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.
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Steelers' Connor Heyward: Logs two receptions Thursday
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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.
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Steelers' Connor Heyward: Catches two passes
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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 health.
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Steelers' Connor Heyward: Held to two receptions Thursday
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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.
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Steelers' Connor Heyward: Racks up 23 yards in win
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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. It was also encouraging to see him on the field for 86 percent of the offensive snaps, which outpaced rookie Darnell Washington, who played 53 percent of the snaps. Heyward 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.
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Steelers' Connor Heyward: Tallies 19 yards in loss
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Heyward secured two of four targets for 19 yards during the Steelers' 30-7 loss to the 49ers on Sunday.
Although Heyward saw the fewest snaps of any of the Steelers' tight ends Sunday, he led the position group in yards. However, it's worth noting that both of his receptions came in the second half, while Pat Freiermuth (chest) was unavailable down the stretch. Heyward's upside will be limited if Freiermuth is available moving forward, while rookie Darnell Washington also figures to see some work in the passing game as the season progresses.
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Steelers' Connor Heyward: Two catches in preseason win
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Heyward secured both of his targets for 27 yards while rushing four times for 11 yards during Thursday's 24-0 preseason win over the Falcons.
Heyward was targeted twice in each of the Steelers' preseason games this year and was relatively productive overall, securing all six of his targets for 73 yards and a touchdown while rushing five times for 16 yards. Despite his preseason results, the 2022 sixth-rounder will have plenty of competition for work behind starting tight end Pat Freiermuth during the regular season, as Zach Gentry and Darnell Washington are also in the mix for playing time at tight end.
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Steelers' Connor Heyward: Scores touchdown in win
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Heyward secured both of his targets for 12 yards and a touchdown during Saturday's 27-15 preseason win over the Bills.
Heyward recorded fewer yards Saturday than he did during the team's preseason opener, but he reached the end zone during the victory. While he's had an encouraging start to the preseason, he played mainly on special teams last year and will have increased competition for a role in the offense this season now that rookie third-rounder Darnell Washington is in the fold.
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Steelers' Connor Heyward: Racks up 34 yards against Tampa Bay
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Heyward secured both of his targets for 34 yards while rushing once for five yards during Friday's 27-17 preseason win over the Buccaneers.
Heyward played just 12 snaps during Friday's preseason opener, but he was relatively productive, highlighted by a 24-yard reception to put the Steelers in field-goal range late in the first half. Despite Friday's encouraging production, Heyward will have increased competition for a role in Pittsburgh's offense after the team selected Darnell Washington in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
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Steelers' Connor Heyward: Productive in season finale
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Heyward secured three of four targets for 45 yards while rushing once for six yards during the Steelers' 28-14 win over the Browns on Sunday.
Heyward was held without any receptions in five of the seven games prior to Sunday's Week 18 matchup, but he logged a season-high three catches against Cleveland. The rookie sixth-rounder didn't have consistent enough volume to become a fantasy asset in 2022, as he secured 12 of 17 targets for 151 yards and a touchdown while rushing twice for 27 yards across 17 games. However, fellow tight end Zach Gentry is slated to become an unrestricted free agent during the offseason, so Heyward could take over as the primary backup behind Pat Freiermuth in 2023.
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Steelers' Connor Heyward: Records first NFL touchdown
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Heyward secured his lone target for 17 yards and a touchdown during the Steelers' 19-16 win over Atlanta on Sunday.
Heyward played just 22 percent of the Steelers' offensive snaps Sunday but caught the team's only touchdown during the narrow Week 13 win. Although it was encouraging to see the rookie sixth-rounder reach the end zone Sunday, he hasn't been a fantasy-relevant player for most of the year, as he had logged just three catches for 15 yards over his last five games.
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Steelers' Connor Heyward: Sits out practice Friday
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Heyward (illness) was listed as a DNP on the Steelers' injury report Friday, Chris Halicke of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Heyward missed his first practice of Week 12 after popping up with an illness Friday. While the severity of this ailment is still unknown, the rookie tight end will have two full days to overcome this issue before Monday's game against the Colts. Heyward's status on Saturday's final injury report should shed more light on his availability against Indianapolis.
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Steelers' Connor Heyward: Racks up 49 receiving yards
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Heyward secured two of three targets for 49 yards during Sunday's 20-18 win over Tampa Bay.
Heyward saw increased playing time Sunday since Pat Freiermuth (concussion) was sidelined, and Heyward had the longest play of the game for the Steelers with a 45-yard reception early in the fourth quarter. While it was encouraging to see Heyward's increased production in Week 6, his playing time should drop off once Freiermuth is cleared to return.
