Steelers Tight End Freiermuth Faces Reduced Role Amid Position Depth

Increased competition from Jonnu Smith and Darnell Washington limits Freiermuth's fantasy football upside in 2026.

Feb. 26, 2026 at 9:31am

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Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth saw a significant decline in his fantasy football production during the 2025 season, falling from a top-9 tight end to 25th in PPR leagues. This was due to increased competition within the Steelers' tight end group, with the team acquiring Jonnu Smith in the offseason and Darnell Washington emerging as a pass-catching threat. With Smith and Washington still under contract, Freiermuth's opportunities for targets and yards are expected to remain capped, potentially limiting his fantasy value in 2026.

Why it matters

Freiermuth's reduced role highlights the challenges fantasy managers face when top players see their production limited by increased competition on their own teams. This situation underscores the importance of closely monitoring depth charts and target distributions when evaluating players for upcoming fantasy drafts.

The details

In 2025, Freiermuth played all 17 games, securing 41 receptions for 486 yards and four touchdowns. However, these numbers were overshadowed by the influx of talent in Pittsburgh's tight end position. The Steelers acquired Jonnu Smith during the offseason, who commanded 54 targets, clearly diluting Freiermuth's share of the workload. Additionally, Darnell Washington's breakout campaign, highlighted by 31 catches, further crowded the position and reduced Freiermuth's fantasy output.

  • Freiermuth saw a noticeable decline in his fantasy football value during the 2025 season.

The players

Pat Freiermuth

A Pittsburgh Steelers tight end who saw a significant decline in his fantasy football production during the 2025 season.

Jonnu Smith

A tight end acquired by the Pittsburgh Steelers during the offseason, who commanded 54 targets in 2025, reducing Freiermuth's share of the workload.

Darnell Washington

A Pittsburgh Steelers tight end who had a breakout campaign in 2025, recording 31 catches, further crowding the position and reducing Freiermuth's fantasy output.

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What’s next

Neither Jonnu Smith nor Darnell Washington is set to become a free agent this offseason, meaning that the Steelers' tight end depth chart is unlikely to change significantly in 2026.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of closely monitoring depth charts and target distributions when evaluating players for upcoming fantasy drafts, as top players can see their production limited by increased competition on their own teams.