Who Should I Start? Pat Freiermuth or Cade Otton


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
7.5 0.0 0.0 3.0 30.8 0.2

Pat Freiermuth News

Pat Freiermuth Gearing Up for Bounce-Back 2026 Season

Monday, August 24, 7:32 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth is earning his starting spot on the depth chart with a heavy practice load to round out the preseason. According to Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot, Freiermuth ranked third on the team in targets (13) and tied for second-most receptions (11) through seven preseason practices. The sixth-year veteran is coming off a disappointing 2025 season when his pass-catching abilities were tempered by former offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, and he logged just 41 receptions for 486 yards and four touchdowns. Fellow tight end Darnell Washington has caught more targets during preseason play, but the heavy practice load suggests Freiermuth will be Aaron Rodgers' preferred third-down target. Freiermuth should be viewed as a late-round or streaming TE with upside.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
7.3 0.0 0.0 3.2 31.1 0.2

Cade Otton News

Cade Otton Returns to Tuesday's Practice

Tuesday, August 25, 10:44 AM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton (undisclosed) returned to the team's training camp practice on Tuesday, according to Rick Stroud of The Tampa Bay Times. Otton is back on the field after missing around a week with an undisclosed injury. It remains to be seen if the 27-year-old will suit up this Friday for the preseason finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but Otton should be fine for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season if he does not suffer a setback. The former fourth-rounder in 2022 from the University of Washington matched his career high with 59 receptions last year, but he went for just 572 yards and a career-low one touchdown in 16 starts in 2025 in his fourth year in the NFL. Even with veteran receiver Mike Evans gone, Otton will not necessarily be primed for a career year in 2026 in a new Buccaneers offense. At best, he will once again be a matchup-based TE2 streamer with limited weekly targets and a lack of red-zone prowess. RotoBaller has Otton ranked as the No. 24 fantasy TE. In single-TE leagues, there are plenty of more exciting options at the position to take a chance on.


Pat Freiermuth vs. Cade Otton

Still trying to decide between Freiermuth and Otton? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Pat Freiermuth is projected to score 7.5 points this week while Cade Otton is projected to score 7.3 points.