Pat Freiermuth: Fantasy| Playing today| 40 time| Contract| Injury

Introduction

Pat Freiermuth is one of the more intriguing tight ends in the NFL, particularly from a fantasy football standpoint. As the Pittsburgh Steelers’ TE, he combines a good physical frame, solid college production, and potential upside. But entering and during the 2025 season, a number of variables—usage, health, competition in the TE room, and contract expectations—affect his value. In this article, we dig into:

1. Fantasy outlook — how valuable is he for fantasy managers

2. Is he playing today? — current status and expectations

3. 40-yard dash / athletic measurables

4. Contract & financials

5. Injury history & durability

Let’s start with some basics.

Who Is Pat Freiermuth?

• Full name: Patrick John Freiermuth

• Born: October 25, 1998 (age ~26)

• Height / weight: 6′5″, 258 lbs

• College: Penn State (2018–2020)

• NFL team: Pittsburgh Steelers (2021–present)

• Drafted: 2021, 2nd round, 55th overall.

In college, Freiermuth was productive and developed a reputation as a reliable, well-rounded tight end, with good hands, contested-catch ability, and blocking willingness. He entered the NFL with solid expectations, and through his first seasons showed flashes of upside.

Fantasy Outlook

Career and Historical Trends

Through the end of the 2024 season, Freiermuth had compiled:

• 220 receptions

• 2,190 receiving yards

• 18 receiving touchdowns

In his rookie season, he caught 60 passes for 497 yards and 7 touchdowns despite sustaining two concussions. His 2022 season was arguably his strongest statistical year, with 63 receptions on 98 targets for 732 yards. In 2024, he signed a new extension and again produced.

That said, metrics like yards per target, true catch rate, and contested catch rate suggest he is efficient when used. In 2025 previews, analysts note his consistency and ability to capitalize on limited opportunities.

2025 Season & Competition

Entering 2025, a major storyline is the trade-acquisition of Jonnu Smith by Pittsburgh. Smith joins Freiermuth in the tight end room and is expected to compete for targets and snaps in two-TE sets. That increases the uncertainty for Freiermuth’s role.

Furthermore, early 2025 usage suggests that his snap share has declined compared to previous years, particularly against certain defensive fronts. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has publicly defended the limited usage, citing matchup-based game planning (especially against 4-3 defensive fronts) as a reason to favor larger blocking tight ends.

As of mid-2025, Freiermuth’s production has been modest: he had just 7 catches for 65 yards and no touchdowns through the first four games, with only 10 total targets. In some games, his snap count has dipped to very low levels (13 offensive snaps vs. Minnesota).

Fantasy Value & Risks

Pros:

• When targeted, he is efficient and has shown upside (good hands, contested catch ability).

• Consistency: over his career, he has avoided major injury interruptions (more on this below).

• Match-up upside: In favorable games or in red-zone sets, he remains a threat.

Cons / Risks:

• Competing for snaps with Jonnu Smith.

• Variable usage based on opponent defensive fronts and scheme (Tomlin’s match-up logic).

• Limited target volume so far in 2025.

• Chemistry with quarterback and game flow may suppress usage.

For fantasy drafts, he slots more as a “sleeper TE” or mid-to-late TE option rather than a high-end TE1. Many analysts caution that he should not be relied upon in all formats, but kept as a value pick or depth piece.

In summary, Freiermuth’s fantasy value is modest but not negligible. He may thrive when given opportunity, but that opportunity is far from guaranteed in 2025.

Is He Playing Today?

As of the latest information (Week 7, 2025), Pat Freiermuth is active and expected to play. He is not listed on the injury report. FantasyPros gives him a 99% chance to play that week.

In the game against the Bengals, for example, he pulled in a target on Pittsburgh’s first drive (though it was nullified by penalty) and later caught a 68-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers in the fourth quarter. That TD gave the Steelers a brief 31–30 lead before Cincinnati responded.

In that game, his stat line was impressive: 5 catches, 111 yards, 2 touchdowns, on 6 targets. It marked a breakout performance relative to his earlier usage that season.

However, even though he’s active, nothing ensures a high snap count or consistent involvement each week. Matchups, game scripts, and the scheme may suppress his role.

40-Yard Dash / Athletic Measurables

One question many ask: What is Pat Freiermuth’s 40 time? Unfortunately, publicly available sources do not provide a definitive 40-yard dash time for Freiermuth from the NFL Combine or Pro Day.

