Michael Mayer or Pat Freiermuth: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 1 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Too close to call — the edges cancel out.

Michael Mayer and Pat Freiermuth grade out even this week. Mayer's best edge is the projection (9.3 to 8.4), Freiermuth's best edge is the game script (22.8 implied points to 22.3) — and they cancel out. Start whichever player's game you trust more this week.

Michael Mayer

Michael Mayer

TELVvs MIA

Projected Points

Toss-Up· medium
Pat Freiermuth

Pat Freiermuth

TE24PITvs ATL

Projected Points

Start
MIA@
LVSun, Sep 13, 4:25 PM ETView the game →
ATL@
PITSun, Sep 13, 1:00 PM ETView the game →

Why Michael Mayer

Toss-Up· medium

TE2 in complementary role. Physical in-line blocker with reliable short-to-intermediate hands behind the starter.

TE12 at 9.3 projected points is exactly the 12-team starter cutoff — 62% snaps and a 13% target share make him a floor play, not a difference-maker.

  • Vegas implies 22.3 team points as 3.0-point favorites.
  • Listed TE on the latest depth chart with a 62% snap share in 2025.

The call

  • Consensus TE12 with 9.3 projected PPR points puts him right on the last-starter line in a 12-team league: startable if your alternative isn't a top-12 tight end, benchable if it is.
  • Role is real but not featured — 62% snap share and a 13% target share over 13 games means he's on the field enough to produce but isn't the engine of the passing game.
  • Game script is neutral-to-helpful: a 22.3 implied team total as a 3-point favorite suggests a competitive game without the volume spike a shootout or trailing script would create.
  • No injury designation, so the floor is secure; what tips this to a start is a red-zone or two-target-share bump, and what tips it to a sit is any healthy top-12 TE on your bench.

Latest on Mayer

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: 12% target share in 2025, 8.4 PPR projected vs ATL.

  • Vegas implies 22.8 team points as 3.0-point favorites.
  • Listed TE on the latest depth chart with a 53% snap share in 2025.

Latest on Freiermuth

Role

Freiermuth said he likes McCarthy's use of the middle of the field and use of the team's tight end talent, an offense-building point of emphasis as he specializes on passing downs behind Darnell Washington's early-down role.

Steelers.com · Aug 27, 2026

Head-to-head stats

MetricMichael MayerPat Freiermuth
Projected points
Consensus rank—TE24
Opponent vs positionMIAno ranking yetATLno ranking yet
Target share13%(2025)12%(2025)
Reception share14%(2025)13%(2025)
Implied total · spread22.3-3.022.8-3.0
Depth chartTE2TE1
Snap share62%(2025)53%(2025)
Start/Sit record0–0+1 toss-up—

Signal breakdown

  • 9.3 vs 8.4 projected PPR pointsMichael Mayer +
  • Consensus position rankeven
  • Matchup (DvP composite)even
  • Implied 22.3 vs 22.8 team pointsPat Freiermuth +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 62% vs 53% snap shareMichael Mayer +

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