Pitts struggled to establish consistency with Marcus Mariota last season before missing the majority of his second year with an injury. A run-first offense that adds Bijan Robinson to the mix doesn't figure to be a boost to Pitts' potential post-hype sleeper case. The bigger issue could be a pass game that struggles to get Pitts the ball when he's open leading to inconsistent weekly production. At the tight end position, if you're not consistently scoring enough to provide a weekly advantage, it's hard to justify ADP. Pitts had just three top-12 weekly finishes in 10 games last season. You can buy him at a two-round discount in Rounds 6-7 this year, but don't be certain all discounts are also good values.
Pitts has been awful so far this season with four catches for 59 yards and no touchdowns on eight targets, and he was outplayed by Jonnu Smith last week against Green Bay when Smith had four catches for 47 yards on six targets. But I have a feeling Pitts has a breakout game in Week 3 at Detroit. The Lions have already allowed the most receiving yards to tight ends through the first two weeks of the season with 175 against Kansas City and Seattle, and that was without facing Travis Kelce for the Chiefs in Week 1. Last week, Drake London showed he can have success with Desmond Ridder with six catches for 67 yards and a touchdown on seven targets, and I hope Pitts gets his turn in Week 3.
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Falcons' Kyle Pitts: Start Him (Lineup Decisions)
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If Pitts' playing time keeps trending in the right direction, and if the matchup isn't that bad for him, then he should have a shot at coming through for some solid numbers. I wouldn't expect a big breakout game but he should at least land the 10 PPR points needed to be a useful Fantasy starter. We are getting to a point where Pitts could just be a weekly bust but I'm just not there yet. I'd take the shot on Pitts over Sam LaPorta and Hunter Henry this week, and he could be a terrific low-owned DFS option too.
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Falcons' Kyle Pitts: Contrarian DFS Play
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I know, I know. But contrarian means low roster rate, which inevitably means great reasons not to play him. Obviously there are many of those with Kyle Pitts. But I do expect the Falcons to be down two scores in this one, and I'm hopeful Desmond Ridder throws the ball 30-plus times. Pitts' price has fallen so far that it would only take one big play to make him worth it.
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Falcons' Kyle Pitts: Quiet day in win
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Pitts caught two of five targets for 15 yards during Sunday's 25-24 win over the Packers.
Pitts saw two more targets than he did in the season opener, but his production plummeted. The 2021 first-round pick has all the talent in the world, but he's been an extremely disappointing fantasy option since a dazzling rookie campaign in which he posted 68 receptions (on 110 targets) for 1,026 yards and one touchdown. He's accumulated just 32 catches on 67 targets for 415 yards over his last 12 appearances. He remains a focal point of Atlanta's passing game, but it's currently difficult to trust any Falcons receiving option in the team's extremely run-heavy scheme.
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Falcons' Kyle Pitts: Leads team with 44 receiving yards
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Pitts caught two of three targets for 44 yards during Sunday's 24-10 win over the Panthers.
Aside from a 26-yard reception being called back due to illegal motion, Pitts was quiet for most of the day. However, he made his presence felt with a huge 34-yard catch in the fourth quarter which was quickly followed up by Tyler Allgeier's second touchdown. As expected, Atlanta leaned heavily on the run, limiting Pitts' and Drake London's opportunities; however, both one-time first-round picks should have more chances moving forward.
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Falcons' Kyle Pitts: Continues to progress
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Pitts (knee) didn't participate in the team portions of Wednesday's practice, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The Falcons have been easing Pitts back into the mix as he bounces back from an MCL injury, but coach Arthur Smith noted Wednesday that the team plans to "put a little more on (the tight end) as we ramp him up," adding "we'll push him a little more next week." With that in mind, it doesn't seem likely that Pitts will see action in Friday's preseason opener against the Dolphins, but the 2021 first-rounder continues to progress and is on track to be a key part of Atlanta's offense come Week 1.
