

Dynasty rankings are inherently difficult, with the weighing of a bunch of future seasons versus the need to put up points right now. Zach Ertz, for example, is running on fumes physically (he’ll be 35 in November), but he’s looking like he’ll probably be a reliable producer for the 2025 season, with touchdowns in his first two games – he’s good around the goal line.

So it’s tough. Using the gut feel approach, below is my current top 40 for tight ends in dynasty leagues. I’m assuming PPR scoring and a 12-team league, with team probably rostering about three tight ends each. Once you have a player, he’s yours for as long as you want him.

I will be posting dynasty rankings each Saturday during the season, rotating through the four notable positions.

Next week: Wide receivers.

DYNASTY TIGHT ENDS
RkTmPlayerAge
1.LVBrock Bowers22.8
2.ARITrey McBride25.8
3.IND• Tyler Warren23.3
4.DETSam LaPorta24.7
5.GBTucker Kraft24.9
6.CLE• Harold Fannin21.1
7.DALJake Ferguson26.7
8.BUFDalton Kincaid25.9
9.BALMark Andrews30.0
10.KCTravis Kelce35.9
11.SFGeorge Kittle31.9
12.CHI• Colston Loveland21.4
13.ATLKyle Pitts24.9
14.PHIDallas Goedert30.7
15.MINT.J. Hockenson28.2
16.WASZach Ertz34.8
17.BALIsaiah Likely25.4
18.DENEvan Engram31.0
19.CLEDavid Njoku29.2
20.PITPat Freiermuth26.9
21.NOJuwan Johnson29.0
22.TENChig Okonkwo26.0
23.NYJ• Mason Taylor21.3
24.TBCade Otton26.4
25.LAR• Terrance Ferguson22.6
26.PITJonnu Smith30.1
27.CHICole Kmet26.5
28.NEHunter Henry30.8
29.JACBrenton Strange24.7
30.NYGTheo Johnson24.5
31.CARJa'Tavion Sanders22.5
32.LVMichael Mayer24.2
33.SEA• Elijah Arroyo22.4
34.HOUDalton Schultz29.2
35.MIADarren Waller33.0
36.CINMike Gesicki29.9
37.CINNoah Fant27.8
38.LARTyler Higbee32.7
39.KCNoah Gray26.4
40.TEN• Gunnar Helm23.0

—Ian Allan

Harold Fannin Tyler Warren Colston Loveland
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