After posting consecutive 60+ reception seasons to start his NFL career, Pittsburgh Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth’s production absolutely fell off a cliff last season. Fortunately, the team made a host of changes to the offensive roster that could help elevate the Penn State product back into the low-end TE1 conversation.
Can fantasy football managers trust Freiermuth as their starting tight end in 2024?
Pat Freiermuth’s 2024 Fantasy Outlook
- Total Fantasy Points: 157.4
- Receptions: 65.2
- Receiving Yards: 645.7
- Receiving TDs: 4.6
These are PFN’s consensus projections, correct as of August 15. The most up-to-date projections can be found in our Who Should I Draft Tool.
Should You Draft Freiermuth This Year?
After seeing his targets, receptions, and receiving yards climb from his rookie to sophomore year, Freiermuth’s production cratered in 2023 while playing with the uninspiring triumvirate of Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph under center.
Freiermuth’s 32 receptions for 308 yards and two scores over 12 games played saw him finish as the TE30 in full-PPR formats. His per-game averages of 2.6 receptions for 25.6 yards is the stuff nightmares are made of. Freiermuth finished with fewer than 10 yards receiving in 25% of his games last year.
“Yikes” is the only word that really comes to mind.
This fall from grace really brings his fantasy floor into question. Freiermuth’s expanded role in 2022 suggested he could be an emerging star at the position. Instead, we are left wondering exactly what to do with him as he enters his first year in new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s offensive scheme — which is heavily predicated on running the football.
Fortunately, the departure of Diontae Johnson this offseason and the projected upgrade under center to either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields does provide some optimism that Freiermuth could return to his 2022 form. Outside of George Pickens, Freiermuth has a real shot at finishing the season as the second-most targeted player on the roster.
Ultimately, I’d prefer to give Freiermuth a bit of a mulligan due to the promise he showed his first two years in the league and a significant upgrade under center entering the 2024 season. This does still put him in the low-end TE1 conversation entering his fourth year in the league.
Freiermuth’s ADP at No. 123 overall in the 11th round as the TE15 off the board feels appropriate based on the complete disaster that his 2023 turned out to be. For some additional context, Freiermuth is currently being drafted after Dallas Goedert, T.J. Hockenson, and Cole Kmet while being selected just ahead of Luke Musgrave, Isaiah Likely, and Hunter Henry.
Freiermuth fits perfectly into his price tag and should return closer to the floor of production we saw from him over his first two years with improved quarterback play. The concerns about Smith calling the shots and a potentially expanded role for Darnell Washington aren’t enough to drop him outside of the top 20 at the position.
There is a legitimate shot Freiermuth finishes the year as the second-most targeted player on the roster. A healthy target share at the TE position is normally enough to elevate a middling option into the top-12 picture.
Freiermuth may not be filled with top-end upside, but he should provide fantasy managers who like to wait on the tight end with a reliable weekly floor in 2024.
