Pat

Freiermuth

Freierumuth is the Steelers’ designated tush push option, which will give him a little added fantasy value here and there. Despite the fact that Darnell Washington outproduced Freiermuth today, Freiermuth ran a route on 11 of the team’s 26 dropbacks, compared to just five for Washington. This simply wasn’t a big day for the Steelers’ passing attack, but we’d expect Freiermuth to remain a mid-range TE2 option going forward.

Freiermuth didn’t appear to be bothered by his calf injury, and he quadrupled the targets of Darnell Washington (4-to-1) in this game. Washington was able to convert his only target for a touchdown, however, and Freirmuth dropped what would have been a 20-yard gain in the third quarter. Freiermuth will likely get a similar amount of targets in Week 8 against the Browns, for better or worse.

The Muth was clearly limited by his nagging calf injury in this game. He was added to the injury report over the weekend and played through the issue despite being hit with a late questionable tag. He was spotted hobbling to the sidelines at least once during this game, though he ultimately gutted it out and played through the issue. He and Darnell Washington each played 54 of 76 offensive snaps. Better days should be ahead for Freiermuth once he’s healthy, but it will be hard to trust him as anything other than a TE2 flyer for his Week 7 game against the Saints.

Muth was a late addition to the injury report, with the Steelers adding him on Saturday and listing him as questionable. With multiple starting receivers out this week, Muth will be asked to take on more work as a pass-catcher, moving him up the TE2 ranks. Inactive for the Steelers are WR Ben Skowronek, QB Drew Allar, QB Will Howard, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting, RB Eli Heidenreich, CB Terell Smith, and DL Kevin Jobity Jr.

Freiermuth was added to the injury report on Saturday. The team listed him as questionable for Week 6. A last-minute addition to the injury report is never a good sign, so we wouldn’t be surprised if his snaps are limited even if he is active. On the other hand, with Roman Wilson and Michael Pittman out, the Steelers may have no choice but to play a banged-up Muth more than expected. He will be a high-risk TE2 if active.

Freiermuth popped up on the injury report Saturday afternoon with a calf injury. He’s questionable for this weekend against the Buccaneers. Freiermuth would’ve been in line for a sizable workload with the Steelers down multiple wide receivers. Coming off a two touchdown performance in Week 5, fantasy managers need a backup plan in case Freiermuth is ultimately ruled out against Tampa Bay.

Freiermuth ran 27 routes on 38 dropbacks, which was a distant third behind DK Metcalf and Germie Bernard; however, Aaron Rodgers is far more effective when targeting the intermediate and middle areas of the field, which makes Freiermuth a more consistent target than either of the wide receivers. With Michael Pittman (foot) and Roman Wilson (finger) both hurt, Freiermuth could be a fringe TE1 next week against the Bucs.

Freiermuth found the end zone late in the fourth quarter for his second touchdown of the season, tying fellow tight end Darnell Washington for fourth on the team with five targets. Washington managed to corral just two of his five targets but eclipsed the yardage total of Freiermuth with 27 yards while also adding a touchdown of his own. Both tight ends appear unlikely to contribute viable counting stats considering neither has seen more than five targets in a game during the first month of play.

It sounds like Warren is belongs on the RB1/2 border with Rico Dowdle (toe) sidelined again this week. The Steelers will try to control the line of scrimmage by frequently deploying TEs Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, both in the run game and as receivers.

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 than Muth in Week 4’s game against the Browns.