Who Should I Start? Mark Andrews or Kyle Pitts Sr.

Friday, February 27, 8:39 AM

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews has been one of the better players in the NFL at his position since entering the league in 2018. However, Andrews is now entering his age-31 season, and he had one of the least productive years of his career in 2025. Across 17 games played, Andrews recorded 48 receptions for 422 yards and five touchdowns on 70 targets. Andrews' path to target share and playing time could be clearer in 2026, as fellow Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely is set to hit free agency and may not return to the team. However, Andrews will also be working with an entirely new Baltimore coaching staff for the first time in his career in 2026. Additionally, Andrews has now recorded three consecutive seasons with fewer than 60 receptions and 700 receiving yards. While he will likely remain a security blanket for Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in the red zone, Andrews' days as a high-end fantasy tight end may be behind him.

Tuesday, February 24, 1:07 PM

The Atlanta Falcons officially placed the franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. on Tuesday, according to Tori McElhaney of AtlantaFalcons.com. It's just the fourth time in franchise history that the team has used the franchise tag, with defensive tackle Grady Jarrett the last recipient of the tag in 2019. Officially, the tag is a non-exclusive franchise tag, which means Pitts "is free to negotiate with other teams." It buys the Falcons and new general manager Ian Cunningham a little more time to evaluate what they want for the future of Pitts in Atlanta. The projected franchise tag value for TEs in 2026 is around $16 million. The 25-year-old played on a fifth-year option in 2025 and had one of his best seasons to date, finishing second among tight ends in catches (88) and receiving yards (928), and he tied his career high with five touchdowns. The former fourth overall pick was a top-five fantasy TE, but a repeat could be difficult in 2026 if Michael Penix Jr. (knee) isn't ready for the start of the regular season.