ClutchPoints
Week 18 is the trickiest week of the fantasy football calendar, especially at tight end. Usage volatility, rest risk, and late-season motivation collide at a position that already walks a thin line between breakout and bust. In championship matchups, fantasy managers must prioritize role security and offensive intent over name recognition. Some tight ends remain central to playoff pushes or record chases. Meanwhile, others face uncertain snaps or compromised quarterback play.
Here’s how to navigate the tight end landscape for Week 18 in the 2025 regular-season finale.
Trey McBride has officially entered rare air. With 10 receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown in Week 17, McBride set the all-time NFL record for catches by a tight end in a single season. He surpassed Zach Ertz’s long-standing mark from 2018. The milestone performance was the latest chapter in a dominant season. It now includes 119 receptions, 1,174 yards, and 11 touchdowns on an absurd 161 targets.
The key fantasy takeaway is simple. McBride’s role is immune to game script. Even in losses, he remains Arizona’s offensive centerpiece, particularly in the middle of the field and near the goal line. Unless the Cardinals make a late decision to sit starters, he remains the safest tight end play in Week 18. Volume, usage, and motivation all align.
Kyle Pitts’ Week 17 box score won’t impress. He had two catches for 16 yards. However, context matters. Atlanta threw for just 126 yards total in its win over the Rams. Pitts still managed to maintain his usual snap share. Prior to that game, Pitts had posted four straight outings with at least six receptions and 57 yards. He has quietly strung together the most consistent stretch of his career.
More importantly, Pitts is already enjoying career-best numbers in 2025. Atlanta has shown a willingness to scheme him opportunities when the passing game functions normally. The Saints have struggled to contain athletic tight ends. Pitts remains the Falcons’ most dangerous downfield mismatch. He’s a rebound candidate with TE1 upside in the finale.
Hunter Henry continues to be one of the most dependable red-zone tight ends in football. He caught all three of his targets for 49 yards and a touchdown in Week 17. He even scored one of Drake Maye’s five touchdown passes in a blowout win over the Jets. That pushed Henry to seven touchdowns on the season. It’s a strong return on modest target volume.
The real appeal here is motivation. New England still has a path to the AFC’s top seed. That means starters should play with urgency. Henry’s chemistry with Maye in scoring situations makes him a strong touchdown bet. In Week 18, touchdowns often outweigh yardage totals at tight end.
Other Starts: Juwan Johnson, NO (@ ATL); Jake Tonges, SF (vs. SEA)
Tyler Warren’s Week 17 line had five catches...
