Tucker Kraft Week 7 Fantasy Football Outlook: Must-Start TE and DFS Comparison

As Week 7 of the 2025 fantasy football season approaches, Tucker Kraft has become a hot topic among managers. His breakout performance in Week 6, featuring 124 yards and a touchdown, has solidified him as a must-start tight end.

With favorable matchups and increasing red-zone usage, Kraft is emerging as a key option for both season-long leagues and DFS lineups. His value proposition, especially at a lower cost compared to elite TEs, makes him a sneaky play with high upside. Fantasy managers and DFS pros alike are closely watching his potential workload and role this week.

Tucker Kraft Week 7 Fantasy Football Outlook: Must-Start TE Analysis

As we approach Week 7 of the 2025 fantasy football season, Tucker Kraft has emerged as one of the most intriguing tight end options available. Coming off a breakout 124-yard, 1-TD performance in Week 6, Kraft suddenly finds himself in the TE1 conversation. His athleticism and improving chemistry with his quarterback make him particularly appealing in what projects to be a favorable matchup.

The Packers’ second-year tight end has seen his snap share increase steadily throughout the season, now regularly playing over 75% of offensive snaps. What makes Kraft especially interesting this week is his matchup against a defense that has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to tight ends this season. Kraft’s route participation has climbed to 85% over the past two weeks, indicating he’s become more than just a blocking specialist.

From a fantasy perspective, Kraft offers both a solid floor and legitimate upside. He’s seen at least 5 targets in three straight games and has converted those into consistent production. For managers struggling with bye weeks or injuries at the tight end position, Kraft presents a viable solution with the potential to outperform his projected points.

Mr.Owl: While Tucker Kraft’s recent production is certainly exciting, fantasy managers should temper expectations slightly. His Week 6 explosion came against one of the league’s worst pass defenses, and touchdown dependency remains a concern. That said, I’d be comfortable starting him as my TE1 this week if I didn’t have Kelce, Andrews, or Hockenson.

Key Reasons Tucker Kraft Could Be Elite This Week

• Faces a defense allowing 12.7 FPPG to tight ends
• Season-high 8 targets in Week 6 suggests growing role
• Top-5 among TEs in yards after contact
• Increased red zone snaps over past three games

DFS Comparison: Tucker Kraft vs. Premium Tight Ends

When building DFS lineups for Week 7, the tight end position presents intriguing value decisions. At just $4,800 on DraftKings, Kraft offers significant salary relief compared to premium options like Travis Kelce ($8,500) and Mark Andrews ($7,200). This price difference allows managers to allocate more budget to premium running backs and receivers.

Let’s examine how Kraft stacks up against elite competition:

While Kraft’s raw production doesn’t match the elite tight ends, his per-dollar efficiency makes him compelling in large-field tournaments. The savings from starting Kraft instead of Kelce could allow you to upgrade from a $5,000 receiver to a $7,000 receiver.

Mr.Owl: In cash games, I still prefer paying up for Kelce’s safety, but Kraft makes an excellent GPP play. His combination of low ownership (projected under 8%) and legitimate touchdown upside could be exactly what separates winning lineups from the pack.

Tucker Kraft’s Red Zone Potential in Week 7

The most encouraging development for Kraft’s fantasy value has been his increasing involvement near the goal line. Over the past three games, Kraft has been targeted on 25% of his team’s red zone pass attempts, comparable to Mark Andrews’ 26% rate during that same span.

This red zone usage translates directly to touchdown potential, which remains crucial at the notoriously touchdown-dependent tight end position. Kraft’s combination of size (6’5″, 255 lbs) and athleticism makes him an ideal target in scoring situations.

Tucker Kraft’s Key Red Zone Metrics:

• 5 red zone targets over past three games
• 37% contested catch rate (2nd among TEs)
• 85% snap rate in opponent’s territory
• 3 touchdowns on just 22 receptions (13.6% TD rate)

Should You Start Tucker Kraft Over Established Veterans?

One of the most common questions fantasy managers face this week is whether to start the surging Tucker Kraft over more established veterans like Dalton Schultz or Noah Fant. The answer depends largely on your team construction and risk tolerance.

In PPR formats, Schultz maintains a higher floor due to his consistent target share (5.1 per game), but Kraft offers significantly more big-play upside. Fant falls somewhere in between, with superior athleticism but inconsistent usage. For standard scoring leagues, Kraft’s touchdown potential makes him particularly appealing.

Mr.Owl: This reminds me of Robert Tonyan’s breakout season a few years back. Packers tight ends often fly under the radar until they suddenly become weekly starters. I’d roll with Kraft over Fant this week, and he’s neck-and-neck with Schultz depending on whether you need floor or ceiling.

Tucker Kraft’s Rest-of-Season Outlook

Beyond Week 7, Tucker Kraft’s fantasy outlook appears increasingly promising. His schedule includes several favorable matchups during the crucial fantasy playoff weeks, including games against defenses that have struggled to contain athletic tight ends.

If Kraft can maintain his current usage rate and red zone involvement, he has legitimate TE1 potential moving forward. Among tight ends with at least 20 targets this season, Kraft ranks seventh in yards per route run (1.98), ahead of notable names like Dallas Goedert and Cole Kmet.

Tucker Kraft’s Fantasy Playoff Schedule Breakdown

• Week 14: @DET (4th-most TE FPPG allowed)
• Week 15: vs MIN (12th-most TE FPPG allowed)
• Week 16: vs CHI (8th-most TE FPPG allowed)
• Week 17: @DET (second meeting)

Mr.Owl: While I’m not ready to anoint Tucker Kraft as a league-winner just yet, he’s absolutely someone worth stashing in deeper leagues. His combination of upcoming schedule and growing role could make him a difference-maker during championship runs.

Optimal DFS Stacks Featuring Tucker Kraft

For DFS players considering Tucker Kraft in Week 7 lineups, several stacking options could maximize his upside:

Primary Stack: Kraft + Packers QB + Packers DST
This full stack plays the correlation between Kraft’s production and overall team success. If the Packers offense performs well, Kraft likely benefits.

Game Stack: Kraft + Opposing WR1
A runback with the opposing team’s top receiver creates positive correlation regardless of game script.

Value Stack: Kraft + Mid-Priced RB + Budget WR
This allows you to pay up elsewhere while still capturing Kraft’s upside.

Mr.Owl: My favorite tournament build this week pairs Kraft with his quarterback in a game expected to stay competitive. The salary savings let you roster two elite running backs while still maintaining exposure to Kraft’s ceiling game potential.

Tucker Kraft vs. Other Rising Tight Ends

Kraft isn’t the only young tight end generating buzz in Week 7. Comparisons to breakout players like Sam LaPorta and Luke Musgrave highlight both Kraft’s potential and current limitations.

While LaPorta offers more consistent volume (6.2 targets per game), Kraft actually averages more yards per reception (13.2 vs. 9.8). This difference in playing style affects their fantasy outlooks:

Play Style Comparison

• Kraft: Downfield threat with big-play ability
• LaPorta: High-volume possession receiver
• Musgrave: Hybrid role with varied usage

Mr.Owl: Think of Kraft as more of a hunter in the intermediate passing game compared to LaPorta’s security blanket role. Both can succeed, but Kraft’s ceiling comes more from explosive plays than target volume.