TE Jonnu Smith, PIT (1 Viewer)

[Chaka]

Would anyone be that surprised if Jonnu got 8 targets in week 1 and was elevated to around TE8 in the RoS rankings?

No, not really.

I also wouldn't be surprised to see a 3-14-0 line. I just don't know how to place him.

 

[rockaction]

Would anyone be that surprised if Jonnu got 8 targets in week 1 and was elevated to around TE8 in the RoS rankings?

No, not really.

I also wouldn't be surprised to see a 3-14-0 line. I just don't know how to place him.

And that's been exactly what people are pointing out. His variance with Arthur Smith makes him nearly unstartable. What would be nice (and I didn't draft him in redraft but hold him in dynasty) is for a big game or two and then sell sell sell high.

 

[H8fulHuck]

I view Smith as a crap shoot cause we dont how he will be utilized, how many snaps he gets vs Freiermuth and Washington, how well the offensive line and Rodgers play.

Smith could be a steal or bust or something in the middle

IMO, we already have answers to those things . . . except they happened in ATL not PIT . . . and we should be able to piece together what will happen now.

Smith was the OC of the 2023 Falcons. We can compare the situations pretty cleanly.

- The Falcons played Ridder and Heineke with 530 combined attempts in 2023. Rodgers has average 565 attempts and is still likely more effective than those two QBs
- Smith split the TE workload with Pitts (similar to him now with Freiermuth). Friermuth has averaged 5 targets a game over his career. Pitts averaged 5.3 targets and Jonnu averaged 4.1 in 2023.
- In 2023, Jonnu was 4th in targets after London, Pitts, and Bijan.
- For the 2025 Steelers, they don't have other established or experience players at WR. It's possible Smith could functionally serve as their WR2 and be the second most targeted receiving option on the team like he was in MIA. Smith had 111 targets last year for the Dolphins. Freiermuth has never had more than 98.

IMO, that should mean Smith will have more opportunities than he did in 2023 when he put up 50-582-3 when he ranked 16th in PPR league (70 targets). He had 88-884-8 last year in MIA . . . on a team that was forced to get nearly 200 passing attempts from Huntley, Thompson, and Boyle.

He was the #4 fantasy TE last year in PPR league. MFL has his ADP at 214 overall as TE28. Realistically, that means in most leagues he will be on the waiver wire, as most leagues wont draft 28 TEs.

I think people may be overthinking things here. If ARod stays healthy, Jonnu should have better QB play than either of the last two seasons, should play on a team with a higher-than-expected passing volume, and should have more opportunities than people are allocating him for. Probably not Top 5 again, but probably worth a stash as a back of the roster guy to see how he does. It's not like he will cost much, and you can always drop him if he doesn't show promise or early production.

Excellent observations! Volume of AS TE targets speaks to his NFL coaching roots.

One item I’d add.. Jonnu is better at blocking than Freiermuth. That should translate to increased opportunity.

Looking forward to seeing a QB in black n gold who will attack the middle of the field.

 

[rockaction]

I view Smith as a crap shoot cause we dont how he will be utilized, how many snaps he gets vs Freiermuth and Washington, how well the offensive line and Rodgers play.

Smith could be a steal or bust or something in the middle

IMO, we already have answers to those things . . . except they happened in ATL not PIT . . . and we should be able to piece together what will happen now.

Smith was the OC of the 2023 Falcons. We can compare the situations pretty cleanly.

- The Falcons played Ridder and Heineke with 530 combined attempts in 2023. Rodgers has average 565 attempts and is still likely more effective than those two QBs
- Smith split the TE workload with Pitts (similar to him now with Freiermuth). Friermuth has averaged 5 targets a game over his career. Pitts averaged 5.3 targets and Jonnu averaged 4.1 in 2023.
- In 2023, Jonnu was 4th in targets after London, Pitts, and Bijan.
- For the 2025 Steelers, they don't have other established or experience players at WR. It's possible Smith could functionally serve as their WR2 and be the second most targeted receiving option on the team like he was in MIA. Smith had 111 targets last year for the Dolphins. Freiermuth has never had more than 98.

IMO, that should mean Smith will have more opportunities than he did in 2023 when he put up 50-582-3 when he ranked 16th in PPR league (70 targets). He had 88-884-8 last year in MIA . . . on a team that was forced to get nearly 200 passing attempts from Huntley, Thompson, and Boyle.

He was the #4 fantasy TE last year in PPR league. MFL has his ADP at 214 overall as TE28. Realistically, that means in most leagues he will be on the waiver wire, as most leagues wont draft 28 TEs.

I think people may be overthinking things here. If ARod stays healthy, Jonnu should have better QB play than either of the last two seasons, should play on a team with a higher-than-expected passing volume, and should have more opportunities than people are allocating him for. Probably not Top 5 again, but probably worth a stash as a back of the roster guy to see how he does. It's not like he will cost much, and you can always drop him if he doesn't show promise or early production.

Excellent observations! Volume of AS TE targets speaks to his NFL coaching roots.

One item I’d add.. Jonnu is better at blocking than Freiermuth. That should translate to increased opportunity.

