Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth deserves a contract extension but may have to wait

Pat Freiermuth is one of our top breakout candidates for the 2024 season.

You can’t fault tight end Pat Freiermuth for his statistical dip in 2023. The Pittsburgh Steelers passing game hit rock bottom for a long stretch and he was just one of the unfortunate victims. As he heads into the final year of his rookie contract, this along with the addition of new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith could force him to play out his current deal and see what happens.

Freiermuth set career highs in receptions 963) and receiving yards (732) in 2022 but couldn’t approach either number last season. With Connor Heyward, Darnell Washington and Rodney Williams on the roster, there should be some strong competition to see which tight ends can flourish in Smith’s offense.

Smith has highlighted the tight end in previous seasons with players like Jonnu Smith and Kyle Pitts. Smith might want to use the 2024 season to evaluate best fits and this would leave Freiermuth playing for a contract. There’s no doubt Freiermuth is the best tight end on the roster and we expect him to have a breakout campaign is Pittsburgh can get the quarterback position on track.

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Steelers 2024 offseason – Tight end

The Steelers have four quality tight ends on the roster.

The Pittsburgh Steelers went into 2023 with high hopes for the tight end position. But unfortunately, the problems with the offense spilled over to this group in all the worst ways. Hopefully, the addition of new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will help get these guys back into the game plan. Here are all the tight ends currently on the roster.

Steelers vs Bills: 5 players who must step up this week

The Steelers will need big games from Pat Freiermuth and Mason Cole this week.

No one is giving the Pittsburgh Steelers a shot this weekend against the Buffalo Bills. The weather is going to be miserable and could end up the great equalizer between a team with one of the top quarterbacks in the league and a former third-stringer pushed into the starting lineup.

Putting aside the quarterbacks, here are the five players for the Steelers who must step up this week.

Every Penn State player in the NFL playoffs in 2024

Here is every former Penn State football player on an NFL playoff team’s roster in 2024.

Another NFL postseason is set to get underway, and there is a good chance at least one team playing in the Super Bowl will have a Penn State player on the roster. All but two teams in this year’s NFL playoffs have at least one Penn State player on the roster this year. The top seeds in each conference have multiple Penn State players on the roster, seemingly making it more likely Penn State will see a former player earn a Super Bowl ring.

In all, a total of 64 Super Bowl rings have been won by a former Penn State player. Last year’s Super Bowl had just one former Penn State player on the field, but Miles Sanders and the Philadelphia Eagles came up short of winning the big game. There is an excellent chance there will be more than one former Nittany Lion competing in the Super Bowl this postseason.

The Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Browns are the only two teams in the NFL postseason without a Penn State player on the roster. Here is a look at every Penn State player on an NFL playoff team’s roster this postseason.

Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth shows obvious frustration with mental mistakes

Pat Freiermuth can’t understand why guys can’t line up right.

When you are the Pittsburgh Steelers there is no margin of error for mental mistakes. This team just isn’t talented enough to overcome unforced errors. This was a real issue for the Steelers with three procedural/formation penalties in the Steelers 24-10 loss and at this point in the season, this is unacceptable.

Tight end Pat Freiermuth spoke to the media on Monday and there was no hiding his level of frustration when asked about guys lining up in the wrong places after this far into the season.

“We’ve had the same formations for three years now, the names of them,” Freiermuth said. “It’s pretty frustrating.”

Pittsburgh’s struggles on offense even when these sorts of things aren’t happening are glaring. But when guys can’t line up right it puts a struggling offense even further behind. With quarterback Kenny Pickett out of the picture for the foreseeable future, disciplined football is going to be even more important over the next few weeks.

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Fantasy football waiver wire: Week 13 free-agent forecast

Check out the top waiver wire targets for fantasy football in Week 13.

With just a few more weeks until the playoffs arrive, it’s crunch time in the majority of fantasy football leagues. The waiver wire should be busy entering Week 13.

After no teams had a bye in Week 12, managers will get hit hard in Week 13. Six teams will be on a bye, including some major firepower. Those six teams include the Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders.

We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo leagues, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!

We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.

Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.

Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.

10 fantasy football waiver wire targets ahead of Week 13

Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell remains an intriguing waiver wire target in fantasy football.

Welcome to Week 13 of the 2023 NFL season. As real-life teams prepare for the final playoff push, fantasy managers are prepping for fantasy football playoffs to begin.

