Start Jake Ferguson over Pat Freiermuth — Week 1 Start/Sit Verdict

Ferguson's Bigger Role Tips a Tight TE Battle His Way

Ferguson gets the ball more, plain and simple — a 17% target share and two-thirds of Dallas' snaps make him the safety valve on early downs, not just in the red zone. A 12-spot gap in consensus rank at tight end is real separation, not the noise it would be at receiver, since TE production is so concentrated at the top of the position. Freiermuth's matchup number looks shinier on paper, but it's built on zero games of sample this season, so it's not the load-bearing argument it appears to be. Dallas' willingness to just restructure Ferguson's deal is a small but real signal they see him as central to the offense going forward.

What flips it: A visible dip in Ferguson's snap share or route count this week.

Sources: ESPN · Sep 4, 2026

AI editor

Jake Ferguson

TE12DALvs NYG

5.57.69.8 Projected Points

Start· medium

Pat Freiermuth

TE24PITvs ATL

4.96.78.4 Projected Points

Start

Why Jake Ferguson

Start· medium

TE1 and high-volume receiving tight end. Reliable chain-mover and red-zone target over the middle.

TE12 with a 17% target share and 67% snaps in a one-score game — that volume is a locked-in TE1 floor at 9.8 projected points.

17% target share and 67% snaps make him a first read over the middle, not a situational piece.
The Cowboys just restructured his contract, a sign he's locked into the game plan long-term (ESPN 2026-09-04).

The call

Ferguson is the Cowboys' clear starting tight end at a 17% target share on 67% of the snaps — that's TE1 volume, and volume is what decides tight end weeks in PPR.
The 25.0 implied total and -1.5 spread point to a competitive, pass-heavy script where Dallas keeps throwing to the middle of the field rather than sitting on a lead.
The DvP composite lists the Giants 7th toughest vs tight ends, but it's a 0-game sample with 0.00 confidence — not enough to bench a locked-in starter over.
No injury designation and a 9.8-point projection at TE12 means he clears the typical waiver-level replacement in a 12-team league.

Latest on Ferguson

Sources: Cowboys restructure deals of Clark, Bland, Ferguson

Veteran defensive tackle Kenny Clark, cornerback DaRon Bland and tight end Jake Ferguson had their deals reworked to give Dallas flexibility, sources said.

ESPN · Sep 4, 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 TE17 this week: ATL is the 3rd-toughest matchup vs TEs, 12% target share in 2025.

His red-zone size still gives him scoring equity even on a lighter route count than Ferguson.
Playing a road favorite's usual dog role, a positive game script could push extra work his way.

Head-to-head stats

Metric	Jake Ferguson	Pat Freiermuth
Projected points	5.57.69.8	4.96.78.4
Consensus rank	TE12	TE24
Opponent vs position	NYG · 7 of 320-game sample	ATL · 3 of 320-game sample
Receptions	7 of 32	3 of 32
Receiving Yards	10 of 32	8 of 32
Receiving TDs	6 of 32	1 of 32
Targets	9 of 32	4 of 32
Anytime TD	5 of 32	1 of 32
Target share	17%(2025)	12%(2025)
Reception share	20%(2025)	13%(2025)
Implied total · spread	25.0-1.5	22.8-3.0
Depth chart	TE1	TE1
Snap share	67%(2025)	53%(2025)