In the vast majority of cases, we simply waste our time researching TE prospects since they so rarely offer results worthy of the time invested. Now with a year under his belt, there is plenty of reasons to be optimistic about Pitts., After what Pitts did as a rookie, there should be plenty of optimism about what he could do as a sophomore in the NFL. As well as two 1s next year (likely 2 mid firsts) . I have Jonathon Taylor, Kenneth Walker and Deandre Swift as my main RBs. I wont lie, going from Matt Ryan to Marcus Mariota or Desmond Ridder is a downgrade, but it might not be for Pitts., Mariota heavily relied on his tight end during his tenure as a starter with the Titans. Specifically, with Arthur Smith, who was the OC in Tennessee and now the head coach in Atlanta, it was 23 percent. If you go further back, those first rounder rates will massively decrease. We simply cannot expect first-round TEs to be handed featured targets based on draft capital alone. Kyle Pitts start or sit: Week 11 fantasy football advice We break down the fantasy football outlook of Kyle Pitts ahead of the Falcons Week 11 matchup against the Bears. Free shipping for many products! 2.6k shares. I will make no effort in likening Pitts to another player. Helps Nets To Big Comeback Victory With 38 Points, Scores Career-High 41 Points Against Portland, Keeps Point Streak Going With Two Assists, Jessie Bates III Not Expected Back In Cincinnati, No Movement On Leighton Vander Esch Talks, Browns Could Restructure Deshaun Watson's Contract, Cowboys Plan To Use Franchise Tag On Tony Pollard, Giants, Daniel Jones Making Progress In Talks, Jets Could Take A Quarterback In The Draft, Raiders Plan To Use Franchise Tag On Josh Jacobs, Yandy Diaz Likely Sidelined Into Next Week, Leads Seattle To Victory With Three Points, Continues To Chase Elusive Florida Victory, Matthew Fitzpatrick Looking To Get His Season Rolling At Bay Hill, With The Opportunity Of A Lifetime At UFC 285, Looking For Third Straight Victory At UFC 285, With Big Opportunity To Derail Hype Train, Tyrell Hatton Generates Buzz At Arnold Palmer, Tom Kim Trying To Improve Putting At Bay Hill, Set To Make Arnold Palmer Invitational Debut, Helps Trackhouse Finish Strong At Auto Club, Finishes 33rd In Second Race With Stewart-Haas, Finishes Third After Leading The Most Laps, Snaps Losing Streak With Main-Card Decision Win, Continues To Shine With First-Round Submission, We Are Your Secret Weapon|Copyright 2011 - 2023|Win Big with RotoBaller, - Import Your Leagues With Team Sync, Use The Live Draft Sync Assistant -. Only Engram averaged more than 8.0/game (2019) or more than 7.0/game (2017). There are so many great players available at that point in a draft. Kyle Pitts TE | Florida Gators | 6-5 | 239 lbs. I cannot even begin to envision how much his stock will skyrocket leading up to the draft. What factors could help us in predicting these rare occurrences? Kelce and Andrews are rightfully in a class of their own; theyre proven top scorers at the position. He produced modest receiving statistics by fantasy standards, with the Pro-Style offense heavily focused on its running game. Before we dig into the story on Kyle Pitts, lets touch on the difference-making potential in fantasy from truly special performers at the tight end position. Pitts target competition is rookie. He's also a player with a questionable role and spotty injury history. He also ranked second in air yards at 1,110, second in air yard share (28 percent), second in air yards per target (10.1), third in deep targets, tenth in red zone targets (15), and fourth in routes ran (467). WebAll Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Kyle Pitts Prior to Mariotas arrival, Walker had never finished better than the ninth-best fantasy tight end. And even more important should you be willing to buy back into Pitts this season? The ADP of Kyle Pitts was taken from Fantasy Football Calculator for PPR scoring on August 25th and sees Pitts taken with the 34th (3.10) pick and the third TE drafted. Pitts, however, seemed to display a much quicker maturation process. my predictions for Pitts from my article on him before last season. Many of his catches during his junior season are on crossers over the middle. Pitts may be the most talented college TE I have seen in my 43-year lifetime. However, prior to film study, I was utterly convinced no one would challenge Chase for my rankings. The Atlanta Falcons selected Kyle Pitts with the 4th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and he was the first non-QB selected. Pitts suffered a nose in the win over Georgia. By James Bassil March 2, 2023 6:00 am. Two years later, he garnered the Mackey Award, a unanimous First-Team All American selection, finished in the top-10 in the Heisman voting, was a semifinalist for the Walter Camp and Maxwell Awards, and became the only TE in history to be a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award. That's because I don't really like trading away the best player in a deal. You likely have heard that saying before and while it is often true there is certainly one area where it is not: in fantasy football. Pitts missed 3 practices ahead of Week 5, then was ruled out on Friday. 9 min read Its been a weird, but good journey , said Kyle Pitts, nearly five months before becoming the highest-drafted tight end in NFL history. 