Connor Heyward
#4 TE,
Steelers
ACTUAL 2022
36 FPTS
RANK: 59
2023 SEASON
- FPTS
RANK: -
AGE
24 yrs
HEIGHT/WEIGHT
6'0'' / 230 lbs
COLLEGE
Michigan State
SEASON | GP | FPTS | RANK | TARGET | RECPT | REYD | RETD | REAVE |
2022 | 17 | 36 | 59th | 17 | 12 | 151 | 1 | 12.6 |
Scores touchdown against Dallas
Heyward secured two of four targets for 23 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 20-17 loss to Dallas.
Heyward had racked up just two receiving yards over the first four weeks of the regular season, but he saw his target share increase Sunday despite playing just 13 offensive snaps. While it was encouraging that he reached the end zone for the first time since 2022, he hasn't established himself as a consistent fantasy option alongside teammates Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington.
Fantasy Points by Week 2022
Weekly Stats 2022
Fantasy Points | Betting | Receiving Stats | Routes Run | |||||||||||||||||||||
WEEK | STADIUM | GAME | RANK | TARGET | SPREAD | O/U | TRGT | REC | YD | TD | AVG | AIR | YAC | DROP | 10+ | 20+ | 50+ | SHARE | SLOT | TIGHT | WIDE | |||
1 @CIN | Outdoor 73° | 0.0 | 93rd | 0.00 | 7.0 | 44.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 0% | |||
2 NE | Outdoor 75° | 0.0 | 90th | 0.00 | 3.0 | 40.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 0% | |||
3 @CLE | Outdoor 61° | 0.0 | 94th | 0.00 | 4.0 | 38.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 0% | |||
4 NYJ | Outdoor 57° | 0.0 | 95th | 0.00 | -3.0 | 41.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 0% | |||
5 @BUF | Outdoor 59° | 3.2 | 33rd | 1.60 | 14.0 | 44.5 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4% | 20% | 70% | 10% | |||
6 TB | Outdoor 58° | 6.9 | 24th | 3.45 | 9.5 | 46.5 | 3 | 2 | 49 | 0 | 24.5 | 8.5 | 16.0 | 0% | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11% | 17% | 83% | 0% | |||
7 @MIA | Outdoor 78° | 1.6 | 44th | 1.60 | 7.0 | 44.5 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6.0 | -2.0 | 8.0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2% | 0% | 100% | 0% | |||
8 @PHI | Outdoor 60° | 0.0 | 91st | 0.00 | 10.5 | 43.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | 88% | 0% | |||
10 NO | Outdoor 37° | 2.9 | 32nd | 1.45 | -1.5 | 41.5 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8% | 6% | 82% | 12% | |||
11 CIN | Outdoor 27° | 0.0 | 79th | 0.00 | 3.5 | 41.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 100% | 0% | 0% | |||
12 @IND | Dome 44° | 0.0 | 92nd | 0.00 | 2.5 | 39.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 56% | 22% | 22% | |||
13 @ATL | Dome 52° | 8.7 | 10th | 8.70 | -1.5 | 41.5 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 17.0 | 17.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4% | 21% | 79% | 0% | |||
14 BAL | Outdoor 42° | 2.3 | 30th | 2.30 | -2.5 | 37.5 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13.0 | 14.0 | -1.0 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3% | 9% | 73% | 18% | |||
15 @CAR | Outdoor 47° | 0.0 | 95th | 0.00 | 3.0 | 37.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 0% | |||
16 LV | Outdoor 9° | 2.1 | 46th | 2.10 | -2.5 | 39.5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8% | 31% | 54% | 15% | |||
17 @BAL | Outdoor 44° | 0.0 | 87th | 0.00 | 1.5 | 35.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 25% | 67% | 8% | |||
18 CLE | Outdoor 36° | 8.1 | 17th | 2.03 | -3.0 | 39.5 | 4 | 3 | 45 | 0 | 15.0 | 10.3 | 4.7 | 0% | 1 | 1 | 0 | 14% | 32% | 52% | 16% |
Performance Splits: 2020 to 2022
Fantasy Points | Receiving Averages | |||||||||||||||||
LOCATION | STADIUM | GP | GS | GM | TOUCH | RANK | TRGT | REC | YD | TD | AVE | AIR | YAC | DROP | 10+ | 20+ | 50+ | |
Home | Outdoor | 8 | 0 | 0.4 | 1.51 | 43rd | 1.6 | 1.0 | 15 | 0.0 | 14.5 | 8.0 | 6.5 | 0% | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | |
Away | Outdoor | 7 | 0 | 0.1 | 1.60 | 125th | 0.4 | 0.4 | 3 | 0.0 | 6.0 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Away | Retractable Dome | 2 | 0 | 2.2 | 8.70 | 37th | 0.5 | 0.5 | 9 | 0.5 | 17.0 | 17.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Career Stats by Season: 2022 to 2022
Fantasy Points | Receiving Stats | Routes Run | |||||||||||||||||||||
SEASON | AGE | TEAM | GP | GS | TOTAL | RANK | TRGT | REC | YD | TD | AVG | AIR | YAC | DROP | 10+ | 20+ | 50+ | SHARE | SLOT | TIGHT | WIDE | ||
2022 | 23 | PIT | 17 | 0 | 36 | 59th | 17 | 12 | 151 | 1 | 12.6 | 7 | 5 | 0% | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3% | 21% | 71% | 8% |
Reaches end zone in preseason loss
Heyward secured both of his targets for four yards and a touchdown during Friday's 20-12 preseason loss to the Texans.