To help you make a playoff run, we’ve put together a list of ten fantasy football waiver wire targets to consider this week, including options at running back, wide receiver, tight end, quarterback, defense and kicker (each player’s rostered percentage in ESPN fantasy football leagues is listed in parentheses).

The list is highlighted by Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell, who turned 11 touches into 89 yards on Sunday. While Gus Edwards remains Baltimore’s goal-line running back, Mitchell has been more efficient, which might lead to more opportunities down the road.

At wide receiver, Greg Dortch of the Arizona Cardinals is turning heads after drawing 9 and 8 targets, respectively, over the last two weeks since Kyler Murray returned from injury. We’ll see if that utilization leads to production in the final six weeks of the season.

Check out the full list of fantasy football waiver wire targets below.

Best Fantasy Football waiver wire pickups for Week 13

Here are some waiver wire options for fantasy this week.

After the 12th full slate of regular season action, the NFL and fantasy football are in the back half of their years.

If you had a tough injury in Week 12, you just didn’t get the production from one of your players that you expected or you have a player on bye, we’ll scan the waiver wire. For potential pickups, we’ll consider players who are available in at least 50% of ESPN fantasy leagues.

Let’s take a look at some of the potential waiver wire pickups that could help your teams heading into Week 13 of the NFL campaign.

Tunnel Vision – Injuries, free agents and Sunday stars

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
 Josh Allen  339-81 4
 Jalen Hurts 200-65 5
 Dak Prescott 331-10 4
 C.J. Stroud 304-47 3
 Jordan Love 268-39 3
Running Backs Rush Rcv TD
Kyren Williams 16-143
6-61
2
Christian McCaffrey 19-114
5-25
2
Bijan Robinson 16-91
3-32
2
Isiah Pacheco 15-55
5-34
2
Josh Jacobs 20-110
4-15
1
Wide Receivers Yards TD
Tyreek Hill 9-102 1
Mike Evans 6-70 2
Rashee Rice 8-107 1
DeVonta Smith 7-106 1
Keenan Allen 14-106 0
Tight Ends Yards TD
Pat Freiermuth 9-120 0
Tyler Higbee 5-29 2
Sam LaPorta 5-47 1
Travis Kelce 6-91 0
Gerald Everett 4-43 1
Placekickers XP FG
Blake Grupe 0 5
Brandon McManus 1 3
Tyler Bass 4 2
Jason Sanders 4 2
Chris Boswell 1 3
Defense Sack – TO TD
Miami 7-2 1
San Francisco 6-2 0
Dallas 4-1 1
Baltimore 3-4 0
Green Bay 3-3 1

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB D. Thompson-Robinson – Head
QB Baker Mayfield – Ankle
WR Laviska Shenault – Ankle
WR Demario Douglas – Head
WR Rashid Shaheed – Thigh
WR Amari Cooper – Rib
WR Chris Olave – Concussion

Chasing Ambulances

QB D. Thompson-Robinson – Got blasted by a defender and left the field with a bloody lip. Was diagnosed with a concussion. So the Browns will either revert to P.J. Walker as they did in the game, or they promote Joe Flacco from the practice squad. The Browns play at the Jaguars this week.

QB Baker Mayfield – He injured his ankle and looked significant at first, but he later returned to the game. Kyle Trask replaced him in the game for a few plays. He should be good for the Panthers this week.

WR Demario Douglas – He’s been the only Patriot wideout with a shred of fantasy value and he was clotheslined on a punt return though no penalty was called. He’s believed to have a concussion but more should be known by Wednesday at the latest.

WR Rashid Shaheed – Thigh
WR Chris Olave – Concussion The Saints’ receivers are in bad shape. Olave hit the ground hard on an attempted catch and was ruled out with a concussion. Shaheed injured his thigh and did not return to the game. Michael Thomas is already on IR. The Saints host the Lions this week and may have little more than A.T. PerryKeith Kirkwood, and Taysom Hill for receivers.

WR Amari Cooper – He had his arms outstretched for a pass when a Denver defender delivered a crushing shot to his ribs. He was immediately ruled out though his X-rays were negative. The rookie Cedric Tillman was the top wideout with four catches for 55 yards. The Browns  play at the Rams this week but it isn’t even certain who the quarterback will be. If Cooper misses time, assumedly Elijah Moore would see more targets but there have been no fantasy-relevant wideouts in Cleveland other than Cooper. 

