Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cole Kmet vs Pat FreiermuthWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Pat Freiermuth is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 6.2 PPG to Cole Kmet's 4.0 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 2.2-PPG advantage is real (6.2 to 4.0), and Pat Freiermuth's 4 touchdowns show scoring upside. Cole Kmet 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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TEChicago Bears#99

Cole Kmet

PPG

4.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

347

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

TEPittsburgh Steelers#28PPG LEADER

Pat Freiermuth

PPG

6.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

486

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Cole Kmet

Pat Freiermuth

Head to Head

4.0 PPG6.2 PPG

16 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Cole Kmet: 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, Cole Kmet is producing at 18% 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.

Cole Kmet vs Pat Freiermuth: The Full Breakdown

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Cole Kmet (Chicago Bears) finished the 2025 season averaging 4.0 fantasy points per game in 16 games. Pat Freiermuth (Pittsburgh Steelers) came in at 6.2 PPG over 15 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Pat Freiermuth carries a 2.2-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Cole Kmet had 30 catches for 347 yards; Pat Freiermuth posted 41 for 486. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

One scheduling note: Cole Kmet is off Week 7 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: Cole Kmet (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 Cole Kmet by a projected 37 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Cole Kmet played 16 games in 2025 compared to Pat Freiermuth's 15. That durability gap means Cole Kmet contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•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

Cole Kmet vs Pat Freiermuth: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cole Kmet	Pat Freiermuth
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.0	6.2
Games Played	16	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	64	93
Receptions	30	41
Rec/Game	1.9	2.7
Receiving Yards	347	486
Rec Yds/Game	21.7	32.4
Receiving TDs	2	4
Targets	48	54
Target Share/Game	3.0	3.6
Age	27	27
Experience	6 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 9

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Pat Freiermuth holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 6.2 points per game. Cole Kmet averaged 4.0 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Cole Kmet or Pat Freiermuth in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Pat Freiermuth has the edge at 6.2 PPG compared to Cole Kmet's 4.0 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 Cole Kmet and Pat Freiermuth average in 2025?▾

Cole Kmet averaged 4.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Pat Freiermuth averaged 6.2 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 2.2 points per game.

When are Cole Kmet and Pat Freiermuth's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cole Kmet (CHI) has a bye in Week 7, and Pat Freiermuth (PIT) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cole Kmet or Pat Freiermuth a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Pat Freiermuth outscored Cole Kmet by 2.2 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.