Wondering who you should start this week — AJ Barner or Pat Freiermuth? The start/sit call and the numbers behind it are below, plus who wins a straight-up trade. Rebuilt nightly.
Start Pat Freiermuth — barelyThis one is a coin flip — the projections are within 0.8 points. The matchup leans Pat Freiermuth (CLE allow the 17th-most TE points), but you can defend either call.
Player
Wk 8
Proj (PPR)
Matchup
Form L3
Trade value
Status
AJ Barner
vs CHI
8.4
15th
6.1
–
healthy
Pat FreiermuthSTART
vs CLE
9.2
17th
9.5
193
healthy
TEs vs CHI recently: Tucker Kraft 6.6 pts (W5) · Kyle Pitts Sr. 18 pts (W6) · Eli Raridon 11.6 pts (W7).
TEs vs CLE recently: Mason Taylor 2.4 pts (W5) · Josh Cuevas 10.4 pts (W6) · Gunnar Helm 2.4 pts (W7).
🎓 The coach's read
Projections are 0.8 apart — too close to call on projection alone.
AJ Barner has the higher floor (2.3) — the safer start if you are favoured.
Pat Freiermuth has the higher ceiling (18.5) — the play if you need points.
Pat Freiermuth is boom-or-bust — about 10% more volatile week to week than a typical TE projected here — wider range in both directions.
AJ Barner faces CHI, 15th most generous to TEs.
Pat Freiermuth faces CLE, 17th most generous to TEs.
Who wins a straight-up trade?
Pat Freiermuth carries the higher trade value — 193 against 0. In a one-for-one, the side receiving Pat Freiermuth gets the most.