Pat Freiermuth vs. Cole Kmet - Who Should I Draft in 2024 Fantasy Football?

The tight-end position is among the hardest to navigate in fantasy football throughout the year. There are only a few elite options, and the rest are mostly the same.

However, the 2024 season could be a different year for tight ends in fantasy. That's because the position is deeper than ever, thanks to young playmakers like Sam LaPorta, Trey McBride, Dalton Kincaid, and Brock Bowers all rising up draft boards. As a result, Pat Freiermuth and Cole Kmet are dropping lower and lower in drafts heading into the year.

But Freiermuth and Kmet could be solid options in the later rounds. So, which tight end should fantasy managers select in drafts? Let's dive in and find out. 

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Pat Freiermuth 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook

Freiermuth is coming off the worst season of his young career in 2023. He caught just 32 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns. He also missed multiple weeks with a hamstring injury and finished as the TE30 in PPR formats. However, a better season should be in store for the 25-year-old in 2024.

Pat Freiermuth is loving the Arthur Smith offense 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NIDsZK0kqM

— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) June 2, 2024

For starters, Freiermuth got a quarterback upgrade after the Steelers signed Russell Wilson in free agency. Having a veteran quarterback like Wilson throwing him passes should help tremendously. On top of that, Pittsburgh traded away Diontae Johnson this offseason, which could lead to more target opportunities in the passing game. That makes the young tight end a potential sleeper option in 2024. 

Cole Kmet 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook

Kmet surprised a lot of fantasy managers last year and became a reliable TE1 option. He finished as the TE8 in PPR formats while averaging 10.7 fantasy points per game. Kmet also finished with a career-high 73 catches for 719 yards and six touchdowns. 

.@ColeKmet goin’ 🆙 on a Tuesday pic.twitter.com/iGvRwORhSX

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) June 4, 2024

However, a lot has changed for the 25-year-old since last season. Justin Fields is no longer with the team -- whom Kmet formed a strong connection with over the past few years -- and the Bears brought in two big-time playmakers in Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze. With DJ Moore already in town, there is a lot of competition for targets in this Chicago offense, which could hurt the young tight end's fantasy production. 

Who Should I Draft in Fantasy Football?

Both Freiermuth and Kmet are going back-to-back in drafts currently, so fantasy managers will have to pick between one of these young tight ends. However, the Steelers playmaker might be the better option, given the team's lack of weapons around Wilson in the passing game. 

There's a chance that Freiermuth emerges as Wilson's second option in the passing game in 2024. Don't forget, the 25-year-old already has a top-10 fantasy finish back in 2022, and there is a path for him to finish that high again this year. 

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