Risers & Flyers: Tight Ends
After reviewing teams from across the country Purple Reign has identified players that look will take a leap in their fantasy value for the 2025 College Fantasy Football Season. These players are divided into two groups:
RISERS
These are players that have some form of past statistic production. These players have a high fantasy floor, presenting less risk when drafting them.
FLYERS
These are players that have limited to no past statistical production. These players have a low fantasy floor, presenting more risk when drafting these them.
**This article will be updated as position battles sort themselves out through the summer**
HONORABLE MENTION: RISERS
Joe Royer – Cincinnati
96.6 Fantasy Points In 2024
Joe Royer spent four seasons at Ohio State with hardly any playing time so he decided to leave for Cincinnati. In 2024 Royer had the perfect breakout season, being targeted 80 times with 50 receptions, 521 yards and 3 TDs. Now Royer enters his sixth (that’s right) season of college football as the top returning pass catcher for the Bearcats. His 2024 performance was the best of any TE for offensive coordinator Brad Glenn. While I see Royer as a Riser for 2025, I think the amount of higher fantasy production from last year will likely be smaller than the rest of this group.
HONORABLE MENTION: FLYERS
Arlis Boardingham – Bowling Green
33.8 Fantasy Points In 2024
In three years at Florida there was hope that Arlis Boardingham would blossom into a top flight tight end. That hope disappeared and Boardingham packed his bags for Bowling Green. This move seemed like a perfect fit as the replacement for Harrold Fannin. Things have only gone wrong since he arrived at Bowling Green. There was a change of coaching staffs and instead of a high usage tight end system, it was replaced by new offensive coordinator Travis Patridge’s system which doesn’t hold fantasy value for the tight end position. Boardingham’s talent in the MAC does provide hope that he will still be fed a healthy diet of targets. But Boardingham sat out of spring camp and underwent surgery in May for an undisclosed injury which brings more uncertainty to his future.
RISERS
Matthew Lauter – Boise State
127.4 Fantasy Points In 2024
After three lackluster seasons as a back-up for Boise State, Matthew Lauter had a coming out party in 2024. After receiving just 15 targets in his first three seasons, he had 68 targets for 47 receptions, 619 yards and 7 TDs in 2024. Those numbers should go up this season as the talent of the receivers has gone down for 2025. This will force the coaches to have to lean on Lauter more in the passing game. Lauter might have the safest floor of any top fantasy tight end this year.
Jack Endries – Texas
104.3 Fantasy Points In 2024
Endries was a bright spot for the California passing game the last two seasons. He scored 72 fantasy points in 2023 and increased that to 104 fantasy points in 2024. In an offseason that saw multiple offensive players leave the Cal program, Endires entered the spring transfer portal despite Bryan Harsin planning on featuring him heavily in the passing game. Head coach Steve Sarkisian was quick to strike and signed Endries to Texas. Endries is a better pass catching tight end than any of the guys Texas has had in Sark’s time, which makes me think its “wheels up” for Endries in this offense.
FLYERS
Olsen Patt Henry – Clemson
34.6 Fantasy Points In 2024
Through two seasons at Clemson, Olsen Patt Henry had a total of 12 receptions for 163 yards and 3 TDs. While his stats were limited last season, he had all three of his TDs on 9 receptions showing that he can be a redzone threat. Starting tight end Jake Briningstool has left for the NFL, leaving the job wide open. Henry sat out spring camp as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury. He is the favorite to be the starter but we still need to see how he matches up to Josh Sapp once fall camp opens.
Rocky Beers – Colorado State
9.8 Fantasy Points In 2024
What I find interesting about Rocky Beers is that his talent level should equate to statistical production within an offense, but that is exactly what he has been missing through three different college programs. Fantasy analysts saw how great Dallin Holker was used in offensive coordinator Matt Mumme’s offense in 2023. Mumme also had another star tight end in 2021, and the hopes are that Rocky Beers is the next name to join the list below.
Elija Lofton – Miami, FL
34.5 Fantasy Points In 2024
As a freshman last season Elija Lofton earned his way into playing time in every game that season. His statistical contribution was very low, but the coaches made sure to get him game time experience because they knew how talented Lofton is. The tight end position was opened up this year and Lofton wasted no time impressing everyone in spring camp with his play. Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson doesn’t normal have fantasy worthy tight ends, but last season saw Elijah Arroyo score 122 fantasy points. There might not be any drop in tight end play when Lofton steps in this fall.
Luke Reynolds – Penn State
24.8 Fantasy Points In 2024
When looking at the Penn State offense, there are two different tight end positions in this system. One plays a traditional tight end position, focusing more on blocking and short pass routes. The other in a “receiving” position that gets moved around formations and used far more extensively in the passing game. This was the position that Tyler Warren played last season. One thing you must understand is that we will not see fantasy production out of the tight end position like we saw from Warren in 2024. Luke Reynolds was Warren’s back up last season and is a lock to be the starter this season.
Update 6/13
Ryder Kusch – Temple
0.0 Fantasy Points In 2024
Temple saw a coaching change and Tyler Walker came in from Montana State to run the offense. Last season Rohan Jones put up 115.6 fantasy points at Montana State. The starting tight end position was open for competition this spring and by the time camp ended it appears there was no competition. Ryder Kusch is a redshirt freshman who has not done anything at the college level. He consistently ran with the first team offense and was impressive. He appears to have a firm lock on this starting job.
