Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts is coming off a season-best output of seven catches for 88 yards versus Tampa Bay in Week 5, but the third-year player put up a goose egg the week before without recording a single catch, so he's a bit hard to trust. Still, with how poor tight end production has been so far in 2024, you likely need to keep starting him in season-long leagues. The good news is that his Week 6 opponent, the Carolina Panthers, has generally defended the pass poorly and allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to TEs so far. The bad news is that the only two touchdowns they've allowed to TEs both came in Week 1, so they've been a bit stingier the last four weeks, and with the Falcons as six-point favorites, there may not be as much of a need to go to the air in this game. Pitts profiles as low-end TE1 in Week 6, with as much upside as he has downside.
Oct 12, 2024 12:02 AM EST
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts converted eight targets into seven catches for 88 yards during Thursday's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The young tight end still hasn't blossomed into a consistent fantasy option, but his productive showing in Week 5 was a step in the right direction. Of course, it was aided by a historic performance by Kirk Cousins, who attempted a whopping 58 passes and tallied a franchise-record 509 yards through the air. This type of yardage likely isn't sustainable for Cousins, but it's possible that his rapport with Pitts will hold strong moving forward. He remains a mid-to-low fantasy TE1 for Week 6 against the Atlanta Falcons.
Oct 4, 2024 12:54 AM EST
Going into their Thursday night divisional clash against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night to kick off Week 5, the Atlanta Falcons offense and quarterback Kirk Cousins hasn't been as explosive as they'd hoped. Cousins is still making a key impact and the Falcons players think a breakout is coming soon. One player they want to get more involved, starting on Thursday night, is tight end Kyle Pitts. The 23-year-old has just eight catches for 105 yards and one touchdown on 15 targets in four games, which includes a zero-catch game (three targets) in last week's win over the division-rival New Orleans Saints. Expect Pitts to get the squeaky-wheel treatment on Thursday night, especially in the red zone and on third downs, where this offense has struggled. Fantasy managers may be upset with Pitts after his donut last week, but he should still be considered a low-end TE1 going into this tilt against Tampa.
Oct 3, 2024 7:15 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts will be set on getting back on track when his team faces the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night. Pitts laid a goose egg in Week 4, drawing three targets but failing to catch a single pass. The 23-year-old is amid an incredibly disappointing season, hauling in just eight passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. He won't have the easiest matchup, as the Bucs have allowed just 7.8 PPR points per game to opposing tight ends this season. The former No. 4 overall pick is unlikely to have a breakout game in Thursday's matchup. Pitts struggles with separation and is regularly blanketed by opposing defensive backs and linebackers. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere for tight end production in Week 5. Pitts is not a definite drop from fantasy rosters yet, but he's approaching that.
Oct 2, 2024 8:21 AM EST
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts was unable to haul in any of his three targets during Sunday's Week 4 win over the New Orleans Saints. This was Pitts' first career game with zero receptions, and it's a result that fantasy managers hope was merely an anomaly. He hadn't been incredibly productive by any means over the first few weeks of the season, but he was still averaging over eight fantasy points per game in PPR leagues, good enough to rank among the top 12 fantasy tight ends. His average and ranking will both drop after Sunday's goose egg, though. He remains a frustrating low-end TE1 ahead of a Week 5 clash with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who just surrendered seven catches and 62 yards to Dallas Goedert.
Sep 30, 2024 12:44 AM EST
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts began the season by catching all three targets for 26 yards and a touchdown versus the Steelers. Unfortunately, he struggled in Week 2 against the Eagles, amassing three grabs for 20 yards. Fantasy managers had high hopes for Pitts coming into the 2024-25 campaign. However, the 23-year-old hasn't met expectations. With that in mind, most of the tight ends around the National Football League have struggled this season. Still, Pitts' upside is higher than most in Week 3, with a favorable matchup on tap versus a Chiefs defense that has allowed more fantasy points to opposing tight ends than any team this season. Keep the 2021 No. 4 overall pick starting in all fantasy formats.
Sep 21, 2024 3:31 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts saw four targets and hauled in three catches for 20 yards in the team's win over the Eagles on Monday night. The talented tight end was a bit quiet in this one with most of his work coming on underneath routes. Wide receivers Drake London and Darnell Moody were the main threats in the passing game in this one. Pitts should remain a good option in this offense this season and there will likely be better games ahead for him. This was a disappointing week for Pitts' fantasy managers but that is the reality of the tight end landscape in fantasy this season. He should still be counted on as a weekly starter at the position.
