Who Should I Start? T.J. Hockenson or Pat Freiermuth

Friday, October 31, 4:34 PM

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson should be viewed as a TE2 option when he takes on his former team, the Detroit Lions, in Week 9. It's been a disappointing season so far for Hockenson, who hasn't quite looked the same since an ACL tear in late 2023 and now ranks as the No. 22 fantasy tight end at the halfway point of this season. None of the Vikings played well in a Week 8 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, but Hockenson had just three targets, two catches, and 26 yards receiving. The veteran tight end and the Vikings will now turn back to second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who missed the past five games with an ankle injury. In McCarthy's two starts this year, Hockenson had just four catches for 27 yards, and both of those took place before receiver Jordan Addison returned from a suspension. With the Vikings struggling and Hockenson set to be the team's third option, at best, he should be played only in formats that start two tight ends.

Wednesday, November 5, 12:29 AM

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth scored his third touchdown of the season in Sunday's 27-20 win over the AFC-leading Indianapolis Colts. Freiermuth has gotten rolling a bit after a slower start to the year, recording at least three receptions in each of the past three games and scoring all three touchdowns. The 27-year-old leads the team in receiving yards in that time and ranks as TE4 in total PPR points (44.1). It's fueled almost entirely by his five catches, 111-yard, two-touchdown performance against the horrendous Cincinnati Bengals defense on Thursday night in Week 7. The usage isn't there to justify Freiermuth all of a sudden jumping to TE1 status in fantasy. Freiermuth profiles as a low-end streaming option against the Chargers on Sunday Night Football in Week 10.