Heyward wasn't a consistent part of the Steelers' passing game last year, as he secured 23 of 34 targets for 167 yards. However, he had a six-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter of Friday's preseason opener. Although it was encouraging to see Heyward reach the end zone against Houston, he's unlikely to be a reliable contributor during the regular season, as he remains behind Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington on the Steelers' depth chart at tight end.
Inconsistent in 2023
Heyward secured 23 of 34 targets for 167 yards while rushing once for no yards over 17 games during the 2023 season.
Heyward had some slightly encouraging performances in the middle of the regular season, as he topped 20 receiving yards in four of five appearances when Pat Freiermuth was sidelined due to an injury. However, Heyward was held to just four receiving yards over the final four games of the season and didn't have enough of an impact to warrant fantasy consideration. While he's topped 150 receiving yards in his first two professional seasons, it seems unlikely that he'll be consistent enough to be a fantasy-relevant option in season-long formats in 2024.
Logs two receptions Thursday
Heyward secured both of his targets for 15 yards during the Steelers' 21-18 loss to New England on Thursday.
Heyward didn't have any receptions during last week's loss to the Cardinals, but he managed to generate slightly more production in primetime Thursday. However, he played most of his snaps on special teams and isn't likely to be a significant part of the offense as long as Pat Freiermuth stays healthy.
Catches two passes
Heyward secured both of his targets for 11 yards during the Steelers' 16-10 win over Cincinnati on Sunday.
The Steelers had their best game of the season offensively during Sunday's win after offensive coordinator Matt Canada was recently fired, and starting tight end Pat Freiermuth benefited by securing nine of 11 targets for 120 yards. Although Heyward had multiple catches for the sixth time in his last seven appearances, he was unable to rack up many yards and doesn't have much upside now that Freiermuth is back to full healthy.
Tallies 32 yards
Heyward secured three of four targets for 32 yards during the Steelers' 23-19 win over the Packers on Sunday.
Heyward saw increased work once again Sunday with Pat Freiermuth (hamstring) still on injured reserve. Heyward racked up a season-high 32 yards during the narrow victory, but that production isn't enough to give him much fantasy appeal. Freiermuth could return to action as soon as the Steelers' Week 11 matchup against Cleveland on Sunday, and Heyward's offensive impact will likely be minimal once Freiermuth is back.
Held to two receptions Thursday
Heyward brought in two of three targets for 16 yards in the Steelers' 20-16 win over the Titans on Thursday night.
Heyward was minimally involved as the top pass-catching tight end for the Steelers in the ongoing absence of Pat Freiermuth (IR-hamstring). The second-year pro had posted a season-high five receptions in Week 8, but as Thursday demonstrated, his week-to-week production will be difficult to trust in a middling Kenny Pickett-led passing attack.
Catches five passes
Heyward secured five of six targets for 24 yards during the Steelers' 20-10 loss to Jacksonville on Sunday.
Heyward had an increased role once again Sunday since Pat Freiermuth (hamstring) remained on injured reserve. However, the 2022 sixth-rounder was unable to generate much production despite finishing second on the team in targets. Over the three games in which Freiermuth has been sidelined, Heyward has secured 10 of 13 targets for 70 yards.
Racks up 23 yards in win
Heyward secured two of three targets for 23 yards during the Steelers' 24-17 win over the Rams on Sunday.
Fellow tight end Pat Freiermuth (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve ahead of Sunday's Week 7 matchup, so Heyward continued to have an elevated role in Pittsburgh's offense. The 24-year-old hasn't yet had much fantasy relevance this year, but it's been encouraging to see him have his highest snap counts of the season in the Steelers' last two games.