2025 Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings: TE, K, DEF

George Kittle ponders his quarterback situation, Oronde Gadsden II aims to stay hot for the Chargers, and Colston Loveland prepares to step up for the target-needy Bears.

Other positions: Quarterback | Running Back | Receiver

Updated 10/31 at 5:15 PM ET. Added Cole Kmet and moved Colston Loveland down.

Week 9 Tight Ends

1	Trey McBride	ARI	at DAL
2	Tucker Kraft	GB	vs. CAR
3	Tyler Warren	IND	at PIT
4	Brock Bowers	LV	vs. JAC
5	George Kittle	SF	at NYG
6	Oronde Gadsden II	LAC	at TEN
7	Jake Ferguson	DAL	vs. ARI
8	Travis Kelce	KC	at BUF
9	Dalton Kincaid	BUF	vs. KC
10	Kyle Pitts Sr.	ATL	at NE
11	Sam LaPorta	DET	vs. MIN
12	Mark Andrews	BAL	at MIA
13	Zach Ertz	WAS	vs. SEA
14	Evan Engram	DEN	at HOU
15	Hunter Henry	NE	vs. ATL
16	Juwan Johnson	NO	at LAR
17	T.J. Hockenson	MIN	at DET
18	Theo Johnson	NYG	vs. SF
19	Dalton Schultz	HOU	vs. DEN
20	Isaiah Likely	BAL	at MIA
21	Colston Loveland	CHI	at CIN
22	Jonnu Smith	PIT	vs. IND
23	AJ Barner	SEA	at WAS
24	Chig Okonkwo	TEN	vs. LAC
25	Noah Fant	CIN	vs. CHI
26	Gunnar Helm	TEN	vs. LAC
27	Hunter Long	JAC	at LV
28	Pat Freiermuth	PIT	vs. IND
29	Taysom Hill	NO	at LAR
30	Cole Kmet	CHI	at CIN
31	Tyler Higbee	LAR	vs. NO
32	Elijah Arroyo	SEA	at WAS
33	Ja’Tavion Sanders	CAR	at GB
34	Darnell Washington	PIT	vs. IND
35	Daniel Bellinger	NYG	vs. SF

TE Notes: Tucker Kraft might be graduating from “baby George Kittle” to “new George Kittle.” That includes the occasional inexplicable dud, but Kraft is shaping up as a potential league-winner at a laughably-thin position. … As for the actual Geroge Kittle, Week 8’s 4/43/1 was a big step in the right direction. Brock Purdy’s seeming return for Week 9 is another critical development. The Giants are not a concerning matchup. … Pound for pound the most calamitous fantasy pick of the 2025 season who hasn’t suffered a season-ending injury, Brock Bowers is finally back to face the Jaguars. With Jakobi Meyers trying to force his way out of Vegas and a Week 8 bye to think things over, the Raiders are all but certain to target Bowers 8-10 times as they attempt to reset their offense. That’s if he’s actually healthy, of course. … Jake Ferguson air balled along with Dak Prescott in Week 8. Fantasy managers can expect a swift and immediate course correction vs. Arizona’s sleepy defense. Fergie’s ceiling, of course, is no longer amongst the highest at the position with CeeDee Lamb back in action.

Averaging 20.6 PPR points over the past three weeks, Oronde Gadsden II has gone at least 5/68 each time out during that timespan. Although that’s probably not sustainable, it’s not exactly a fluke, either, as only three seam stretchers have commanded more looks over the course of that sample size. Gadsden’s in-house target competition means there will be valleys, but they will be worth riding out for the peaks. … Travis Kelce has caught nine passes for 153 yards and a touchdown in two games since Rashee Rice’s return. That includes a Week 7 where the Chiefs shut it down for the second half vs. Vegas. At least so far, fantasy managers can be cautiously optimistic that rather than hollowing out Kelce’s floor, Rice is stabilizing it by making the Chiefs’ entire offense even more pass-focused and explosive. … Dalton Kincaid is a stronger TE1 than usual as the Bills finally confront an explosive offensive environment in Sunday’s Chiefs matchup. Kincaid delivered in similar setups vs. the Ravens and Patriots.

(Noticed as I was posting I somehow lost my third paragraph of text. Will attempt to recreate later Thursday.)

Week 9 Kickers

1	Brandon Aubrey	DAL	vs. ARI
2	Cameron Dicker	LAC	at TEN
3	Jake Bates	DET	vs. MIN
4	Michael Badgley	IND	at PIT
5	Joshua Karty	LAR	vs. NO
6	Jason Myers	SEA	at WAS
7	Ka’imi Fairbairn	HOU	vs. DEN
8	Harrison Butker	KC	at BUF
9	Tyler Loop	BAL	at MIA
10	Brandon McManus	GB	vs. CAR
11	Chris Boswell	PIT	vs. IND
12	Eddy Pineiro	SF	at NYG
13	Matt Prater	BUF	vs. KC
14	Cairo Santos	CHI	at CIN
15	Wil Lutz	DEN	at HOU
16	Matt Gay	WAS	vs. SEA
17	Evan McPherson	CIN	vs. CHI
18	Cam Little	JAC	at LV
19	Andy Borregales	NE	vs. ATL
20	Chad Ryland	ARI	at DAL
21	Riley Patterson	MIA	vs. BAL
22	Will Reichard	MIN	at DET
23	Graham Gano	NYG	vs. SF
24	Parker Romo	ATL	at NE
25	Daniel Carlson	LV	vs. JAC
26	Ryan Fitzgerald	CAR	at GB
27	Joey Slye	TEN	vs. LAC
28	Blake Grupe	NO	at LAR

Week 9 Defense/Special Teams

1	Los Angeles Rams	vs. NO
2	Los Angeles Chargers	at TEN
3	Green Bay Packers	vs. CAR
4	Detroit Lions	vs. MIN
5	Denver Broncos	at HOU
6	Houston Texans	vs. DEN
7	San Francisco 49ers	at NYG
8	New England Patriots	vs. ATL
9	Seattle Seahawks	at WAS
10	Jacksonville Jaguars	at LV
11	Chicago Bears	at CIN
12	Baltimore Ravens	at MIA
13	Indianapolis Colts	at PIT
14	Atlanta Falcons	at NE
15	New York Giants	vs. SF
16	Buffalo Bills	vs. KC
17	Washington Commanders	vs. SEA
18	Cincinnati Bengals	vs. CHI
19	Kansas City Chiefs	at BUF
20	Dallas Cowboys	vs. ARI
21	Minnesota Vikings	at DET
22	Arizona Cardinals	at DAL
23	Las Vegas Raiders	vs. JAC
24	Carolina Panthers	at GB
25	Pittsburgh Steelers	vs. IND
26	Tennessee Titans	vs. LAC
27	New Orleans Saints	at LAR
28	Miami Dolphins	vs. BAL