Start Oronde Gadsden or Pat Freiermuth? Week 5

Our Week 5 call

Start Oronde Gadsden over Pat Freiermuth in Week 5.

Market-based projections have Oronde Gadsden at 8.4 points and Pat Freiermuth at 7.7, a gap of 0.7. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip.

What the market projects

Player markets imply 8.4 fantasy points for Oronde Gadsden, with 100 percent of the markets a TE needs posted.

The market has Oronde Gadsden at 33.5 receiving yards and 3.5 receptions, with a 23% chance to score a touchdown (16, 14 and 16 market sources).

Player markets imply 7.7 fantasy points for Pat Freiermuth, with 100 percent of the markets a TE needs posted.

The market has Pat Freiermuth at 27.5 receiving yards and 3.5 receptions, with a 23% chance to score a touchdown (16, 14 and 16 market sources).

That puts Oronde Gadsden 0.7 points ahead of Pat Freiermuth on the market projections.

Injury status

Oronde Gadsden is not on the injury report.

Pat Freiermuth is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 5

Through Week 4, Oronde Gadsden played 45 percent of LAC snaps, drew 13 percent of the targets, earned 9 percent of the air yards and had 9 percent of the red zone chances.

Oronde Gadsden, Week 1 against ARI: 10 of 55 snaps, 2 targets and 2 catches for 32 yards.

Oronde Gadsden, Week 2 against LV: 30 of 68 snaps, 2 targets and 2 catches for 18 yards, 1 touchdown.

Oronde Gadsden, Week 3 against BUF: 39 of 69 snaps, 3 targets and 0 catches for 0 yards.

Oronde Gadsden, Week 4 against SEA: 39 of 71 snaps, 1 carry for 2 yards, 8 targets and 5 catches for 36 yards.

Through Week 4, Pat Freiermuth played 69 percent of PIT snaps, drew 13 percent of the targets, earned 11 percent of the air yards and had 13 percent of the red zone chances.

Pat Freiermuth, Week 1 against ATL: 49 of 67 snaps, 5 targets and 5 catches for 46 yards, 1 touchdown.

Pat Freiermuth, Week 2 against NE: 46 of 70 snaps, 1 carry for 2 yards, 5 targets and 4 catches for 32 yards.

Pat Freiermuth, Week 3 against CIN: 37 of 62 snaps, 1 carry for 1 yards, 4 targets and 2 catches for 30 yards.

Pat Freiermuth, Week 4 against CLE: 54 of 72 snaps, 5 targets and 3 catches for 17 yards, 1 touchdown.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, Oronde Gadsden played 15 games for LAC and scored 131.4 PPR points, 8.8 a game, finishing TE15.

He caught 49 of 69 targets for 664 yards and 3 touchdowns, with 14 red zone targets and 443 air yards.

He was on the field for 63 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

In 2025, Pat Freiermuth played 17 games for PIT and scored 113.6 PPR points, 6.7 a game, finishing TE25.

He caught 41 of 54 targets for 486 yards and 4 touchdowns, with 9 red zone targets and 231 air yards.

He was on the field for 49 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Their other Week 5 calls

• Start Oronde Gadsden over AJ Barner.
• Start Brenton Strange over Oronde Gadsden.
• Start Oronde Gadsden over Chig Okonkwo.
• Start Pat Freiermuth over AJ Barner.
• Start Brenton Strange over Pat Freiermuth.
• Start Pat Freiermuth over Cade Otton.