Harold Fannin vs Pat Freiermuth: Who Should You Start?
Harold Fannin and Pat Freiermuth are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Harold Fannin averaged 9.4 PPG across 16 games with the Cleveland Browns, while Pat Freiermuth posted 5.5 PPG in 17 appearances for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A 3.9-PPG gap gives Harold Fannin 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.
Harold Fannin is the volume tight end in this matchup with 72 receptions for 731 yards, while Pat Freiermuth profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (4 scores on 41 catches). In weeks where Pat Freiermuth finds the end zone he out-scores Harold Fannin, but the floor gap is real.
Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Harold Fannin sits Week 10 while Pat Freiermuth is off Week 9. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
