2025 Dynasty Rookie Post-Draft Update: Gunnar Helm

The NFL Draft is behind us, rookie drafts are taking place, and as dynasty managers we are looking ahead to the upcoming season. In our Dynasty Rookie Post-Draft Update series, we break down all the incoming fantasy-relevant rookies, looking at their profiles and where they fit. The basis of the rookie profile involves the usage of STORM analysis, focusing on five key components: Situation, Talent, Opportunity, Risk, and Market.

Situation

Name: Gunnar Helm

Position: Tight End

Pro Team: Tennessee Titans

College Team: Texas

Draft Status: Round 4, Pick 18

The Titans got their franchise quarterback in Cam Ward with the first pick of the draft. The next two picks were used to help the defense with Oluwafemi Oladejo and Kevin Winston Jr. Titans fans did not need to worry because they used the next three picks on the offense.

First, they went receiver with Chimere Dike out of Florida, and in the fourth round, they decided to go with Gunnar Helm to complement Chigoziem Okonkwo at tight end. In the fifth round, they picked another receiver in Elic Ayomanor out of Stanford. It was obvious that the Titans wanted to surround Ward with enough weapons to be successful early on.

The quarterback play was so bad last year that there are some questions about how good the offense can be, but there were over 100 targets to tight ends. Is that a sign of things to come, or because there was a lack of talent at wide receiver? This is not the best situation to be fantasy relevant right away, but there is a path for the future for Helm.

Talent

Courtesy of NFL.com.

Helm is a big target in the middle of the field and had his biggest season of his career in 2024. Before last year, he only had 19 catches for 236 and two touchdowns. Helm became a big part of the Texas offense with 60 catches on 73 targets for 786 yards and seven touchdowns. His impact was shown early on with seven catches for 98 yards and a touchdown against Michigan.

Helm did not block very well on film, but there is a lot to like about his receiving. He is athletic for his size and can high-point the ball when going up for contested catches. Helm also has quick hands and can get in and out of breaks quickly for a tight end. He can get separation and can get yards after the catch. When watching his film, the comparison I made to his film was Dalton Schultz. Early on, his biggest impact could be in the red zone.

Opportunity

Courtesy of 4-for-4 Depth Charts.

The Tennessee Titans will have a big turnover of talent on offense at the receiver position. The team looked to improve its weapons to help rookie QB Ward. Okonkwo was second on the team in targets with 70 last year and should remain the starter. Helm will look to fight for the second tight end spot in 2024. Josh Whyle was the second tight end but has only 37 catches in two years. The targets may be hard to come by for Helm, but he could come into play in the red zone. Okonkwo only had three touchdowns last year.

Risk

There is always a risk with tight ends because they can be slow to develop and get buried on a depth chart. Helm was drafted in the fourth round, so there is enough draft capital that the team won’t give up on him after a year or two most likely. There are going to be growing pains with a rookie quarterback, and this year Helm may not crack the starting lineup at all.

His run blocking grade on Pro Football Focus was below a 44 the last two years, so if he cannot improve, that could also limit playing time.

Market

Per DLF’s May Rookie Superflex Rankings.

Per DLF’s May Superflex Dynasty Rankings.

Gunnar Helm is going as the eighth tight end in the rookie class and as pick 54 overall. Most dynasty leagues tend to only have four rounds in their rookie drafts, so he is going undrafted most of the time. I had Helm as my TE4, so I am a little surprised he is getting drafted so late. In dynasty rankings, Helm is just inside the top 300 and is TE40. There are some players I would want him over, for example, Tyler Higbee, Zach Ertz, and Taysom Hill. Those are all based on age and the ceiling of the player. Until we can see what Tennessee’s plan is at the tight end position, I understand him being ranked so low.

Per DLF’s Dynasty Trade Analyzer.

Helm is a player you could get for a late-round pick or as an add-on to another bigger trade. I usually like my tight ends to be better blockers, but he showed great production in his last year of college. It is unlikely you would get much back for him right now. So, if you draft him, I would keep him, but if you could give up a fifth-round pick or a player with little upside like a Will Shipley or Rondale Moore, then I would take the risk.