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Falcons' Kyle Pitts: Running routes at camp
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Pitts (knee) ran routes against defenders Monday for the first time this summer, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The Falcons are easing Pitts into training camp after last year's MCL injury, with coach Arthur Smith noting Monday that the tight end is on track with his "return to play" plan. Smith also suggested Pitts could take snaps this preseason, though it'll nonetheless be surprising if the 2021 first-round pick makes more than a token appearance in exhibition games. Concern regarding Pitts' fantasy prospects for 2023 has more to do with his lack of production last year before getting hurt than any doubt about his Week 1 status; at this point it seems he's healthy and the Falcons are just being cautious.
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Falcons' Kyle Pitts: Practicing with brace on
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Pitts (knee) practiced Wednesday while wearing a brace on his right knee, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.
Pitts was able to run routes Wednesday, though it's unclear if he'll be a full participant once the Falcons start holding full-contact practices. The uber-talented tight end is entering his third season in the NFL and will have his third different Week 1 quarterback in Desmond Ridder in 2023, assuming Pitts can gain 100 percent clearance from knee surgery by the end of the preseason.
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Falcons' Kyle Pitts: Not practicing yet
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Pitts (knee) isn't practicing this week, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.
Pitts spent the winter rehabbing from November surgery on a Grade 2 MCL sprain, and given the typical return timeline it's possible he's already back to full strength and is just absent from voluntary OTAs or being brought along cautiously. Earlier reports had him on schedule in the recovery process, and Falcons coach Arthur Smith said this week that he expects all the players absent from practice this week to be ready for training camp. The knee is probably less of a concern than how Pitts fits in Smith's run-heavy offense, after he dropped from 60.4 yards per game and 9.4 per target as a rookie to 35.6 YPG and 6.0 YPT last season. The Falcons will continue running often after using the eighth overall pick on RB Bijan Robinson, but it's at least a safe assumption that whatever passing volume they have will largely go to Pitts and WR Drake London. It's harder to say if the trio of top-10 picks -- one from each of the past three drafts -- can help second-year QB Desmond Ridder become an efficient passer.
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Falcons' Kyle Pitts: Rehab progressing on schedule
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Falcons tight end coach Justin Peele said Monday that Pitts (knee) is "on schedule" in his recovery, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.
Pitts is recovering from right knee surgery undergone late November to address a Grade 2 MCL sprain. Suffering the injury Week 11 cut Pitts' sophomore campaign short, as he logged just 10 appearances, but there haven't been any hints of concern out of Atlanta about him potentially missing time during offseason workouts. In any case, Pitts should be back to full health well before the start of the 2023 season, barring any setbacks. The athletic tight end posted 1,026 receiving yards as a rookie, and depending on the Falcons' quarterback situation next season, Pitts once again may be a popular option in the early rounds of fantasy drafts.
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Falcons' Kyle Pitts: Undergoes surgery Wednesday
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Pitts announced Wednesday via his personal Instagram account that he underwent surgery to repair a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his right knee.
While Atlanta hasn't officially announced a recovery timeline for Pitts or revealed whether he'll be able to return this season, the second-year tight end will be sidelined through at least Week 16 after being placed on injured reserve Nov. 21. While Pitts was sidelined in the Falcons' Week 12 loss to the Commanders, Parker Hesse led the Atlanta tight end group with 33 snaps (60 percent), but it was MyCole Pruitt (two catches for nine yards and a touchdown) who was the more productive fantasy option despite playing three fewer snaps.
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Falcons' Kyle Pitts: Grade 2 MCL sprain likely
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Pitts likely has a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his right knee, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Pitts picked up the injury during this past Sunday's win against the Bears. Considering the Falcons placed him on IR one day later, a Grade 2 diagnosis makes sense because it's typically accompanied by a two-to-four week recovery timeline. Pitts will miss at least the next four games as a result of that transaction, although surgery could potentially cost him the rest of the season. While the second-year pro is sidelined, Parker Hesse, MyCole Pruitt and Anthony Firkser are candidates to fill in at tight end.
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Falcons' Kyle Pitts: Placed on IR
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Atlanta placed Pitts (knee) on injured reserve Monday.
