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    Freiermuth goes for 2/30 on four targets vs. CIN

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    Pat Freiermuth caught 2-of-4 targets for 30 yards in the Steelers’ Week 3 win over the Bengals

    Aaron Rodgers narrowly missed Freiermuth on a 20-plus-yard throw in the third quarter that could have been a touchdown if they had connected. Freiermuth has been targeted 14 times through the first three weeks but has just one meaningful fantasy line (5-45-1) thus far. Fantasy managers can find better options that Muth in Week 4’s game against the Browns.
Texans fall to 0-3 for second-straight season
Mike Florio and Chris Simms analyze the state of the Houston Texans with lapses in their defense and a “below average” offense after falling to 0-3 for the second-straight season.

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  • PIT Tight End #88
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    Freiermuth has a hold on the Steelers’ TE1 role, getting much of Aaron Rodgers’ short-yardage looks in the flat and middle of the field. The Steelers were not in the red zone all that much, so we have yet to see the 27-year-old’s utilization there. Regardless, he is consistently a top-four pass-catching option for the team, he’s just stuck in the low-ceiling Pittsburgh offense. Freiermuth is a touchdown-dependent fantasy play and will be in the low-end TE2 ranks for Week 3 against the Bengals.
  • PIT Wide Receiver #11
    Pittman did not practice at all this week. If he plays, he could be fairly limited. We tentatively expect him to be inactive on game day, though. Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth had a solid role last week and could take on No. 2 pass-catcher duties if Pittman indeed cannot play. Steelers WR DK Metcalf will almost assuredly take on a larger role, operating as the team’s receiving focal point.
  • PIT Wide Receiver #11
    Pittman was limited yesterday, before no-showing during the portion of practice open to the media today. Typically, that series of events suggests the player suffered an injury during practice. He should be considered questionable to play in Week 2 against the Patriots at this point. Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth could end up being the biggest beneficiary, potentially operating as the team’s No. 2 target earner if Pittman cannot play.
  • PIT Tight End #88
    Freiermuth had a down season last year, but the Steelers had talked about getting him more involved this year. The big tight end played on 49 of the team’s 67 snaps and ran a route on 36 of their 46 dropbacks. He was clearly the third option in the passing attack behind DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. and is a focal point in the red zone. Freiermuth is likely a solid TE2 option for the season who will flash TE1 weeks.
  • PIT Tight End #88
    The Steelers notably signed TE Darnell Washington to a four-year, $42 million contract extension this offseason, but DeFabo believes Freiermuth is still the team’s TE1. He expects Washington to continue operating as a receiving threat, “especially in the red zone,” but he is apparently stuck in the TE2 role. Washington’s profile is certainly more intriguing, but he may be best viewed as a boom-bust backup option in best ball for now.
  • PIT Tight End #88
    According to DeFabo, “at least six teams would be interested in exploring the idea” of trading for Freiermuth, but the Steelers have no interest in dealing the five-year vet. Freiermuth had a down year in 2025, catching 41 passes for 486 yards and four touchdowns while seeing the second-fewest targets (54) since his injury shortened 2023 season where he played just 12 games. While the Steelers may not have any interest in dealing Freiermuth, DeFabo says the situation with Jonnu Smith “seems a bit more fluid.” Smith crashed back down to earth in 2025 after breaking out for 88-884-8 in his lone season with the Dolphins in 2024, but he remains under contract through next season.
  • PIT Tight End #88
    The five-year veteran tight end returned the lowest reception and yardage total of his professional career other than his injury-shortened 2023 campaign, catching just 41 balls for 486 yards and four touchdowns. The offseason addition of Jonnu Smith simply cut into both his snap and route participation rates for Arthur Smith’s tight end-heavy offense, even with the team ranking third in rate of offensive plays with multiple tight ends on the field. Darnell Washington led the position group in snaps as he operated effectively as a sixth offensive lineman for the Steelers, leaving Freiermuth’s fantasy value in the dust in the process. Things don’t appear to be any better considering quarterback Aaron Rodgers is likely to retire and head coach Mike Tomlin could be on the host seat after his seventh consecutive postseason loss.
  • PIT Tight End #81
    Mid-week appearances typically indicate that a player suffered an injury in practice. With TE Darnell Washington (arm) sidelined, the Steelers’ tight end group is suddenly looking quite thin. Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth would warrant TE1 treatment if Smith is also sidelined on game day.
  • PIT Tight End #88
    Freiermuth did most of his damage on a 31-yard connection with Aaron Rodgers that set up a Kenneth Gainwell touchdown. The 27-year-old has been routinely catching around three passes a game for the majority of the season, and he likely will see a similar amount of targets against the Texans next Monday in the Wild Card Round.
  • PIT Tight End #80
    Washington underwent surgery Monday and won’t return to the Steelers this season, even if they manage to beat the Ravens in Week 18 and make the playoffs. Washington ends the 2025 season with 31 receptions on 43 targets for 364 yards and one touchdown. He was third among Pittsburgh tight ends in catches, as Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth remains involved in Arthur Smith’s tight end-heavy offensive scheme. With Washington sidelined, Freiermuth would seem to be the main beneficiary. Both Smith and Freiermuth have a 48 percent route participation rate through Week 17.

Rotoworld

  • WAS Linebacker #54
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    NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports Commanders LB Leo Chenal will have season-ending surgery for a fracture in his neck.

