We take a look at five tight ends that should be in your starting lineup in Week 7 of the NFL season, including a favorable matchup for Zach Ertz and the Commanders
17:26 ET, 15 Oct 2025
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 18: Zach Ertz #86 of the Washington Commanders celebrates after scoring a touchdown during an NFL Football game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on January 18, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.
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Zach Ertz finished as the 7th-best fantasy football tight end last year(Image: Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Fantasy football season remains in high gear as we approach Week 7 of the NFL season.
Here, we run through five tight ends that should be in your fantasy football starting lineup for Week 7.
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Instead of championing known names like Travis Kelce, Detroit Lions standout Sam Laporta, or Indianapolis Colts rookie sensation Tyler Warren, we shift the focus to tight ends you may have left on your bench if not for this article.
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Our list includes a top target for one of the NFL’s MVP frontrunners, a veteran with a favorable matchup, and perhaps the most under-appreciated fantasy asset of 2025 that nobody is talking about.
Let’s dive in!
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Zach Ertz (at Dallas Cowboys)
Ertz goes up against a Cowboys defense in Week 7 that allows more passing yards (269.5) per game than any other NFL team.
More importantly, Ertz is one of Jayden Daniels’ most reliable targets, especially if Terry McLaurin (quad) remains sidelined.
The 34-year-old recorded a season-high six receptions and caught his third touchdown of the year in Washington’s Week 6 loss to Chicago.
Harold Fannin (vs Miami Dolphins)
Fannin’s usage in Week 7 could be set in stone for the first time all season if fellow tight end David Njoku (knee) misses out due to injury.
The rookie is coming off his best game of the season, finishing with seven catches for 81 yards in Cleveland’s loss to the Steelers. The Bowling Green product has a great opportunity to build on the harmony he has built with QB Dillon Gabriel in Week 7 vs the lowly Dolphins.
Rookie Harold Fannin is competing the Browns' starting tight end role
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Harold Fannin is competing the Browns' starting tight end role(Image: Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Hunter Henry (at Tennessee Titans)
Henry is a top-10 tight end in fantasy scoring this season, yet he is only started in 54% of all Sleeper leagues.
Henry has emerged as Drake Maye’s safety blanket and ranks third among all players in red zone target rate, perlineups.com. After exploding for a 29-point PPR performance in Week 3, Henry has cooled off, but has a favorable matchup against the 1-5 Titans on deck.
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AJ Barner (vs Houston Texans)
Second-year Seahawks tight end AJ Barner may be the most under-the-radar fantasy asset of the season so far. The Michigan product has surpassed 10 PPR fantasy points four times in six games and is one of Sam Darnold’s favorite red zone targets.
Only Eagles star Dallas Goedert has more receiving touchdowns (five) this season than Barner (four) among tight ends.
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Cade Otton (at Detroit Lions)
Otton should see an increased target share in Week 7 with Buccaneers’ primary pass-catchers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka all expected to miss out with injury.
After catching just three passes across the first three games, Otton has 12 receptions and 141 yards in his last three contests. Baker Mayfield will likely lean on Otton in a huge primetime spot on Monday night.