Eli Raridon or Pat Freiermuth: Who Should You Start?

Preliminary board

2026 Week 4 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Verdicts sharpen as practice reports land.

Freiermuth is the only startable tight end here

Raridon is ruled out, so his better team scoring setup and matchup do not matter this week. Freiermuth is a clear choice: his established pass-catching role gives you a path to production that a developmental reserve cannot offer. Pittsburgh’s lower scoring outlook is the real risk, but it does not make an inactive Raridon a viable alternative.

What flips it: A late Freiermuth inactive designation.

AI editor

Eli Raridon

Eli Raridon

TENEvs BUF

Projected Points

OUT — verdict voidSit· high
Pat Freiermuth

Pat Freiermuth

TE24PITvs CLE

Projected Points

Start

Eli Raridon’s market

ATD
Anytime TD
+900

Pat Freiermuth’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
+103 / -131
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 28.5
-114 / -110
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+400
Anytime Touchdown Props →
NE@
BUFSun, Oct 4, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
PIT@
CLEThu, Oct 1, 8:15 PM ETView the game →

Why Eli Raridon

Sit· high

Rookie TE2 / developmental piece. Big-framed in-line body with limited prior sample.

Ruled Out this week, and even when active he's a 37% snap, 4% target share TE projected for 2.2 PPR points.

  • Raridon’s developmental TE2 role offers no dependable fallback volume if the game turns pass-heavy.
  • He is ruled out this week; do not put him in your lineup.

The call

  • Availability is listed as Out, which settles it. He can't score from the bench, so he can't be in a lineup.
  • The role is marginal anyway: a 37% snap share and 4% target share across 2 games make him a non-factor in PPR formats.
  • The matchup doesn't help. BUF ranks 11 of 32 vs TEs, a tougher-than-average draw, though that's on a thin 3-game sample at 0.25 confidence.
  • The unverified patriots.com headline about him making the trip is dated 2026-09-26 and concerns a Jaguars game. It doesn't override this week's Out designation. This confirms the model's sit-lean.

Latest on Raridon

Roster Analysis: TE Eli Raridon and S Craig Woodson make the trip, Patriots elevate two players for Sunday's Game vs. the Jaguars

Raridon (thigh) and Woodson (shoulder) are both questionable for Week 3 in Jacksonville.

patriots.com · Sep 26, 2026
Patriots get positive sign from rookie TE Eli Raridon

Mike Reiss breaks down Eli Raridon's return to practice as the Patriots monitor his status ahead of Sunday's matchup with Jacksonville.

VideoESPN · Sep 23, 2026
What to expect from Patriots QB Drake Maye vs. the Steelers

New England wants Maye to be patient but aggressive. Can he have success against the daunting Pittsburgh defense?

ESPN · Sep 20, 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 TE21 this week: 13% target share, 7.9 PPR projected vs CLE.

  • His chain-moving role can keep him involved even without a touchdown.
  • Red-zone size gives him a scoring route, though Pittsburgh’s lower team scoring outlook limits the upside.

Latest on Freiermuth

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricEli RaridonPat Freiermuth
Projected points
Consensus rank—TE24
Opponent vs positionBUF · 11 of 323-game sampleCLE · 19 of 323-game sample
Receptions13 of 3225 of 32
Receiving Yards9 of 3224 of 32
Receiving TDs10 of 3210 of 32
Targets16 of 3227 of 32
Anytime TD9 of 329 of 32
Target share4%13%
Reception share6%17%
Implied total · spread23.3+3.021.5-2.5
Depth chartTE2TE1
Snap share37%66%
Injury designationOut—

Recent form

Eli Raridon — last 3 weeks

Week 3vs JAXDNP
Week 2vs PIT
Week 1vs SEA

Pat Freiermuth — last 3 weeks

Week 3vs CIN
Week 2vs NE
Week 1vs ATL

Signal breakdown

  • 2.2 vs 7.9 projected PPR pointsPat Freiermuth +
  • Consensus position rankeven
  • Opponent DvP rank 11 vs 19 (32 = softest)Pat Freiermuth +
  • Implied 23.3 vs 21.5 team pointsEli Raridon +
  • A ruled-out player cannot be a startPat Freiermuth +
  • 37% vs 66% snap sharePat Freiermuth +

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