Who Should I Start? Pat Freiermuth or Harold Fannin Jr.

Monday, January 12, 6:37 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth had very limited fantasy football upside in 2025 while sharing TE duties with both Jonnu Smith and Darnell Washington (forearm). He finished as the TE24 in half-PPR scoring in 16 regular-season games, with 41 catches on 54 targets for 486 yards and four touchdowns. Freiermuth and Smith should have slightly bigger roles going into the playoffs on Wild-Card weekend on Monday night against the Houston Texans with Washington out, but the 27-year-old still isn't an ideal option for fantasy managers in a bad matchup. Freiermuth did finish the regular season strong with six catches on 10 targets for 114 yards in the final two games, but he hasn't scored since Nov. 23. The Texans have the No. 1 defense in the league, and they've allowed only 775 receiving yards (seventh-fewest) and eight TDs all year to the tight end position.

Tuesday, January 27, 6:08 PM

Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. exceeded all expectations in his first year in the NFL after being taken in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Bowling Green. Fannin quickly proved that he could hold his own at the next level, and he finished with 72 catches for 731 yards and six touchdowns on 107 targets in 16 games. The 21-year-old led the Browns in catches, targets, receiving yards, and touchdowns, and he quickly surpassed David Njoku as Cleveland's go-to pass-catching tight end. A whole new coaching staff is coming to Cleveland for the 2026 season, but regardless, Fannin should have a major role in the passing attack going into his sophomore campaign. If David Njoku, who is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in March, doesn't come back, Fannin's fantasy upside will soar even higher. After his rookie breakout in 2025, expect Fannin to be a popular TE1 selection in fantasy drafts this fall.