Pat Freiermuth is making a massive statement for Pittsburgh already, holding sole possession of **all** Steelers receiving touchdowns, despite what’s been a shallow sample size. This dude isn’t just scoring, he’s absolutely grinding it out on the field!
Freiermuth’s Dominance on the Field
Freiermuth has played the second-most snaps among non-offensive linemen and non-quarterbacks for Pittsburgh. Get this: the only Steeler with more snaps played otherwise is DK Metcalf. We’re talking 69% of all possible snaps and a huge 68% of passing snaps. While his target share is sitting at just 14%, he’s catching a ridiculous 90% of those targets. And here’s the kicker: he owns 6 of Aaron Rodgers’ 6 red-zone targets, a whopping 33% share of that critical real estate. His Week 3 outlook is looking even brighter, facing defenders Barrett Carter, Demetrius Knight Jr., and Jordan Battle. None of them boast a PFF Coverage Grade above 62.0 in 2026, and none had a PFF Coverage Grade better than 54.5 in 2025. That’s a massive green light for your fantasy squad, folks.
Tight End Surges: Ferguson and Gadsden II Stepping Up
Tight end injuries for other teams are creating some serious, unexpected opportunities. Take Terrance Ferguson from the Rams: he absolutely exploded in Week 2, hauling in 8 targets for 6 receptions and punching in a touchdown. If Puka Nacua is out, Ferguson’s role gets even more rewarding, making him a must-watch. He’s already running the most routes among all four Rams tight ends and is essentially the team’s No. 3 pass-catcher when Nacua is active. A top-3 offense like the Rams’ obviously has titanic upside, and Ferguson is projected for 4.7 receptions, 3.3 targets, 34.8 yards, and 0.2 touchdowns in Week 3. If Nacua sits, Ferguson could see a net gain of 1.0-1.5 total targets, boosting his projected 5.7 targets. That’s a significant bump for a guy on a high-powered offense.
Then there’s Oronde Gadsden II. He’s stepping into a potentially massive opportunity. With David Njoku landing on the Injured List after an 18% target share and Charlie Kolar sidelined with a forearm injury after clocking 36 snaps per game, Gadsden II could be a sneaky pickup. He’s already finding volume worthy of a TE14 ranking in Week 3, projected for 4.5 targets, 3.2 receptions, 40.9 yards, and 0.3 touchdowns against Buffalo. Some might worry about a 30% tight end target share from Justin Herbert through two games, but the Chargers will surely use Gadsden II. Maybe not to a full 30% target share, but he’s gonna get his looks, no doubt.
So, whether it’s Freiermuth’s undeniable red-zone dominance, Ferguson’s expanded role with the Rams, or Gadsden II stepping up big time for the Chargers, Week 3 is setting up to be a pivotal one for these tight ends. Keep those waiver wires hot, because these are the early season trends that can absolutely make or break your fantasy lineup. Don’t sleep on these guys!
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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