As a fantasy football expert, my existence is centered on capitalizing on the illogical biases of the other drafters. These blunders provide the smart managers with a chance to profit from undervalued assets. One such asset that can blow up in 2025 is tight end Evan Engram. Even though his talent is already settled, misconceptions about his play and recent roster moves have obscured his worth. Let us examine why Engram presents the best investment opportunity to smart fantasy managers.

 

The Myth Behind Evan Engram

Evan Engram has long been hounded by a myth about his supposed pass-droplet deficiencies and off-field issues. But these are highly exaggerated in fantasy football. Drops are infuriating, but they constitute a minuscule portion of a player's production, much less considering that what is asked of him can be made to fit within the offense structure of a team. Engram's criticism by the Jacksonville Jaguars in recent years has perpetuated the skepticism regarding his talent, and there were questions about his value. This villainization, however, overlooks the dire circumstances of his exit.

The Jaguars' switch away from Engram was schematic fit, not talent-based. The Jaguars' offense does not fit a big slot tight end like Engram with the addition of new offensive coordinator Liam Cohen. Cohen's pass schemes, which he developed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams, are in favor of inline, two-way blocking tight ends like Kellen Mond or Tyler Higbee. Brendan Strange is a good fit in Jacksonville, and the Jaguars choose to utilize wide receivers like Christian Kirk or Chris Godwin in spots that otherwise would be filled by a tight end. Engram's skill set, best suited to a high-tempo receiving-focused role, was not compatible with Cohen's scheme, and he was waived.

 

Evan Engram is a Perfect Match for Sean Payton’s System

Engram's transfer to a new squad under head coach Sean Payton marks a turning point in his fantasy football fortunes. Payton's offense is famous for utilizing tight ends in a "joker" role as hybrid receivers instead of inline blockers. This positions them to create mismatches on slow linebackers or smaller defensive backs and generate a great deal of fantasy value. The success of tight ends such as Jimmy Graham under Payton's regime serves as a case in point.

Engram himself demonstrated his enthusiasm for this role by tweeting a GIF of the Joker on signing with his new team, an absolute reference to the playmaking, game-changing role he'll be asked to play. Payton's offense will utilize Engram in a way to maximally take advantage of his athleticism and pass-catching prowess, making him the unquestioned leader of the passing attack. This matchup for Payton's game plan puts Engram in position for steady production, and he is headed towards being one of the top fantasy tight ends of 2025.

 

Why Engram Is a Fantasy Football Draft Steal

The cloud over Engram—drops, release from Jacksonville, and questions about whether he is a good fit—has landed on him in fantasy football projections. This is the drafters' golden chance to take advantage of his real value. Fantasy owners ought to be less interested in a player's background than ancillary tale. Engram's new context is made to order for his skill set, and his ADP (average draft position) should be lower than his real production deserves.

In Payton's passing offense, Engram might see a great deal of looks, especially in the red zone, where his athleticism and size present matchup problems. Taking snaps as a slot receiver or a wide receiver guarantees that he stays on the field in passing downs and increases his value. For fantasy players, this translates into a reliable floor with the potential for big, explosive scoring weeks.

 

How to Leverage Engram's Fantasy Football Value

To best realize Engram's potential, fantasy owners can look to tools such as the Fantasy Alarm Draft Guide, which features my "Yin and Yang" tight end rankings. These rankings provide a thorough analysis of how Engram compares to his contemporaries and inform drafters where to pick him in order to best utilize his ability. Overvalued, Engram can be a mid-to-late-round selection who performs pretty much like an early-round one, and therefore is the cornerstone for a championship team.