BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues
ROSTERED IN: 53% of Leagues
ANALYSIS: Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth returned from injury with a tough matchup against the Browns in Week 11, where the offense couldn't get anything going. The Steelers fired offensive coordinator Matt Canada, who many believe was greatly holding the offense back.
Freiermuth has played in just four games this season and in two of them, he left early and finished with a 50% snap share in both games. Needless to say, most of his per-game averages are not the most accurate representation of who Freiermuth is. Since we essentially have two full games and two injury-shortened contests this season, I’d argue it’s more predictive to look at a larger sample. Such as in 2022 when Kenny Pickett was also under center for most of the year.
Freiermuth had a good, but not great route participation rate. However, 73% is good enough to be considered a weekly starter. His 19% target share is elite. There are only five tight ends with a higher target share this season. Using his per-game averages from 2022, his 17-game pace would be 104 targets, 66 receptions, and 779 yards. That’s a darn good tight end. That wasn’t a fluke either.
Even as a rookie, Freiermuth showed plenty of promise. He had 70 targets, 54 receptions, 444 yards, and 7 touchdowns. As far as rookie tight ends go, that’s pretty stinkin’ good. Then he followed that up with a very impressive second season. His 2023 season hasn’t been bad, contrary to what the stats show. It's just been riddled with injuries, but this is football, so that’s going to happen. We have two years' worth of data that says Freiermuth is a very good tight end vs. what essentially amounts to three games' worth of play this season. I’d suggest using the former.
If you’re streaming tight ends or lost Dallas Goedert or Darren Waller to injury, it makes sense to add Freiermuth. He’s eligible to come back from IR this week. Last year, his target share and targets per game both bested George Pickens. Pickett has a 7.1 intended air yards per attempt average. This is the ninth-lowest out of 33 qualifying quarterbacks. He doesn’t like to throw the ball downfield. For Freiermuth’s fantasy value, that’s a good thing. There’s nothing wrong with betting on Freiermuth’s talent. In fact, I encourage it.
He returned in Week 11 but played just 53% of the team's snaps. Considering his injury woes that should have been the expectation. Hopefully, with the fact that he managed to play without setbacks, his role should grow moving forward. Don't be alarmed by the low fantasy output this past weekend. The Browns have allowed the fewest points to quarterbacks and tight ends this season from Weeks 1-10. Even if Freiermuth was unlimited, he likely would have struggled in this matchup. If you lost Andrews are are unable to grab Likely, Freiermuth isn't the worst backup plan.
More Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups
Kadarius Toney Start 'Em, Sit 'Em – Super Bowl 58 Fantasy Football Picks
BALLER MOVE: Consider in Large-Field GPPs POSITIONAL VALUE: WR/Flex DFS Dart Throw ANALYSIS: Kadarius Toney is perhaps the biggest wild card of the Super Bowl LVIII matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. The mercurial wide receiver has battled injury issues and controversy off the field, as well as drops and ineffectiveness... Read More
Stefon Diggs Start 'Em, Sit 'Em – NFL Playoffs Fantasy Football Picks
BALLER MOVE: Start in 10+ Team Leagues POSITIONAL VALUE: WR1 ANALYSIS: Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs was the WR10 during the regular season, averaging 13 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. The superstar wide receiver started the year on fire but tailed off towards the end. He scored fewer than 6.9 fantasy points in... Read More
Jayden Reed Start 'Em, Sit 'Em – NFL Playoffs Fantasy Football Picks
BALLER MOVE: Start in 10+ Team Leagues POSITIONAL VALUE: WR2 ANALYSIS: Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed had low expectations entering the season. Many thought the Packers’ passing attack would suffer without Aaron Rodgers. Instead, the rookie wide receiver was a fantasy star. Reed was the WR23 during the regular season, averaging 11.6 half-point... Read More
Chris Godwin Start 'Em, Sit 'Em – NFL Playoffs Fantasy Football Picks
BALLER MOVE: Start in 10+ Team Leagues POSITIONAL VALUE: WR2 ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin had a slightly disappointing year. The former Penn State star was the WR31, averaging 9.9. half-point PPR fantasy points per game during the regular season. Mike Evans had a massive year as Baker Mayfield’s go-to target, leaving... Read More
Brandin Cooks Start 'Em, Sit 'Em – NFL Playoffs Fantasy Football Picks
BALLER MOVE: Start in 10+ Team Leagues POSITIONAL VALUE: Low-end WR2 ANALYSIS: Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks had a solid regular season. The veteran was the WR36, averaging 9.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. While he struggled early in the year, Cooks picked up his play when it mattered most for the Cowboys.... Read More
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!Win More With RotoBaller
Be sure to also check out all of our other daily fantasy football articles and analysis to help you set those winning lineups, including this new RotoBaller YouTube video:Check out RotoBaller's famous fantasy football draft sleepers and waiver wire pickups list, updated regularly!