Eli Raridon or Pat Freiermuth: Who Should You Start?
Historical comparison from 2026 Week 4 — one of these players isn’t on the current board.
Start Freiermuth — Raridon is ruled out.
Eli Raridon is ruled out, which settles it: Pat Freiermuth is the only startable side of this call. Freiermuth projects 7.9 PPR points.
Eli Raridon
1.31.72.2 Projected Points
Pat Freiermuth
4.66.37.9 Projected Points
Why Eli Raridon
Sit· highRookie 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.
- Currently ruled out — not a viable start until his status changes.
- BUF ranks 11 of 32 against TEs (one of the tougher matchups, 3-game sample).
- Vegas implies 23.3 team points as 3.0-point underdogs.
- Listed TE on the latest depth chart with a 37% snap share.
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
Raridon (thigh) and Woodson (shoulder) are both questionable for Week 3 in Jacksonville.
Mike Reiss breaks down Eli Raridon's return to practice as the Patriots monitor his status ahead of Sunday's matchup with Jacksonville.
New England wants Maye to be patient but aggressive. Can he have success against the daunting Pittsburgh defense?
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Why Pat Freiermuth
StartTE1 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.
- CLE ranks 19 of 32 against TEs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 3-game sample).
- Vegas implies 21.5 team points as 2.5-point favorites.
- Listed TE on the latest depth chart with a 66% snap share.
Latest on Freiermuth
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Eli Raridon | Pat Freiermuth |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 1.31.72.2 | 4.66.37.9 |
| Consensus rank | — | TE24 |
| Opponent vs position | BUF · 11 of 323-game sample | CLE · 19 of 323-game sample |
| Receptions | 13 of 32 | 25 of 32 |
| Receiving Yards | 9 of 32 | 24 of 32 |
| Receiving TDs | 10 of 32 | 10 of 32 |
| Targets | 16 of 32 | 27 of 32 |
| Anytime TD | 9 of 32 | 9 of 32 |
| Target share | 4% | 13% |
| Reception share | 6% | 17% |
| Implied total · spread | 23.3+3.0 | 21.5-2.5 |
| Depth chart | TE2 | TE1 |
| Snap share | 37% | 66% |
| Injury designation | Out | — |
Recent form
Eli Raridon — last 3 weeks
| Week 3 | vs JAX | DNP |
| Week 2 | vs PIT | 3.03.54.0 |
| Week 1 | vs SEA | 6.26.77.2 |
Pat Freiermuth — last 3 weeks
| Week 3 | vs CIN | 3.14.15.1 |
| Week 2 | vs NE | 3.45.47.4 |
| Week 1 | vs ATL | 10.613.115.6 |
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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