Looking forward to seeing a QB in black n gold who will attack the middle of the field.

Ooh, dude. I think you have that backwards. They're going to run a lot of 2TE sets where they'll ask Jonnu to block and Freiermuth to run routes. That means Freiermuth gets the fantasy points when they're throwing to the tight end. They were doing a Twitter analysis of Freiermuth and Jonnu and they sort of figured out that when Freiermuth lines up away from the line he gets the ball thrown to him a bunch and that much like when Art had Pitts and Jonnu that Jonnu might be on the field to block while Freiermuth runs the routes. It was a ghastly conclusion as far as I was concerned, and I hope they're wrong but it didn't strike me as wrong at all.

You do not want the other guy running routes. In addition, I don't think they'll be pulling Freiermuth off the field too often because he's effective enough, and even if Jonnu was the starting TE, it's not like TEs often get check downs. He's either lining up in the slot or wide or he's blocking.

And like I said, you don't get fantasy points for that.

 

[H8fulHuck]

I view Smith as a crap shoot cause we dont how he will be utilized, how many snaps he gets vs Freiermuth and Washington, how well the offensive line and Rodgers play.

Smith could be a steal or bust or something in the middle

IMO, we already have answers to those things . . . except they happened in ATL not PIT . . . and we should be able to piece together what will happen now.

Smith was the OC of the 2023 Falcons. We can compare the situations pretty cleanly.

- The Falcons played Ridder and Heineke with 530 combined attempts in 2023. Rodgers has average 565 attempts and is still likely more effective than those two QBs
- Smith split the TE workload with Pitts (similar to him now with Freiermuth). Friermuth has averaged 5 targets a game over his career. Pitts averaged 5.3 targets and Jonnu averaged 4.1 in 2023.
- In 2023, Jonnu was 4th in targets after London, Pitts, and Bijan.
- For the 2025 Steelers, they don't have other established or experience players at WR. It's possible Smith could functionally serve as their WR2 and be the second most targeted receiving option on the team like he was in MIA. Smith had 111 targets last year for the Dolphins. Freiermuth has never had more than 98.

IMO, that should mean Smith will have more opportunities than he did in 2023 when he put up 50-582-3 when he ranked 16th in PPR league (70 targets). He had 88-884-8 last year in MIA . . . on a team that was forced to get nearly 200 passing attempts from Huntley, Thompson, and Boyle.

He was the #4 fantasy TE last year in PPR league. MFL has his ADP at 214 overall as TE28. Realistically, that means in most leagues he will be on the waiver wire, as most leagues wont draft 28 TEs.

I think people may be overthinking things here. If ARod stays healthy, Jonnu should have better QB play than either of the last two seasons, should play on a team with a higher-than-expected passing volume, and should have more opportunities than people are allocating him for. Probably not Top 5 again, but probably worth a stash as a back of the roster guy to see how he does. It's not like he will cost much, and you can always drop him if he doesn't show promise or early production.

Excellent observations! Volume of AS TE targets speaks to his NFL coaching roots.

One item I’d add.. Jonnu is better at blocking than Freiermuth. That should translate to increased opportunity.

Looking forward to seeing a QB in black n gold who will attack the middle of the field.

Ooh, dude. I think you have that backwards. They're going to run a lot of 2TE sets where they'll ask Jonnu to block and Freiermuth to run routes. That means Freiermuth gets the fantasy points when they're throwing to the tight end. They were doing a Twitter analysis of Freiermuth and Jonnu and they sort of figured out that when Freiermuth lines up away from the line he gets the ball thrown to him a bunch and that much like when Art had Pitts and Jonnu that Jonnu might be on the field to block while Freiermuth runs the routes. It was a ghastly conclusion as far as I was concerned, and I hope they're wrong but it didn't strike me as wrong at all.

You do not want the other guy running routes. In addition, I don't think they'll be pulling Freiermuth off the field too often because he's effective enough, and even if Jonnu was the starting TE, it's not like TEs often get check downs. He's either lining up in the slot or wide or he's blocking.

And like I said, you don't get fantasy points for that.

Maybe. You seem dialed in and I completely get what you are laying down. Obvious passing situations I 100% agree. Jonnu should block more to cover up Broderick Jones then leak out for check down or get to the next level on TE screen block for Muth.

Been depressed about the Pittsburgh offense and haven’t paid close attention to specific reports.

My comment regarding 1st and 2nd staying on schedule downs. Without thinking much, figure Tomlins primary focus is success running the ball. AS likes to use formations with different run/pass options to disguise intent. To me, that means Freiermuth being on the sidelines more often because Jonnu is a better blocker and more fluid after the catch. Darnell is a very good blocking TE and will be on the field a bunch doing what he does best.. not scoring fantasy points. Jonnu will get the majority run/pass TE targets.

My totally made up world Pittsburgh offense has Jonnu and Darnell Washington on the field more in 12 personnel on first downs, 2nd and medium/short. They are better at blocking and will have more opportunities.

Plus Rodgers might be inclined to check out of runs for pass plays when he sees a matchup he likes.