Sep 17, 2024 9:20 AM EST
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts will be looking for more volume in Week 2 heading into Monday Night's football game versus the Philadelphia Eagles. Although he did find the end zone on broken coverage in Week 1, the volume was not what fantasy managers were hoping for with new quarterback Kirk Cousins under center. Pitts only saw three targets and caught all three for 26 yards beyond the lone touchdown. If the Falcons can make the adjustments they need in Week 2, Pitts remains a crucial weapon in this offense and should muster up more than the three targets he received in Week 1's underwhelming performance by Kirk Cousins and the rest of Atlanta's offense. His versatility between lining up as a tight end and as a wide receiver should make it difficult for the Eagles secondary to cover him. Despite the lack of targets in Week 1, Pitts remains a must-start and is currently TE6 in the latest RotoBaller rankings for Week 2.
Sep 14, 2024 3:14 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (hamstring) was a full participant in practice on Friday for the second day in a row and is not included on the final injury report for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. There was some panic about Pitts' status this week when he was limited on the first official injury report back on Wednesday, but that concern is now gone and he'll suit up this weekend. The 23-year-old former first-rounder had high expectations coming into the NFL as fourth overall pick in 2021 out of Florida. He responded immediately with a 1,000-yard season in his rookie year, but it came with just one touchdown. Pitts underwhelmed the last two years, but he also hasn't worked with great QBs. Many folks are expecting his fourth season to be his best in 2024 now that QB Kirk Cousins is leading the offense. Pitts should be locked into fantasy lineups in Week 1.
Sep 6, 2024 3:04 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (hamstring) was a limited participant at practice on Wednesday and then practiced in full on Thursday. As reported by D. Orlando Ledbetter, Pitts says that he'll be 100% ready to go on Sunday in their contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 23-year-old is entering a very important season in his career now that he has a quarterback with more throwing ability than any other one he played with so far. Expectations are higher for Pitts and the Falcons offense as a whole, so the fact that he says he should be 100% healthy is encouraging. With this news, fantasy managers should be more comfortable playing him against the Steelers as he tries to get back to big receiving numbers like his rookie season.
Sep 6, 2024 9:24 AM EST
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (hamstring) participated in full in Thursday's practice, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic. Pitts was a limited participant in the team's first official practice on Wednesday. However, seeing that he was a full-go on Thursday is an excellent sign for his status entering the season opener on Sunday afternoon. Fantasy managers should continue to follow any updates regarding Pitts, but he should be expected to suit up over the weekend. The Florida product hopes to enjoy a nice bounce-back campaign, as he has yet to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark since his debut season, and with his new quarterback Kirk Cousins, he could be in a great position to do so. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable starting Pitts this weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Sep 5, 2024 4:16 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (hamstring) said he expects to be 100 percent healthy for Week 1 of the regular season this Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers despite being listed as limited in the team's first official practice of the regular season on Wednesday. Pitts said he missed just a few plays during Wednesday's practice and will be on the field this weekend as the Falcons look to get off to a quick start with a new coaching staff and quarterback in Kirk Cousins. If Pitts isn't blowing smoke, he should return to a full practice by Friday and be cleared from the final injury report altogether. Unless something changes with his status, fantasy managers are going to want to have the 23-year-old locked into their starting lineups as a top-10 TE in Week 1, with Cousins expected to raise his ceiling considerably.
Sep 4, 2024 5:38 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (hamstring) is dealing with a hamstring injury and will be limited at practice on Wednesday, according to head coach Raheem Morris. It's not what fantasy managers that drafted Pitts want to see, but it would still be somewhat of a surprise if he's unable to play in the Week 1 regular-season opener this Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 23-year-old has an opportunity to break out in 2024 as a high-end TE1 this year in fantasy with quarterback Kirk Cousins now leading the offense, but he's going to need to stay healthy to do so. If for some reason Pitts is limited in Week 1, it's unlikely that either Charlie Woerner or Ross Dwelley would be worth a look as a streaming option to kick off the season. Check back on Pitts' status later this week, but unless something changes, he should be in starting lineups in fantasy in Week 1.
Sep 4, 2024 1:07 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons reporter Joe Patrick writes that Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts was the most impressive pass-catcher of the group in terms of volume and ability early in training camp. As camp progressed, Pitts' volume changed and he was catching balls on shorter routes at times. The biggest change is that it seems he's not the player used primarily to stretch the field vertically like he was last year. New quarterback Kirk Cousins also has better anticipation than the previous QBs Pitts has worked with and can deliver the ball in ways that allow for more run-after-the-catch opportunities for Pitts. Last year, Pitts was hampered by injuries and he looked much better in camp this summer. Most fantasy football pundits are expecting a bounce-back year for the 23-year-old in 2024 with Cousins in the fold as a midrange TE1.
