T.J. Hockenson fantasy football preview 2025: Stats, season outlook, predictions
T.J. Hockenson 2025 Fantasy Football Snapshot
Hockenson's targets dipped post-injury last year, but efficiency remained surprisingly steady.
Sam Darnold is Seattle now, so young J.J. McCarthy steps in under Kevin O'Connell's guidance.
Fully healthy, Hockenson is well-positioned to return to TE1 status.
Get personalized fantasy football insights based on your league settings with FantasyLife+. Your league is unique, your advice should be too. Head to fantasylife.com and use code ROTO20 for 20% off.
Rivers McCown,
2024: Hockenson missed seven games last season while recovering from a torn ACL and MCL he suffered in Week 16 of the 2023 season. The veteran tight end returned to play in 10 games in 2024, catching 41 passes for 455 scoreless yards while averaging 11.1 YPR, but hopes to return to his old form now that he's more than a year removed from his injury. His efficiency metrics post-injury were nearly identical to what he was averaging before his injury, although his targets per game (6.2) in 2024 marked a noticeable decline from his 2023 average (8.5 targets/gm).
What's Changed: Sam Darnold is now in Seattle and J.J. McCarthy, last year's No. 10 overall pick, is expected to take the mantle as QB1. While the quarterback position is again in flux, head coach Kevin O'Connell remains a steady presence and looks more and more like a QB whisperer each passing season. Assuming McCarthy is fit for the role, we would expect Hockenson to see volume befitting a high-end TE1.
2025 Outlook: Hockenson is still only 28 years old and has been a focal point of O'Connell's offense since he first arrived in Minnesota. A full offseason should benefit him and his fantasy managers heading into this season, and give him a good shot at finishing as a top-12 fantasy option at the position.
**Projections from Spotlight Sports Group
Go to: All players | QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sam Darnold impresses in preseason debut with Seattle Seahawks, win against Kansas City Chiefs
SEATTLE (AP) — Sam Darnold looked the part of a franchise quarterback in his first appearance at Lumen Field as the Seattle Seahawks beat the beat the Kansas City Chiefs 33-16 in a preseason game on Friday night. Darnold, who did not appear in the Seattle Seahawks' preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders, completed 4 of 4 passes for 34 yards on the opening drive. Darnold, who signed to a three-year, $100.5 million contract with Seattle in the offseason, made good use of both his legs and his tight ends during his sole series. He had no issues rolling out to either his left or right, locating tight ends AJ Barner and Elijah Arroyo for short passes, as well as fullback Robbie Ouzts and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba for deeper completions. Backup quarterback Drew Lock impressed in relief of Darnold, throwing a couple of touchdown passes to wide receiver Jake Bobo, and completing 10 of 12 passes for 129 yards. Running backs Zach Charbonnet and Damien Martinez each added touchdowns on the ground in the first and third quarters, respectively. The Chiefs, meanwhile, did not play quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce and other starters from the team that fell to the Philadelphia Eagles in last season's Super Bowl. Backup quarterback Gardner Minshew found tight end Robert Tonyan for a 1-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter. The Seahawks' defense in large part held strong, limiting the Chiefs' reserves to three points in the second half. Kansas City wide receiver Skyy Moore, though, did return a punt for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Scampering Seahawks After rushing for the fifth-fewest yards as a team in 2024, the Seahawks have made it their prerogative to be more effective on the ground in 2025. They demonstrated on Friday, racking up 268 rushing yards on 48 carries. Five different players rushed for at least 30 yards. Tight end time Since Noah Fant is now a member of the Cincinnati Bengals, tight end remains a key position battle for the Seahawks. Arroyo and Barner combined for three catches and 24 yards on Friday, not letting any passing attempts escape them despite slippery conditions. Barner is the more veteran player, with 30 catches and 245 receiving yards under his belt from last season. But Arroyo, who was a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft, has been more productive in the preseason. He has four catches for 33 yards through two exhibition games. Up next Seahawks: Visit the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 23. Chiefs: Host the Chicago Bears on Aug. 22. ___ AP NFL:
Associated Press
26 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Sam Darnold impresses in preseason debut with Seattle Seahawks, win against Kansas City Chiefs
SEATTLE (AP) — Sam Darnold looked the part of a franchise quarterback in his first appearance at Lumen Field as the Seattle Seahawks beat the Kansas City Chiefs 33-16 in a preseason game on Friday night. Darnold, who did not appear in the Seattle Seahawks' preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders, completed 4 of 4 passes for 34 yards on the opening drive. Darnold, who signed to a three-year, $100.5 million contract with Seattle in the offseason, made good use of both his legs and his tight ends during his sole series. He had no issues rolling out to either his left or right, locating tight ends AJ Barner and Elijah Arroyo for short passes, as well as fullback Robbie Ouzts and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba for deeper completions. Backup quarterback Drew Lock impressed in relief of Darnold, throwing a couple of touchdown passes to wide receiver Jake Bobo, and completing 10 of 12 passes for 129 yards. Running backs Zach Charbonnet and Damien Martinez each added touchdowns on the ground in the first and third quarters, respectively. The Chiefs, meanwhile, did not play quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce and other starters from the team that fell to the Philadelphia Eagles in last season's Super Bowl. Backup quarterback Gardner Minshew found tight end Robert Tonyan for a 1-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter. The Seahawks' defense in large part held strong, limiting the Chiefs' reserves to three points in the second half. Kansas City wide receiver Skyy Moore, though, did return a punt for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Scampering Seahawks After rushing for the fifth-fewest yards as a team in 2024, the Seahawks have made it their prerogative to be more effective on the ground in 2025. They demonstrated on Friday, racking up 268 rushing yards on 48 carries. Five different players rushed for at least 30 yards. Tight end time Since Noah Fant is now a member of the Cincinnati Bengals, tight end remains a key position battle for the Seahawks. Arroyo and Barner combined for three catches and 24 yards on Friday, not letting any passing attempts escape them despite slippery conditions. Barner is the more veteran player, with 30 catches and 245 receiving yards under his belt from last season. But Arroyo, who was a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft, has been more productive in the preseason. He has four catches for 33 yards through two exhibition games. Up next Seahawks: Visit the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 23. Chiefs: Host the Chicago Bears on Aug. 22. ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Jalen Milroe Hit With Disappointing Depth Chart News After NFL Preseason Debut
Jalen Milroe Hit With Disappointing Depth Chart News After NFL Preseason Debut originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Former Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe made his NFL preseason debut over the weekend for the Seattle Seahawks, who selected him with the No. 92 overall pick in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. In Seattle's 23-23 tie against the Las Vegas Raiders, Milroe completed 6-of-10 passes for 60 yards, while also scampering for an additional 38 yards on the ground. Although it was previously reported that Milroe had surpassed Drew Lock as the team's second quarterback behind Sam Darnold on the depth chart, it was the 28-year-old Lock who got the starting nod. Despite going into the game listed as the second quarterback on the depth chart according to ESPN, Milroe found himself behind Lock. A development that appears to be continuing to move forward. ESPN updated its depth chart for the Seahawks following the first preseason game, and Milroe has since slid to the third spot behind Darnold and Lock. What This Means for Jalen Milroe Given Milroe's struggles with accuracy and knowing when to throw the ball 100 miles per hour at Alabama, he was always viewed as a project. While he likely would love to start right away, the Seahawks have no reason to rush him in his development. The team signed Darnold to a three-year deal worth over $100 million this offseason and is hoping he can lead them back into contention, while also being the bridge to the next quarterback. As for his battle with Lock, Milroe will presumably have another chance on Friday against the Kansas City Chiefs to prove story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
