Kyle Pitts Sr. or Pat Freiermuth: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 2 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Pitts gets the nod on role upside, but his volume is the entire gamble

Start Kyle Pitts: his TE7 consensus standing and Atlanta’s stronger scoring outlook give his vertical seam role more ceiling than Pat Freiermuth’s bench-tier profile. The call is narrow because Pitts’ role has not produced usable volume—he was shut out on one Week 1 target (Steelers.com 2026-09-14). Freiermuth has the stronger recent production and target involvement, but New England’s difficult tight end matchup and Pittsburgh’s lower scoring outlook make that advantage harder to trust. The actual risk is simple: Pitts can repeat the same empty route volume, while Freiermuth needs his steadier chain-moving role to overcome the environment.

What flips it: Another empty target game for Pitts.

Sources: Steelers.com · Sep 14, 2026

AI editor

Kyle Pitts Sr.

Kyle Pitts Sr.

TE7ATLvs CAR

Projected Points

Toss-Up· medium
Pat Freiermuth

Pat Freiermuth

TE24PITvs NE

Projected Points

Sit

Kyle Pitts Sr.’s market

ATD
Anytime TD
+350
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Pat Freiermuth’s market

REC
O/U 2.5
-167 / +130
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 25.5
-115 / -109
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+550
Anytime Touchdown Props →
CAR@
ATLSun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
PIT@
NESun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ETView the game →

Why Kyle Pitts Sr.

Toss-Up· medium

TE1 and vertical seam threat. Rare size-speed mismatch profile with high-volume target share in the passing game.

TE7 on paper at 11.1 projected, but a 5% target share and a zero-catch Week 1 on one look make Pitts a bet on volume that hasn't shown up.

  • Pitts’ seam-threat profile creates a bigger payoff if Atlanta finally routes him into the passing game.
  • His zero-catch opener makes the recommended play unusually dependent on a role correction.

The call

  • The projection (11.1, TE7) and a near-even game — Atlanta -1.5, 23.0 implied total — say playable, but that number is built on reputation more than 2026 usage.
  • Role red flag: 63% snap share with just a 5% target share, and Steelers.com noted he was "targeted just once by Cooper Rush and finishing with zero catches" in Week 1.
  • Matchup is neutral at best — Carolina grades 13 of 32 vs the position (softest = 32), and that's a 1-game sample with 0.00 confidence, so there's no soft-spot bonus to lean on.
  • Tip it to start if he draws early-down and red-zone looks with Rush under center; if you have any top-12 TE with a defined target share, play that instead this week.

Latest on Pitts

Role

Kyle Pitts was shut out entirely in Week 1, targeted just once by Cooper Rush and finishing with zero catches as the Steelers defense effectively limited Atlanta's top two pass-catching options behind Robinson.

Steelers.com · Sep 14, 2026
Fantasy buzz: Pats' Stevenson rises with Henderson out, Cards list Love as RB2

TreVeyon Henderson won't suit up on Wednesday, leaving most of the backfield work for Rhamondre Stevenson.

ESPN · Sep 9, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Pat Freiermuth

Sit

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

Sit — bench-tier TE at consensus TE24: NE is the 2nd-toughest matchup vs TEs, 14% target share.

  • Freiermuth’s chain-moving skill supports a steadier floor than the projection gap suggests.
  • His recent output is encouraging, but the Patriots matchup attacks the volume he needs.

Head-to-head stats

MetricKyle Pitts Sr.Pat Freiermuth
Projected points
Consensus rankTE7TE24
Opponent vs positionCAR · 13 of 321-game sampleNE · 2 of 321-game sample
Receptions2 of 322 of 32
Receiving Yards14 of 322 of 32
Receiving TDs21 of 321 of 32
Targets6 of 322 of 32
Anytime TD20 of 321 of 32
Target share5%14%
Reception share0%21%
Implied total · spread23.0-1.519.5+4.5
Depth chartTE1TE2
Snap share63%73%
Start/Sit record0–1+1 toss-up—

Recent form

Kyle Pitts Sr. — last 1 week

Week 1vs PIT

Pat Freiermuth — last 1 week

Week 1vs ATL

Signal breakdown

  • 11.2 vs 8.5 projected PPR pointsKyle Pitts Sr. +
  • Rank 7 vs 24Kyle Pitts Sr. +
  • Opponent DvP rank 13 vs 2 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 23.0 vs 19.5 team pointsKyle Pitts Sr. +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 63% vs 73% snap sharePat Freiermuth +

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