RotoBaller’s Week 1 fantasy football tight end rankings for 2025 deliver a clearly tiered map of the position, led by Trey McBride atop the TE1 cohort. The guide stacks elite opportunities from George Kittle, Sam LaPorta, Mark Andrews, Travis Kelce, and T.J. Hockenson, with Evan Engram and Kyle Pitts Sr. lurking just behind as high-upside options. The article emphasizes matchup-driven starts, steady targets, and how in-season injuries or role changes can shift the at-risk/boom dynamics at the position. It also highlights near-term sleepers like Cade Otton and the ongoing safety-net potential of top-tier offenses while flagging late-round fliers who could emerge if preseason momentum translates. An injury snapshot runs alongside the rankings, noting players returning from injury or adjusting to new offenses, with a quick reminder to review all 2025 TE content before kickoff.

Buffalo Bills fans get a definitive snapshot of the 53-man outlook ahead of the Aug. 26 cutdown, with Josh Allen leading a lean, offense-first projection that leans on youth and versatility. The plan preserves Allen as the centerpiece while stacking running back depth, receiver options, and a tight end trio designed to maximize play-action and red-zone chances. Notable cuts highlight the roster’s desire for value on special teams and depth pieces who can flip to the practice squad without leaving a void. The narrative also nods to Gabe Davis’s looming free-agent visit, signaling potential WR shakeups that could shift target distribution in the early weeks.

Beyond the QB room, the Bills’ projected starting lineup balances proven veterans with emerging talent across every unit, from the interior line to the secondary and special teams. The projection underscores the Bills’ blueprint: protect Allen, feature Cook and Kincaid in the backfield and pass game, and keep a veteran safety group while banking on defensive-line depth and creative packages to keep pace with top offenses in the league. Cut candidates and depth moves suggest a roster that can adapt quickly to injuries and game-flow throughout the season, setting the stage for a season where fantasy angles will hinge on Allen’s efficiency, Cook’s workload, and the evolving receiving corps.

Josh Allen remains fantasy’s anchor for Buffalo, but the Bills’ supporting cast has real upside. Keon Coleman, a bigger-bodied rookie, has flashed in practice and looks like a breakout candidate around Round 7-8, offering a dynamic pairing with Dalton Kincaid, who is healthy and drawing early targets. James Cook remains a three-down threat, while Amari Cooper and Josh Palmer provide veteran reliability on the outside. Khalil Shakir’s growth adds another layer of depth. In the Bears joint practice, the first team showed signs of a more efficient passing attack, with Coleman beating double teams for multiple touchdowns and Allen flashing improved rhythm with his targets. If Coleman cements himself as a top option, Buffalo’s ceiling for 2025 expands, with Kincaid and Cook providing high-end upside, and Cooper/Palmer offering a firm floor. The Bills’ coaching staff is keeping expectations flexible, hinting at a plan that can pivot based on opponent and health, but the trend toward a more potent passing game is clear.

2025 fantasy football draft outlooks center on a handful of tight ends who should anchor rosters and a few upside bets for late-round value. Kraft in Green Bay projects as a multi‑role option in a system that could lean on two‑TE sets; Engram lands in Denver with a cleaner intermediate target profile; Kincaid is a bounce-back candidate after a knee‑knit 2024. The elite trio—Kittle, Kelce, and Hockenson—remain the benchmark at the position, while McBride and Njoku offer strong mid‑tier appeal in solid offenses. Goedert provides a safe TE1 floor, and the tool’s rankings bracket a crowded but dynamic TE landscape for 2025.

Khalil Shakir earns No. 8 on Bills 2025’s top-30 countdown after a breakthrough 2024 season that saw him post career highs in targets (100), receptions (76) and receiving yards (821) while Josh Allen leaned on him as Buffalo’s primary outside weapon. He locked in a four-year, $53 million extension, underscoring the team’s plans to lean on him again in 2025. With Josh Palmer and Elijah Moore adding, Shakir’s role remains pivotal though a persistent ankle sprain could delay Week 1 usage. The Bills’ offense should continue to funnel targets his way, especially if he maintains Week 1 readiness.

Buffalo’s 2025 outlook centers on Shakir as the WR1-ish talent in a revamped group that also includes Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid, plus a backfield led by James Cook. Shakir’s route-running elusiveness and catch-after-the-catch ability remain his calling cards, even as external additions pressure the defense to respect more options. The health question—an ankle sprain in August—remains the wild card that could shape his early-season workload and fantasy value.

Beyond Shakir, the countdown highlights Bills core contributors who shape fantasy upside: James Cook at running back, Connor McGovern at center, Tyler Bass as a reliable kicker, and a defensive line anchored by Ed Oliver, AJ Epenesa and DaQuan Jones, plus Tre’Davious White in the secondary. Together they form a high-upside, offense-driven core with room to grow as Buffalo chases a Lombardi.