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

QB Jake Browning – The replacement for Joe Burrow threw for 227 yards and a touchdown with one interception against the Steelers. He connected with Ja’Marr Chase for 81 yards on four receptions but had no success with the rest of the receivers. The Steelers were also able to hold Joe Mixon to only eight carries for 16 yards, so the absence of Burrow is going to impact both the rushing and receiving.

WR Calvin Ridley – After disappearing for much of the season, Ridley scored on his five catches for 89 yards in the win over the Texans for his second straight game with high yardage and a touchdown. And the last two weeks have been the best performances for Trevor Lawrence.

RB Rachaad White – He popped up on the injury report on Friday as questionable with a thigh injury. Apparently, the pain motivated him because he rushed for a season-high 100 yards and caught two short passes in the loss to the Colts.

RB Rhamondre Stevenson/Ezekiel Elliott – The Pats may not win again this season, as shocking as that seems. They used both Matt Jones and Bailey  Zappe in a race to who could throw the most interceptions (Jones won), but the rushing offense wasn’t a disaster. Stevenson (21-98, TD) and Elliott (9-46) were the only part of the offense that scored or gained much yardage. This week they play the Chargers which should benefit them again.

QB Tommy DeVito – He won his last two games and threw for 246 yards and three scores in Week 11. On Sunday, he passed for 191 yards and a touchdown. He also did what was thought impossible when he completed five passes to the rookie Jalin Hyatt, who gained 109 yards – the only 100-yard game by a Giants’ receiver this year.

WR Rashee Rice – The Chiefs desperately need a receiver not currently dating Taylor Swift to make a difference and Patrick Mahomes has already thrown passes to 12 wideouts. Rice has been the most consistent so far, logging around 50 yards and scoring in every other game. Versus the Raiders, he caught a season-best eight passes for 107 yards and a touchdown – the first 100-yard game by a wide receiver. Justin Watson scored for the last two weeks but with minimal yardage. Week 12 was the first time it looked like the Chiefs had an actual No. 1 wideout.

WR Jakobi Meyers – While Aiden O’Connell has continued to throw to Davante Adams, he had failed to connect with Meyers for more than a few catches and minimal yardage. Against a very tough Chiefs secondary, Meyers led the Raiders with six catches for 79 yards and a score. That bodes well for when they return from their Week 13 bye to face the weak defenses of the Vikings and Chargers.

TE Pat Freiermuth – He returned from the back injury in Week 11 after spending six weeks on injured reserve but only caught one pass for seven yards at the Browns. Playing for the first time without OC Matt Canada, Freiermuth posted a career-high nine catches for 120 yards in the win over the Bengals. He only had 13 receptions on the year entering Sunday. The Bengals are weak against the position, but Freiermuth had double the production of any other receiver.

RB Keaton Mitchell – He led the Ravens in rushing with nine carries for 64 yards, plus caught both targets for 25 more yards. The Ravens are committed to their committee backfield, but Mitchell is still generating  fantasy points even with the 11-touch workload.  That was one more carry than Gus Edwards and three more than Justice Hill.

Huddle player of the week

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

RB Kyren Williams  –  He spent time on injured reserve with an ankle injury and the Rams said they would have him on a snap count in his first game back. That limitation ended up as 16 carries for 143 yards, plus six receptions for 61 yards with two touchdowns as the No. 1 running back for Week 12. Royce Freeman also ran for 77 yards and a score on 13 carries, so they didn’t give him a “full” workload, just one that helped his fantasy owners win their game – if they ignored what the Rams coaches said before the game.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Jordan Love 268-39 3 QB Tua Tagovailoa 243-1 1
RB Kyren Williams 16-143
6-61
2 RB Kareem Hunt 7-22 0
RB Royce Freeman 13-77 1 RB Saquon Barkley 12-46
1-6
0
WR Rashee Rice 8-107 1 WR Adam Thielen 1-2 0
WR Gabe Davis 6-105 1 WR DK Metcalf 3-32 0
WR Jalin Hyatt 5-109 0 WR Puka Nacua 4-27 0
TE Pat Freiermuth 9-120 0 TE George Kittle 3-9 0
PK Blake Grupe   5 FG PK Matt Prater   zip
Huddle Fantasy Points = 220 Huddle Fantasy Points = 20

Now get back to work…

Steelers vs Bengals: 5 takeaways big from the huge win

The new Steelers offense helped carry Pittsburgh to the win.

The Pittsburgh Steelers new-and-improved offense broke a 58-game streak of not gaining 400 yards of offense on the way to a 16-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Here are our big takeaways from the win.