Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cade Stover vs Pat FreiermuthWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Pat Freiermuth is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 6.2 PPG to Cade Stover's 3.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Pat Freiermuth is the better fantasy play this season.

Pat Freiermuth has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.7-PPG advantage is real (6.2 to 3.5), and Pat Freiermuth's 4 touchdowns show scoring upside. Cade Stover is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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TEHouston Texans#99

Cade Stover

PPG

3.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

215

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

TEPittsburgh Steelers#28PPG LEADER

Pat Freiermuth

PPG

6.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

486

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Cade Stover

Pat Freiermuth

Head to Head

3.5 PPG6.2 PPG

15 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Cade Stover: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Pat Freiermuth: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #28 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Cade Stover is producing at 16% of elite pace and Pat Freiermuth at 28%. That ranking gap means Pat Freiermuth carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Cade Stover vs Pat Freiermuth: The Full Breakdown

Cade Stover and Pat Freiermuth are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Cade Stover averaged 3.5 PPG across 15 games with the Houston Texans, while Pat Freiermuth posted 6.2 PPG in 15 appearances for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A 2.7-PPG gap gives Pat Freiermuth the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Pat Freiermuth is the volume tight end in this matchup with 41 receptions for 486 yards, while Cade Stover profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 22 catches). In weeks where Cade Stover finds the end zone he out-scores Pat Freiermuth, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: Cade Stover is off Week 14 and Pat Freiermuth Week 9. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in tight end for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Cade Stover (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Pat Freiermuth (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Pat Freiermuth outscored Cade Stover by a projected 46 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Pat Freiermuth scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Pat Freiermuth saw 54 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cade Stover vs Pat Freiermuth: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cade Stover	Pat Freiermuth
PPG (Half-PPR)	3.5	6.2
Games Played	15	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	53	93
Receptions	22	41
Rec/Game	1.5	2.7
Receiving Yards	215	486
Rec Yds/Game	14.3	32.4
Receiving TDs	1	4
Targets	32	54
Target Share/Game	2.1	3.6
Age	-	27
Experience	-	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 9

Summary

Pat Freiermuth outscored Cade Stover by 2.7 PPG in 2025 (6.2 to 3.5). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Cade Stover or Pat Freiermuth in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Pat Freiermuth has the edge at 6.2 PPG compared to Cade Stover's 3.5 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Cade Stover and Pat Freiermuth average in 2025?▾

Cade Stover averaged 3.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Pat Freiermuth averaged 6.2 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 2.7 points per game.

When are Cade Stover and Pat Freiermuth's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cade Stover (HOU) has a bye in Week 14, and Pat Freiermuth (PIT) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cade Stover or Pat Freiermuth a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Pat Freiermuth outscored Cade Stover by 2.7 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.