Pat Freiermuth had his quietest day all season, pulling in just two catches for a meager 11 yards during the Steelers’ overtime win against Tampa Bay in Week 6. That’s a tough stat line for any tight end, let alone one who’s been a reliable option for his team. This performance marks his fewest targets of the entire season, which definitely makes you scratch your head.
Target Trouble and Washington’s Emergence
The real kicker? While Freiermuth was barely seeing the ball, fellow tight end Darnell Washington was out there making plays. Washington racked up six targets, converted four receptions, and even snagged a touchdown. That’s a significant shift in usage and production for the tight end room. It makes you wonder if something bigger is going on here than just an off day. There’s a real chance his late addition to the injury report with a calf issue played a role in his meager production, but that kind of target disparity is hard to ignore, injury or not.
Still a Red Zone Threat, But What Now?
Despite the anemic Week 6 output, it’s not all doom and gloom for Freiermuth. He still boasts four touchdowns on the year, which shows he can absolutely be a red zone weapon. For now, he’s still hanging on as a TE2 option, especially with how beat up their receiving corps currently is. But his fantasy value next week against the Saints, assuming he’s injury-free, will hinge on whether he can shake off this slump. He could warrant low-end TE1 consideration if he’s healthy, but after this game, that feels like a big “if.”
It’s all eyes on Freiermuth next week against the Saints. Will he shake off the calf issue and reclaim his targets, or will Washington continue to eat into his snap count? His role and production are definitely on the line, and we’ll see if he can bounce back.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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