Fantasy Football Success: Top-5 QB/TE Team Pairings For 2025

Yes, this duo is largely carried by Allen, who, depending on the league, will have to be selected very early. To balance it out, Kinkaid can wait much longer to select. While not an elite fantasy football performer, the floor is predictable. He finished TE11 in his rookie season just two years ago, and may have missed a few games in 2024, but still had a respectable 10.18 yards per catch. If his red-zone usage improves, there’s room for touchdown improvement in his career thus far.

#4 Fantasy Football Duo – QB Brock Purdy And TE George Kittle

Purdy finished as QB14 last year and should crack the top ten in this one. Mr. Irrelevant was QB6 just one year prior, and battled through idiotic drama and widespread injury issues with relative poise. For all the injury labels slapped on Kittle, he’s been a top-five TE in six of the previous seven seasons. He’s also played in no fewer than 14 games in seven of his eight professional campaigns, more durable than given credit for.

#3 Fantasy Football Duo – QB Lamar Jackson And TE Mark Andrews

After a few untimely drops, the short-term memory of NFL fans and fantasy football managers has clouded their judgment. Just as it seemed over, Baltimore rewarded Andrews with a contract extension this offseason. The 29-year-old has finished TE6 or better in five of the last six seasons. With four unworthy and three worthy tight ends with a higher ADP, don’t be afraid to draft Andrews earlier. Reaching for a top-two QB is never a bad idea, and combined with an undervalued top-five possibility from the pass-catcher, the points will start to stack.

#2 Fantasy Football Duo – QB Geno Smith And TE Brock Bowers

Take the same strategy as the Bills or Ravens, but flip the player positions. This duo is led by Bowers, who finished as TE1 last season, and is this year’s consensus as first off the board in 2025. One should feel confident reaching for him higher than the current ADP of 18.9, and let Smith fall a while, collecting further value along the way. While the quarterback won’t light up the stat sheet, he has a steady floor and reliable output. His age may make this pairing even more valuable in a redraft, but getting the young asset along with it makes it worthwhile regardless.

#1 Fantasy Football Duo – QB Kyler Murray And TE Trent McBride

The Cardinals are never capable of a playoff run, but they have a few valuable pieces in fantasy football, including the highest scoring QB and TE combination for the upcoming campaign. This pair may take planning to acquire. McBride will be the first to go after Bowers, so pay close attention to the position when he goes. Grab him right away, and switch focus to Murray.

• Click here for the most valuable running backs in a non-PPR redraft league.

It’s safe to wait for the big names like Burrow, Allen, and Jackson to go, but after that, it will depend on the league’s evaluation of the second tier. The 28-year-old has been a top-ten quarterback in fantasy football in each of the four seasons he played 14+ games. As long as there isn’t a new Call of Duty coming out, having the TE2 and a top-ten fantasy football QB can’t be a bad decision.

• Click here for the most underappreciated at each position in drafts.

End Of My Fantasy Football Rant

Be sure to plan and realize which one of the pairings needs to be reached for, and which one has sneaky value later on. Switching from this redraft league to a dynasty league may change some of the order, but there’s plenty of crossover value.