Ahead of Week 9 of the NFL season, we break down the five tight ends you must have in your fantasy football starting lineup, including Raiders star Brock Bowers
13:55 ET, 30 Oct 2025
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers runs with the ball
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Brock Bowers recorded 1,194 receiving yards last year, tied-for-8th most among all receivers and tight ends(Image: Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
With premier tight ends Dallas Goedert, Cade Otton, and Harold Fannin on bye this week, you may be in need of a fresh look in the tight end slot in your fantasy football lineup.
Last week, Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (33.3 FPTS) finished as the fourth-best scorer across all of fantasy football, Travis Kelce posted his best performance of the season, and rookies Mason Taylor and Gunnar Helm each caught their first career touchdown receptions.
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Here, we break down the five tight ends that must be in your fantasy football starting lineup for Week 9 of the NFL season.
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Brock Bowers (vs Jacksonville Jaguars)
Bowers will take the field for the first time since Week 4 after recovering from a knee injury suffered in the Raiders’ season opener.
The Las Vegas star posted a historic rookie season with 112 receptions, 1,194 yards and five touchdowns, setting records for most catches ever by a rookie and most receiving yards by a rookie tight end.
If you’ve had Bowers on your bench, make sure to put him in your lineup.
Oronde Gadsden (at Tennessee Titans)
Gadsden’s connection with Chargers QB Justin Herbert is growing week-on-week, with the Syracuse product emerging as a high-end fantasy option.
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden catches a pass from quarterback Justin Herbert
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Oronde Gadsden ranks 2nd among rookie tight ends with 385 receiving yards this season(Image: Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The rookie has taken off over the last three weeks, catching 19 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns in that span. Only rostered in 85% of Sleeper leagues, there may still be time to get your hands on Gadsden.
Colston Loveland (at Cincinnati Bengals)
Loveland is yet to burst onto the scene after being selected with the No. 10 overall pick by the Bears in the 2025 NFL Draft. It hasn’t helped that Colts tight end Tyler Warren, taken four picks later, has been playing at a Pro Bowl level.
But Loveland has found his footing in recent weeks, and could be in for a haul against a Bengals defense that allows the most PPR fantasy points per game to TEs (21.7).
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Juwan Johnson (at Los Angeles Rams)
Johnson is one of several reliable pass-catchers in a Saints offense that will turn to rookie Tyler Shough at quarterback in Week 8.
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No matter who is under center for New Orleans, Johnson will be targeted, having logged 15 targets and 10 receptions in his last two games. I expect the 29-year-old to produce despite facing a tough matchup against the Rams on Sunday.
Noah Fant (vs Chicago Bears)
Fant has seen an uptick in production since Joe Flacco became the Bengals’ starter. In Week 8, he goes up against a Bears defense that allows 15 FPTS per game to opposing tight ends, the ninth-most in the NFL.
With fellow tight ends Tanner Hudson and Drew Sample primarily used as blockers, Fant is the clear pass-catching option among the group.