Denzel Boston or Pat Freiermuth: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 3 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Boston's full-time role runs into Freiermuth's pass-catching TE1 lane

Boston's near-every-down role and red-zone X profile give him the stronger volume ceiling; his verified Week 2 breakout shows that profile can convert (clevelandbrowns.com 2026-09-22). But a three-point projection gap is not decisive across WR and TE: Freiermuth's defined pass-catching role and Pittsburgh's better scoring outlook keep his case alive. Boston risks being capped by a rookie third-receiver role in a low-scoring offense; Freiermuth's smaller target share leaves less margin if he doesn't score.

What flips it: Boston earning a larger, repeatable red-zone role.

Sources: clevelandbrowns.com · Sep 22, 2026

AI editor

Denzel Boston

Denzel Boston

WR59CLEvs CAR

Projected Points

Start
Pat Freiermuth

Pat Freiermuth

TE24PITvs CIN

Projected Points

Start

Denzel Boston’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
+101 / -128
REC YDS
O/U 42.5
-135 / +100
ATD
Anytime TD
+215

Pat Freiermuth’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
-143 / +112
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 36.5
-115 / -110
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+380
Anytime Touchdown Props →
CAR@
CLESun, Sep 27, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
CIN@
PITSun, Sep 27, 1:00 PM ETView the game →

Why Denzel Boston

Start

Rookie WR starting in the third receiver spot. Big-bodied contested-catch X with red-zone appeal; no NFL sample.

Start — WR59 consensus, projects WR35 this week: 19.0 implied team total caps the ceiling, 21% target share.

  • His big-bodied X profile gives Cleveland a natural red-zone target.
  • The Week 2 scoring breakout showed the upside, though his NFL track record is still brief.

Latest on Boston

Role

Denzel Boston recorded five receptions for 95 receiving yards and one touchdown in Week 2.

Denzel Boston nominated for NFL Rookie of the Week for Week 2clevelandbrowns.com · Sep 22, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Pat Freiermuth

Start

TE1 in pass-catching role. Reliable chain-mover with red-zone size and dependable hands.

Start — TE24 consensus, projects TE22 this week: 14% target share, 8.3 PPR projected vs CIN.

  • As Pittsburgh's pass-catching TE1, he has a defined role independent of the WR rotation.
  • His red-zone size and dependable hands suit an offense with more scoring opportunity.

Latest on Freiermuth

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricDenzel BostonPat Freiermuth
Projected points
Consensus rankWR59TE24
Opponent vs positionCAR · 14 of 322-game sampleCIN · 19 of 322-game sample
Receptions25 of 3232 of 32
Receiving Yards16 of 3232 of 32
Receiving TDs6 of 321 of 32
Targets16 of 3230 of 32
Anytime TD6 of 321 of 32
Target share21%14%
Reception share18%19%
Implied total · spread19.0+1.522.5+1.5
Depth chartWR1TE1
Snap share93%70%

Recent form

Denzel Boston — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs TB
Week 1vs JAX

Pat Freiermuth — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs NE
Week 1vs ATL

Signal breakdown

  • 11.3 vs 8.3 projected PPR pointsDenzel Boston +
  • Rank 59 vs 24Pat Freiermuth +
  • Opponent DvP rank 14 vs 19 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 19.0 vs 22.5 team pointsPat Freiermuth +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 93% vs 70% snap shareDenzel Boston +

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