Mark Andrews or Michael Pittman Jr.: Who Should You Start?

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

Start Andrews: Baltimore's scoring outlook beats Pittman's snap edge

Start Andrews because Baltimore's 27-point expectation gives his TE1, red-zone role a clearer touchdown path than Pittman's current profile. Pittman owns the snap edge and higher projection, but an 8% target share in a 19.5-point offense makes that advantage fragile. This is a narrow call: Andrews' 72% role is the risk, while Pittman could regain volume after his hamstring clearance, as reported by ESPN 2026-09-11. Andrews' consensus edge and scoring environment outweigh the projection gap.

What flips it: A confirmed jump in Pittman's target involvement before kickoff.

Sources: ESPN · Sep 11, 2026

AI editor

Mark Andrews

Mark Andrews

TE15BALvs NO

Projected Points

Start· medium
Michael Pittman Jr.

Michael Pittman Jr.

WR32PITvs NE

Projected Points

Toss-Up

Mark Andrews’s market

ATD
Anytime TD
+125
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Michael Pittman Jr.’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
-132 / +103
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 33.5
-118 / -113
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+425
Anytime Touchdown Props →
NO@
BALSun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
PIT@
NESun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ETView the game →

Why Mark Andrews

Start· medium

TE1 and red-zone mismatch. Veteran seam-stretcher with strong hands and quarterback rapport.

25% target share and 72% snaps in a 27-point implied offense — Andrews is a top-12 TE role even with a TE15 projection.

  • His red-zone mismatch role gives Baltimore's favorable script a direct route to a touchdown.
  • The real risk is a 72% role failing to hold; one game of usage makes it less secure than it looks.

The call

  • A 25% target share is elite for the position; Andrews is the clear passing-game focal point at TE with a 72% snap share and no injury designation.
  • Baltimore's 27.0 implied total and -7.5 spread point to a high-scoring, red-zone-heavy script, which is exactly where Andrews cashes in on touchdowns.
  • The DvP composite of 12 of 32 reads mildly unfavorable, but it's a 1-game sample with 0.00 confidence — not enough to override the usage.
  • Risk is the 10.1 projection and TE15 label: if Baltimore builds a lead and leans run, the volume ceiling narrows to a 6-8 point day.

Why Michael Pittman Jr.

Toss-Up

WR2 and high-volume possession target. Big-bodied contested-catch winner over the middle and in the red zone.

Toss-up — WR32 consensus, projects WR33 this week: 8% target share, 11.5 PPR projected vs NE.

  • His 88% snap rate is a sturdier playing-time base than Andrews' role, even if the targets lag.
  • Pittman can win if his WR2 possession role reappears, but the low team total leaves little room for a quiet start.

Latest on Pittman

Status

Pittman (hamstring) did not appear on the Steelers' first Week 1 injury report and was cleared to play against the Falcons after missing significant camp and preseason time.

ESPN · Sep 11, 2026

Head-to-head stats

MetricMark AndrewsMichael Pittman Jr.
Projected points
Consensus rankTE15WR32
Opponent vs positionNO · 12 of 321-game sampleNE · 15 of 321-game sample
Receptions18 of 3215 of 32
Receiving Yards17 of 3221 of 32
Receiving TDs1 of 3213 of 32
Targets24 of 3215 of 32
Anytime TD1 of 3213 of 32
Target share25%8%
Reception share24%13%
Implied total · spread27.0-7.519.5+4.5
Depth chartTE1WR2
Snap share72%88%
Start/Sit record0–10–1

Recent form

Mark Andrews — last 1 week

Week 1vs IND

Michael Pittman Jr. — last 1 week

Week 1vs ATL

Signal breakdown

  • 10.2 vs 11.5 projected PPR pointsMichael Pittman Jr. +
  • Rank 15 vs 32Mark Andrews +
  • Opponent DvP rank 12 vs 15 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 27.0 vs 19.5 team pointsMark Andrews +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 72% vs 88% snap shareMichael Pittman Jr. +

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