Who Should I Start? Pat Freiermuth or Trey McBride

Thursday, April 4, 2:16 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth said on the Around the 412 podcast on Wednesday that he wants "to be in Pittsburgh for the rest of my career" as he heads into the final year of his rookie contract in 2024. He missed five games in 2023 due to a hamstring injury, but overall his numbers declined from the previous two seasons. Subpar quarterback play didn't help, and the 25-year-old former second-round pick in 2021 out of Penn State caught a career-low 32 passes for 308 yards and only two touchdowns in 12 regular season games (nine starts). In new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's offense, Freiermuth could have a bounce-back campaign in 2024 and will be a nice sleeper target in fantasy drafts this fall.

Monday, January 8, 1:11 AM

In the final chapter of Arizona Cardinal Trey McBride's breakout season, the second-year tight end showcased his prowess with three receptions on six targets for 34 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 21-20 loss to the Seahawks. McBride's elevated usage, especially after Zach Ertz's injury in Week 7, turned him into quarterback Kyler Murray's go-to target, culminating in 69 receptions, 655 yards, and three touchdowns over the last 10 games. His performance against Seattle was no exception, as he secured the lone touchdown pass from Murray in the game. As fantasy managers look ahead to 2024, McBride's consistent production and chemistry with Murray make him a promising option in the often-scarce tight-end landscape.