Zach

Gentry

Gentry was thought to be the primary blocking tight end entering the 2023 season after receiving a contract extension this offseason. The team then drafted athletic specimen tight end Darnell Washington in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, making Gentry more or less obsolete. The release signals trust in their rookie tight end to contribute from the jump.

Gentry stays in Pittsburgh after starting three of the past four seasons as the team’s No. 2 tight end. Gentry’s return reduces the chances of an every-down role for third-year TE Pat Freiermuth, with Gentry seeing a 50% snap share last year, but doesn’t change much for Freiermuth’s targets. The Gentry re-signing likely rules out the Steelers adding a tight end in the draft.

Freiermuth has practiced in full this week and is good to go for Week 7 against the Dolphins. Before his Week 5 brain injury, Freiermuth had a solid 80 percent route participation rate and had seen 29 targets in his four full games this season. He profiles as a low-end TE1 fantasy option against Miami in a game that has sneaky shootout appeal. The Dolphins have allowed the third most tight end receptions through Week 6.

Gentry’s second quarter reception was his lone target. Some fantasy managers and DFS players tried to connect the target dots with Pat Freiermuth (concussion) sidelined, but it didn’t help that Kenny Pickett missed the second half with a concussion of his own. Managers should not go back to the TE2 well in Week 7 against the Dolphins.

Gentry sat out practice on Wednesday because of a knee injury, but he logged full practices the rest of the week and was not listed on the final injury report. With Pat Freiermuth (concussion) out, Gentry has streaming and DFS appeal this week.

He remains in concussion protocol, but consecutive limited practices give him a shot at suiting up. Zach Gentry (knee) told reporters that he’d be good for Sunday, but he wouldn’t be much of fantasy football replacement for Freiermuth (or anyone else). If Freiermuth sits it likely means more targets for Pittsburgh’s wideouts in Week 6’s matchup against the Buccaneers.

Freiermuth left Week 5 after taking a hard hit in the third quarter. Originally listed as a DNP on the initial release of the Wednesday injury report, Freiermuth turned out to be a limited participant in practice. Zach Gentry (knee) sat out Wednesday, leaving the Steelers very thin at tight end.

Gentry started and played a full complement of snaps while Pat Freiermuth recovered from a brain injury. Gentry could be a serviceable streaming play in Week 17 against the Browns if Freiermuth remains sidelined.

Zach Gentry will get the start at tight end with Freiermuth sidelined after missing practice all week with a brain injury. Gentry is a reasonable streaming option in deeper formats in a game that will see the Steelers throw a lot.

It is not a surprise considering this is Freiermuth’s second concussion in the last month. Perhaps Zach Gentry has some deep-league appeal with Freiermuth out, but fantasy players will likely be better off looking elsewhere.