Sep 3, 2024 1:20 PM EST
As much as anyone on the offense, Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts has been breathing heavily during practice at training camp. Part of that is because he's getting a ton of work, more than he did under former head coach Arthur Smith, simply because the Falcons practiced more personnel groupings under Smith. Another part of it could be that he's still working himself into his best shape. Although he won't be an unrestricted free agent until the 2026 offseason, 2024 feels like it's a bit of a make-or-break season for Pitts. The 23-year-old former No. 4 overall pick and generational talent remains a buy-low fantasy asset among low-end TE1 picks in drafts this summer, with their being optimism that Atlanta's modernized offense will finally unlock him. Last year, Pitts led his position in deep targets (11), air yards (1,012), and unrealized air yards (479) in 17 games.
Aug 8, 2024 2:19 PM EST
According to Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, tight end Kyle Pitts is "learning basically two positions." "There's some tight end, and there's some wide receiver," said Robinson in an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "So, he's got a lot on his plate. I'm just excited to see him continue to get more comfortable in the system...We'll move him around the formation. We'll use him as a blocker. We'll use him as a receiver. We'll use him all across the board." The 23-year-old has appeared in 44 games for the Falcons over the last three seasons, amassing 2,049 yards and six touchdowns off 149 catches. But with a new coaching staff in Atlanta, it's safe to say that Pitts could be in line for the best year of his career, assuming he remains involved in the offense as advertised during the offseason.
Jul 14, 2024 7:47 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts called himself a "super rookie" as he enters the fourth year of his NFL career in 2024. "I'm not a rookie rookie. But we're all in this new offense, new regime, new schedule. We're all in this fresh," Pitts said. The former first-round pick has a new head coach in Raheem Morris, a new offensive coordinator in Zac Robinson and a new quarterback in Kirk Cousins this year. Pitts had 1,027 receiving yards in his rookie year in 2021 but suffered a season-ending knee injury in Year 2, and he wasn't 100% in 2023 despite playing in all 17 games. The 23-year-old is fully healthy now and taking part in OTAs this offense as he works to learn the new offense and gain chemistry with Cousins. Pitts could easily have his best season to date in 2024 if both he and Cousins (coming off a torn Achilles) can stay healthy.
May 18, 2024 1:25 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts shined as a rookie in 2021, catching 68 passes for 1,026 yards and one touchdown after being selected No. 4 overall. His last two campaigns have left a lot to be desired, as he failed to surpass 700 yards or become a major factor in the end zone in 2022 or 2023. However, he is still just 23 years old and is embracing a fresh start with a new quarterback and coaching staff in 2024. "I would say I'm a super rookie," Pitts said Tuesday, via the team's official site. "I'm not a rookie. But we're all in this new offense, new regime, new schedule. We're all in this fresh." Pitts' 2021 success came with Matt Ryan under center, and poor quarterback play from Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder, and Taylor Heinicke can help explain his lack of production. The Falcons signed former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year deal and drafted Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick this offseason. Despite his lackluster showings of late, he is being selected as the TE7 off the board in early FFPC fantasy drafts. He remains a clear TE1 candidate and has top-five overall upside in his new offense.
May 17, 2024 4:12 PM EST
The Atlanta Falcons picked up the 2025 fifth-year option on tight end Kyle Pitts on Monday, according to a source. Although the former fourth overall pick in 2021 out of Florida hasn't exactly lived up to his draft status, there's no way the Falcons weren't going to pick up his option. Pitts was a Pro Bowler in his rookie year, when he went for over 1,000 yards receiving, but he played in only 10 games due to injury in 2022 and has underwhelmed with six total touchdowns in his three NFL seasons. Atlanta's QB situation hasn't helped his cause, though. With a new coaching staff in town and with quarterback Kirk Cousins running the offense in 2024, Pitts' fantasy stock is trending up despite back-to-back disappointing campaigns.
Apr 29, 2024 6:10 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said that the team has a lot of faith in tight end Kyle Pitts now that he's fully healthy. Pitts played in all 17 games last year, but he wasn't fully healthy for much of the season after recovering from an MCL sprain in his right knee that he suffered in Week 11 of 2022. The 23-year-old former first-rounder had a frustrating 53-667-3 line in 2023, but he's already looking like a tight end to target in 2024 fantasy drafts. Not only will Pitts be another year beyond his knee injury, but Jonnu Smith is now gone, and new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is expected to use Pitts all over the field this year. Pitts will be relatively cheap in drafts, too, so he's shaping up as an excellent value play. However, at the end of the day, how productive Pitts will be could depend on what quarterback Atlanta brings in.
Feb 27, 2024 3:16 PM EST