    Chenal was carted off the field in Sunday’s win over the Seahawks. This immediately looked like a serious injury after Chenal went down in the second quarter while trying to make a tackle. Chenal has feeling in all his extremities and is expected to make a full recovery, but his 2026 season is officially over. Chenal totaled nine tackles in the three games he appeared in this season.
  • MIN Tight End #84
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    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Vikings TE Josh Oliver is believed to have suffered a torn biceps in Week 3’s win over the Buccaneers.

    Oliver will undergo tests to confirm the injury, but this would likely be a season-ender if the worst is confirmed. Oliver has caught three passes for 46 scoreless yards this season, but has been a key contributor in the running game since joining the Vikings in 2023. His 97 snaps are the second most among Vikings tight ends, behind T.J. Hockenson, with 68 of those snaps coming in run-blocking situations.
  • NYG Outside Linebacker #0
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    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports the Giants fear LB Brian Burns suffered a torn ACL in Week 3’s win over the Titans.

    It’s another tough blow to the G-Men, who lost Jaxson Dart in Week 2 due to a knee injury in Week 2 against the Rams. Burns was active for Week 3 despite dealing with an ankle injury, but exited early in the fourth quarter and did not return to the field. Once the injury is confirmed, Burns’ 2026 season will officially come to an end. The 28-year-old pass-rusher tallied four tackles this season and did not record a sack.
  • WAS Running Back #30
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    Commanders re-signed RB Austin Ekeler.

    Ekeler is fully recovered from a torn Achilles that ended his 2025 season after just two games. The 31-year-old running back returns to a familiar place in Washington and will sign to the 53-man roster, making him immediately eligible to play in Week 4. We expect him to have a bit of a ramp-up period before being active on game days, but Ekeler could end up having a meaningful role in a backfield that has struggled to get going through the first three weeks. Ekeler may be worth a stash in deeper leagues, but we’ll have to see what kind of role he has before we can consider putting him in lineups.
  • DEN Wide Receiver #17
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    Jaylen Waddle caught 2-of-7 targets for 10 yards in the Broncos’ Week 3 win over the Rams, adding 14 yards on one carry.

    Waddle would also add a successful two-point reception in the third quarter to give him a slight boost in counting stats, although the 6.4-point effort left fantasy managers in desperate need of better production from their fourth-round selection in fantasy drafts. Waddle has now sandwiched poor fantasy outings with one usable game through three weeks. Fantasy managers are likely left to ride out the struggles of the Denver offense in hopes of greener pastures, which could come in a Week 4 showdown with the 49ers. Treat Waddle as an upside WR3, at present.
  • DEN Wide Receiver #13
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    Pat Bryant caught both targets for 44 yards and a touchdown in the Broncos’ Week 3 win over the Rams.

    Bryant also added a successful two-point reception in the third quarter to give him a usable fantasy week for the first time in 2026. He continues to play well behind Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle in an offense that has yet to find its footing with a new offensive play caller. He’ll be a difficult start in Week 4 against the 49ers.
  • DEN Wide Receiver #14
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    Courtland Sutton caught 3-of-7 targets for 46 yards in the Broncos’ Week 3 win over the Rams.

    Sutton tied for the team lead in targets while pacing the offense in yards, which highlights the struggles that persist in Davis Webb’s offense through three games. He will be off the FLEX radar ahead of a Week 4 showdown against the 49ers.
  • DEN Running Back #27
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    J.K. Dobbins rushed 17 times for 49 yards in the Broncos’ Week 3 win over the Rams, adding four yards on one reception.

    Dobbins and the rest of the Denver offense have been subject to poor situational tendencies from first-time play caller Davis Webb’s offense through three weeks. Dobbins is the player arguably hit the hardest with poor play sequencing as the bulk of his work comes on early downs. Even so, Dobbins now has a higher share of the backfield opportunities following the placement of Jonah Coleman on IR Saturday. Dobbins is a shaky RB3 ahead of a Week 4 showdown with the 49ers.
  • DEN Quarterback #10
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    Bo Nix completed 17-of-34 passes for 186 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the Broncos’ 30-26, Week 3 win over the Rams, adding seven yards and a touchdown on four carries.

    The Broncos were shut out in the first half amidst consistent struggles from Nix, who, for his part, turned in solid production in a third quarter that saw the Broncos knot the game at 16 through two touchdowns and successful two-point conversions. Nix and the Broncos would struggle to move the football again in the fourth quarter but a pick-six from safety Talanoa Hufanga gave them the lead with under five minutes to play. Stafford returned blows to send the Rams to a three-point lead before Nix’s game-winning score from one yard out. That final drive was aided by three key penalties to go against the Rams, the final of which was questionable, to put it kindly. Josh Wallace appeared to intercept Nix for the second time in the fourth quarter but a defensive pass interference penalty was called, giving the Broncos renewed life. Hufanga would intercept Stafford for a second time in the fourth quarter, this time in the end zone, to seal the victory for the Broncos as time expired. Nix and offensive coordinator Davis Webb have not looked good through three games despite the team’s 2-1 record, and will need to clean things up ahead of another NFC West showdown against the 49ers in Week 4. Nix is currently nothing more than a middling QB2.
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    Tyler Higbee caught 8-of-11 targets for 62 yards and a touchdown in the Rams’ Week 3 loss to the Broncos.

    Higbee’s first quarter touchdown got the scoring started for the Rams, but it wasn’t until Terrance Ferguson departed with an ankle injury that his volume truly took off. From that point forward, Higbee was one of the primary options through the air, finishing two targets behind Davante Adams for the team lead. Fantasy managers will want to monitor Ferguson’s status closely in the coming week as Higbee could become a legitimate waiver target should Ferguson miss time.