Gavin

Bartholomew

A sixth-round pick in 2025, Bartholomew didn’t see the field as a rookie. He logged his first career catch last week. With T.J. Hockenson leaving the game in the first quarter because of a concussion, Bartholomew stepped up as the team’s TE1. He was largely a check-down option for Kyler Murray, though that’s par for the course with Murray’s tight end. Hockenson should be cleared to return after a Week 6 bye, keeping Bartholomew off the fantasy radar for now.

A team captain at Pittsburgh, Bartholomew (6’5/246) was a starter in all four of his college seasons. He tallied 326 receiving yards and four touchdowns as a freshman, but was not able to exceed either total the rest of his college career. Bartholomew possesses speed with the ability to chew up yards over the middle of the field, but lacks explosive production. He is more likely to be a short-area target rather than a downfield pass-catcher. As a blocker, Bartholomew has size but will need to improve his strength to sustain blocks against bigger defenders. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler says Bartholomew’s “intangibles will make it tough for a coaching staff to cut him,” noting he had a “positive influence in the program” as team captain. Though he will need to demonstrate his skill set for an NFL team to keep him on the roster, Bartholomew’s intangibles will at least earn him a chance.