Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Pat Freiermuth vs Trey McBride

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Trey McBride is the better fantasy play this season.

Trey McBride is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 14.9 PPG and 1,239 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Pat Freiermuth (6.2 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Trey McBride as the starter and Pat Freiermuth as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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TEPittsburgh Steelers#28

Pat Freiermuth

PPG

6.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

486

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

TEArizona Cardinals#1PPG LEADER

Trey McBride

PPG

14.9

Games

Rec

126

Rec Yds

1,239

Rec TDs

Targets

169

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Pat Freiermuth

Trey McBride

Head to Head

6.2 PPG14.9 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Pat Freiermuth: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #28 at the position). Trey McBride: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #1 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Pat Freiermuth is producing at 28% of elite pace and Trey McBride at 68%. That ranking gap means Trey McBride carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Pat Freiermuth vs Trey McBride: Who Should You Start?

There is a real production gap between these two tight ends. Trey McBride (Arizona Cardinals) averaged 14.9 PPG over 17 games in 2025, outscoring Pat Freiermuth (Pittsburgh Steelers, 6.2 PPG) by 8.7 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

A 8.7-PPG gap gives Trey McBride 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.

Trey McBride is the volume tight end in this matchup with 126 receptions for 1239 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 Trey McBride, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: Pat Freiermuth is off Week 5 and Trey McBride Week 8. 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

If you can acquire Trey McBride at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Pat Freiermuth is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Pat Freiermuth (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Trey McBride (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Trey McBride outscored Pat Freiermuth by a projected 148 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Trey McBride played 17 games in 2025 compared to Pat Freiermuth's 15. That durability gap means Trey McBride contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Trey McBride scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Trey McBride saw 169 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatFreiermuthMcBride

PPG (Half-PPR)6.214.9

Games Played1517

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)93253

Receptions41126

Rec/Game2.77.4

Receiving Yards4861,239

Rec Yds/Game32.472.9

Receiving TDs411

Targets54169

Target Share/Game3.69.9

Age2726

Experience4 yrs3 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 5Week 8

Summary

Trey McBride outscored Pat Freiermuth by 8.7 PPG in 2025 (14.9 to 6.2). 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 Pat Freiermuth or Trey McBride in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Trey McBride has the edge at 14.9 PPG compared to Pat Freiermuth's 6.2 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 Pat Freiermuth and Trey McBride average in 2025?▾

Pat Freiermuth averaged 6.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Trey McBride averaged 14.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 8.7 points per game.

When are Pat Freiermuth and Trey McBride's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Pat Freiermuth (PIT) has a bye in Week 5, and Trey McBride (ARI) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Pat Freiermuth or Trey McBride a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Trey McBride outscored Pat Freiermuth by 8.7 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.