Analyze Oronde Gadsden's matchup for week 10
Rookie Oronde Gadsden has erupted for 19 catches on 22 targets over the last three weeks, faces a Steelers defense that’s bottom-third against TEs (7 TDs allowed), and owns an every-down role in a pass-heavy Chargers attack—fire him up as a mid-tier TE1.
Pittsburgh’s linebacker corps has been a sieve for athletic pass-catching tight ends, surrendering 57.7 receiving yards per game and seven scores to the position—fourth-most in the league. Gadsden’s 110 routes run the past three weeks are elite usage, and the Steelers’ zone-heavy scheme leaves the middle of the field vulnerable, creating a glaring mismatch for the 6'4" rookie who has already posted 65-plus yards in three straight games.
Ascending star: from 1-14-0 in Week 5 to a 7-164-1 explosion in Week 7, culminating in 19 receptions on 22 targets (86% catch rate) over his last three outings.
Gadsden’s breakout isn’t a fluke—it’s the result of a first-round talent falling to Day 3 and immediately commanding Justin Herbert’s trust in critical situations. His 86% catch rate on 22 recent targets underscores plus hands and nuanced route-running, while Los Angeles’ 67% pass rate under Jim Harbaugh funnels volume through the slot and seams where the rookie wins. Pittsburgh’s linebackers have allowed a 75% completion rate when left in man coverage on TEs, and their split-field safeties have been late to close on crossers, producing the league’s fourth-most fantasy points surrendered to tight ends. With Will Dissly battling illness and Tyler Conklin relegated to blocking duties, Gadsden owns an every-down role that locks him into 6-8 targets. Expect another 65-80-yard floor with red-zone upside in a game the Chargers project to score 27-plus points, cementing him as a set-and-forget TE1 the rest of the fantasy regular season.