While many NFL prospects have official 40 times, Freiermuth’s exact 40 time is not widely documented in mainstream sources. Some draft profiles and scouting reports mention that he is reasonably athletic for his size, with good acceleration, short-area quickness, and agility — traits beneficial for a tight end — but no confirmed 40-yard dash has surfaced in the major stat aggregators.

Scouting reports emphasize that:

• He has solid footwork, body control, and ability to separate in short to intermediate zones.

• He is good at contested catches and brings toughness to blocks.

• His speed is not elite, but sufficient for typical tight end routes and seam threats.

Contract & Financials

Contract Extension (2024–2028)

On September 6, 2024, Pat Freiermuth signed a four-year, $48.4 million contract extension with the Steelers. This extension secures his presence in Pittsburgh through the 2028 season.

By value, the deal places him among the more highly paid tight ends in the league. The average annual value (AAV) works out to about $12.1 million per year (roughly).

This shows that the Steelers and their front office believe in his talent and potential long-term, even amid usage concerns.

Implications & Expectations

Given the size of that extension, expectations are high for Freiermuth to produce. But signing value and actual on-field usage are different matters. Critics and analysts have pointed out that despite being well-compensated, his snap counts and target share have been disappointing so far in 2025.

The extension also heightens scrutiny: if he doesn’t produce commensurately, questions will arise about the return on investment. Conversely, a string of big games could validate the deal and raise his fantasy floor.

Injury History & Durability

One of the advantages Freiermuth offers is a relatively clean injury history. Let’s review:

Known Injuries & Outages

• In 2021 (rookie season), Freiermuth sustained two concussions: one in Week 12 and another in Week 15.

• In 2023, he was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. He returned in mid-November.

• Otherwise, across 2022, 2024, and early 2025, he has largely avoided major injury-designated absences.

The FantasyFootballCalculator injury tracker shows that as of 2025, he has no recent injuries and zero games listed as doubtful or out.

While he has had isolated issues, none appear to be chronic. His ability to stay on the field is a plus for both the Steelers and fantasy managers.

Durability Concerns & Caveats

• Concussions are always a concern, especially for a physical position like tight end.

• The hamstring injury in 2023 might raise a flag about lower-body resilience, though it was a single occurrence.

• Even healthy, his snap share can fluctuate drastically depending on scheme, matchups, or coaching decisions. That variability is a kind of usage risk even if he is not injured.

Overall, his injury history is relatively benign, meaning when healthy, he can be reliable — the bigger challenge is maximizing opportunity.

Projected 2025 Outlook & Use Cases

Putting together all the pieces — usage trends, contract, competition, and health — here’s how I view Freiermuth’s potential in 2025.

Baseline Outlook

• He is likely a “floor” fantasy TE: you can expect some catches, yardage, occasional red-zone targets, but not always high volume.

• In matchups favorable to sending tight ends into coverage or seam routes, he may shine.

• In run-heavy or power-front games (e.g. against teams that play base 4-3 fronts), his utilization may dip, especially in blocking-heavy sets.

• The presence of Jonnu Smith may cap his upside in certain games, depending on how the Steelers choose to divide targets and snaps.

• His breakout game versus Cincinnati (5 catches, 111 yards, 2 TDs) shows he still can deliver when the stars align.

• In redraft leagues, Freiermuth is better considered as a mid-tier TE pick rather than a top-tier anchor. He could be a value pick in later rounds.

• In DFS (daily fantasy), he might be a sneaky upside play, especially when matchups or injuries shift opportunities.

• In dynasty / keeper formats, his youth, contract security, and clean health history make him a decent asset — though the addition of Jonnu Smith complicates projection.

• In start/sit decisions, monitor matchup (defensive front, matchup against linebackers/safeties) and check Steelers’ usage trends before locking him in.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Fantasy value: Moderate upside but high variance. He is not a lock as a TE1 but can pay off in favorable weeks.

• Playing today / active: Yes, he is active and expected to play in Week 7, with no injury designation.

• 40-yard dash: No reliable public record of a 40 time; he is regarded more for his route skills and contested-catch ability than blazing speed.

• Contract: Four-year, $48.4 million extension signed in 2024, giving stability and high expectations.

• Injury history: Relatively clean over his career, with two concussions in 2021 and a hamstring IR stint in 2023 as his most notable health events.