Pitts suffered an MCL tear in his right knee during Sunday's win over the Bears and will be sidelined for at least the next four games, though it's possible the tight end remains out for the remainder of the campaign. There hasn't been a decision on whether or not he'll undergo surgery, but Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports that a procedure is possible. While Pitts may have been disappointing in fantasy due to a high ADP, coach Arthur Smith has been pleased with Pitts' overall progression this season. "People just look at the stats, but his impact on winning has been enormous for us," Smith said. In Pitts' absence, Parker Hesse, MyCole Pruitt, Anthony Firkser and Feleipe Franks (calf) are candidates for increased snaps at tight end, but the likes of Drake London, Olamide Zaccheaus and KhaDarel Hodge also will have to help mitigate the loss of Atlanta's third-leading receiver.
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Falcons' Kyle Pitts: May need surgery
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Pitts is feared to have suffered an MCL tear in his right knee during Sunday's 27-24 win over the Bears and could require surgery, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Rapoport relayed that the MRI that Pitts underwent Monday revealed more substantial damage than initially anticipated. Pitts reportedly is seeking a second opinion, but he looks like he could be in danger of missing the rest of the season. Falcons head coach Arthur Smith may provide an official update on Pitts' health during his media availability later Monday.
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Falcons' Kyle Pitts: Believed to have MCL sprain
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Pitts (knee) is believed to have suffered an MCL sprain during Sunday's 27-24 win over the Bears, and he'll have an MRI on Monday to confirm, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Pitts was able to leave the field under his own power Sunday, and he caught three of five targets for 43 yards before exiting. If the 2021 first-round pick's injury diagnosis is confirmed, it could lead to a significant absence for the tight end.
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Falcons' Kyle Pitts: Sit Him (Lineup Decisions)
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I'm banking on the Falcons coming off the bus running against Chicago's defense, taking valuable targets away from Pitts. If the Falcons continue to insist on throwing to him deep, his volatility will remain problematic. If you can, start Greg Dulcich and Dawson Knox ahead of Pitts.
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Falcons' Kyle Pitts: Inefficient again in loss
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Pitts secured two of eight targets for 28 yards in the Falcons' 25-15 loss to the Panthers on Thursday night.
Pitts led the team in targets for the second time in four days, but he once again was limited to just two receptions. Pitts now has an encouraging 21 targets over the last three games overall, yet his 9-135-1 line in that span is underwhelming to a degree. Pitts' upside is likely to remain capped while Marcus Mariota is under center and restricted to a game-manager role, but the 2021 first-round pick will aim for a boost in production and better efficiency against the vulnerable Bears defense in a Week 11 home matchup a week from Sunday.
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Falcons' Kyle Pitts: Sit Him (Lineup Decisions)
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Pitts' utilization near the end-zone is really what keeps his Fantasy stock afloat. No one should expect the Falcons to take many deep shots with him after he couldn't connect on five such tries last week. No one should expect the Falcons to throw 28 times as they did in their OT win over the Panthers in Week 8, either. Pitts remains a starter in Fantasy but is more of a touchdown-or-bust TE, just as he's pretty much been all year. I'd rather start Pat Freiermuth, Greg Dulcich and Gerald Everett.
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Falcons' Kyle Pitts: Leads team in receiving
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Pitts caught five of nine targets for 80 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 37-34 overtime win over the Panthers.
Pitts led the Falcons in receptions, targets and receiving yards while submitting his best performance of the season. The second-year tight end's second score of the campaign came on a well-schemed play that left Pitts wide open for a two-yard score. However, he also made plenty of big plays through the air as well, catching passes of 26 and 33 yards. Given his high ADP, Pitts has certainly been a disappointment, but he's also capable of breaking out of his slump in a big way. Pitts will look to build off his season-high performance against the Chargers in Week 9.
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Falcons' Kyle Pitts: Sit Him (Lineup Decisions)
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Pitts has basically devolved into a touchdown-or-bust tight end. Sure, there's a chance he breaks out for 50 yards, but we could have said that for any of his first seven games and would have been right once. If his name was Marcedes Lewis or Geoff Swaim, you wouldn't even think twice about starting him. Dream if you want to, but a guy who's barely scored in his NFL career and has one game this season with more than 20 yards (!!) probably doesn't warrant much trust. I'd rather take my chances on Greg Dulcich, Cade Otton or Harrison Bryant.
