Gunnar Helm
Helm is a high-snap, low-target tight end in a struggling Titans offense: he is on the field a lot, but the passing game runs through other players.
Role
The wire note has him on the field for 33 of 46 offensive snaps (71.7%) in the win over the Colts. Targets are thin. ESPN's player page, undated in the snippet, shows 13 targets and 9 catches for 60 yards and no touchdowns on the season. The ESPN news item from the Texans game says he had one target and no catch, and two targets over the last two games. A Yahoo Sports piece from about Week 4 had him third on the team in both catches and targets, behind rookie WR Carnell Tate, who had taken most of the air-yardage opportunities. Offseason pieces named Daniel Bellinger and Kylen Granson as blocking-type competition at tight end. I did not read a current depth chart or a Week 7 snap-and-target tracker, so I can't give a current target share.
The snaps are there, and so was the preseason expectation. Coach Robert Saleh said he hopes Helm takes a big jump this year. Offseason coverage cited 8 targets inside the 20-yard line last year under new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll as a sign of red-zone potential. He also caught 44 passes as a rookie while behind Chig Okonkwo. A 71.7% snap share suggests the targets could follow if the offense improves.
The usage is not turning into production. He has 13 targets and 60 yards this year, and ESPN's analyst says the offense has been far from effective and Helm has little to no upside. Tate dominates the downfield work. Helm's snaps may be largely blocking snaps. ESPN lists him as a tight end rank of 52 and 2.3% rostered.
Where analysts split
The open question is whether his heavy snap share is a receiving role or mostly blocking. The offseason view was that Daboll would feature him, especially near the goal line. Current coverage says that has not happened through the early weeks. I found no named analysts arguing the opposite side, so this is a gap between expectation and results, not a clear analyst split.
Research confidence: thin. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
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