Assessing Heyward’s Outlook: Connor Heyward’s fantasy football prospects for 2025 appear limited, according to current projections. While he offers some potential as a tight end, his current ADP and role within the Pittsburgh Steelers offense suggest he might be best left on the waiver wire in most fantasy leagues. His value hinges heavily on injuries to key players ahead of him on the depth chart.
2024 Season Recap
Heyward’s 2024 season provides a recent benchmark for evaluating his potential future performance. Bleacher Nation reports that he accumulated a total of 10.0 fantasy points, ranking him 69th among tight ends. This limited production reflects a diminished role compared to his earlier seasons.
Key Statistics
- Total Fantasy Points: 10.0 (69th among TEs)
- Targets: 8
- Receptions: 6
- Receiving Yards: 40
- Touchdowns: 1
His most productive game came in Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys, where he scored 8.3 fantasy points. This output stemmed from two receptions for 23 yards and a touchdown, as noted by Bleacher Nation. However, this single strong performance didn’t translate into sustained fantasy relevance throughout the season.
2025 Projections and ADP
Looking ahead to 2025, projections suggest a slight uptick in Heyward’s fantasy output. Bleacher Nation projects him to score 16.8 fantasy points, which would still place him around 70th among tight ends. This modest improvement doesn’t drastically alter his overall fantasy appeal.
ADP Outlook
Heyward’s Average Draft Position (ADP) further underscores his low standing in fantasy drafts. According to Bleacher Nation, his ADP ranks him 97th among tight ends and 598th overall. This indicates that he is typically undrafted in most standard fantasy leagues.
Factors Affecting Heyward’s Value
Several factors contribute to Heyward’s limited fantasy value. His role within the Steelers’ offense has diminished, particularly with the emergence of other players at his position. RotoWire highlights that Pat Freiermuth’s health and Darnell Washington’s development have impacted Heyward’s playing time.
Competition at Tight End
The Steelers’ acquisition of Jonnu Smith further complicates Heyward’s path to fantasy relevance. With Freiermuth, Washington, and Smith all vying for targets, Heyward’s opportunities are likely to be limited. As RotoWire points out, Heyward is unlikely to be a significant fantasy contributor unless injuries create opportunities.
Role Diminishment
RotoWire also notes that Heyward’s role in 2024 was smaller than in his first two seasons. He didn’t reach 100 receiving yards, signaling a reduced presence in the passing game. This trend suggests that the Steelers may be prioritizing other tight ends in their offensive schemes.
Potential Upside and Risks
Despite the challenges, there are scenarios where Heyward could become a valuable fantasy asset. Injuries to Freiermuth, Washington, or Smith would elevate his role and potentially lead to increased targets and production. However, relying on injuries to create value is a risky strategy.
Injury Contingency
If injuries decimate the Steelers’ tight end corps, Heyward would likely step into a more prominent role. In such a situation, he could become a viable streaming option or a bye-week filler. However, this scenario is speculative and shouldn’t be the basis for drafting him.
Limited Ceiling
Even with increased playing time, Heyward’s ceiling as a fantasy performer is likely limited. He lacks the elite athleticism and receiving skills to become a top-tier tight end. Therefore, even in the best-case scenario, his fantasy impact is likely to be modest.
Conclusion
Connor Heyward’s fantasy football outlook for 2025 is modest, at best. His ADP reflects his limited role and projected output. While injuries could create opportunities, his fantasy value remains highly contingent and his ceiling is limited. Fantasy managers should likely look elsewhere for reliable tight end production.
