Who Should I Start? Kyle Pitts Sr. or Michael Mayer

Sunday, July 27, 11:17 AM

Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said that tight end Kyle Pitts is "as healthy has he's been" in training camp. Pitts dealt with a minor foot injury earlier this offseason but was cleared before the start of training camp and isn't limited in any way this summer. That's good news as the 24-year-old looks to become a bigger part of the offense in quarterback Michael Penix Jr.'s first full season as the starting QB. The former first-rounder has been a disappointment since a 1,000-yard season in his rookie campaign. He caught 47 passes last year for 602 yards and four touchdowns. He's still young, and most fantasy managers are probably avoiding him at all costs, especially after he did nothing special in Penix's three starts to close out the 2024 season. Draft him as a TE2 and hope that the Falcons finally figure out how to use him properly.

Thursday, August 7, 3:53 PM

ESPN's Ryan McFadden reports that Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer has been a standout in training camp. The Notre Dame product flashed during his rookie campaign, but the addition of Brock Bowers in 2024 was a detriment to Mayer's playing time. While Bowers and new quarterback Geno Smith have quickly gotten on the same page, Mayer has had an excellent camp of his own. The 24-year-old has been an offensive standout since OTAs, per McFadden, who also notes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has "big plans" for him in 2025. There are undoubtedly targets up for grabs in the Raiders' offense, and Mayer may play a nice role for them. However, that translating to fantasy isn't a guarantee. Bowers and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers are worth rostering for now, but Mayer will have to impress in preseason action before he's worthy of fantasy managers' attention in drafts.