59 overall8/12 half-PPR 10-team: Round 6, No. In 2022 Kyle Pitts played 10 games and accumulated 28 receptions for 356 yards and 2 touchdowns for a grand total of 47.6 fantasy points. If I had a true contender, I would take Travis Kelce or Davante Adams or Nick Chubb in a heartbeat. WebAll Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Kyle Pitts He also appears to be faster than defenders who should have the speed advantage. Fantasy Football Mock Draft 1.0. On the very next play (2:29), Pitts is defended in man by LSU star CB Derek Stingley Jr., and he utilizes another skinny post with excellent results. Kyle Pitts is coming off the best rookie tight season of all time (by some measurements), but a disappointing one by fantasy standards. The Atlanta Falcons drafted Kyle Pitts with the 4th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, making Pitts the highest-drafted tight end ever. His 60.4 yards per game ranked sixth at the position. Another of the factors that we want to see from our TEs is success on NFL routes. In comparison, 45 wide receivers have averaged 20 or more FPG during that time, with Davante Adams (26.4), Tyreek Hill (21.9), and Stefon Diggs (20.9) accomplishing the feat this season. Check out the play at 0:33. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: fantasynews | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | He has rushing ability, as evidenced by his 828 yards and 11 scores on the ground for North Carolina in 2021. However, it's impossible to ignore a top-five consensus Dynasty running back still being available towards the back end of Round 2. We want to see him collecting these with his hands, but sometimes that option can be eliminated by the coverage defender. Delanie Walker thrived with Mariota in Tennessee. Fantasy Football Mock Draft 1.0. On the very next play (2:40), LSU DC Dave Aranda pulls down safety Grant Delpit on Pitts. For Kelce, he averaged 14.9 FPG, or 67%, of his scoring average from a detached alignment (separated from the O-line). However, not all target shares can be compared evenly. Pitts was advertised as a Swiss Army Knife that can line up as a traditional tight end, as well as out wide or in the slot like a receiver and that is exactly what he did in 2021. At that cost, he would have to deliver WR2 numbers to meet value. Kyle Pitts is chasing stardom 1071 49 Pitts is among the top five tight ends in the league. Yes, he lets the ball get into his body. Do I really need to answer that one? Fantasy Football: The Miami Dolphins traded back up to No. Dynasty Startup drafts are not for the faint of heart! Dodgers The Early Favorites For Shohei Ohtani? If Pitts remains healthy, the only factor I can envision limiting his rookie upside is landing with a team that refuses to leave him on the field full-time, while his run blocking develops. Atlanta replaced their veteran pocket passer with Marcus Mariota, who offers much more mobility and far less certainty. He finished with the second-most receiving yards by a rookie tight end, trailing only Mike Ditka, and he scored the fourth-most fantasy points ever by a rookie tight end. 79 overall, Quentin Johnston: Rookie scouting profile. He's behind Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens He has an elite wide receiver duo in Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson. I'm here to help with a 1QB startup mock before 2023 NFL Free Agency. If you're a contender, the risk of losing Diggs' value to an ACL or Father Time is worth the risk of potentially winning a championship this year or next. But coupled with the adjustments Atlanta may make to their offense, Londons addition doesnt help Pitts. That is something scouts questioned coming out of high school. Widely considered a generational prospect at the position, a natural second-year progression is expected. Recent history has been mixed with receivers this age. While the Falcons let Russell Gage walk, they also drafted Drake London with the eighth pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. It's going to cost you a lot in Dynasty, and if the landing spot is right it may cost you a first-round pick in redraft as well. This is a great question and one I should probably answer at least once per year. But Pitts was determined to make his way on offense, specifically at TE. Let's go with one at each position. This is the exact route we will need Pitts to master in the NFL. As for Kittle and Waller, theyve each finished as top-three tight ends twice in the last three seasons. As for Waller, he and Pitts share a similar physical archetype as bigger-bodied wide receivers rather than your typical tight end. I still believe in the talent, he'll still be just 22 years old at the start of the season, his situation is unlikely to get worse, and his price has never been lower. Four weeks into his first season as a starter, the nation has now been indoctrinated on Pitts arrival. I wouldn't be that surprised if he's better than Isiah Pacheco, Brian Robinson, and Tyler Allgeier next year. I will draw the line, at this stage, in keeping JaMarr Chase at the top of the ranks. Draft Pick Analysis: Ideally, a top-tier wide receiver would be the direction to go at this point of the draft to pair with Taylor. Join the Best Live Fantasy Chat Community! I referenced this play above (1:23) as allowing the pass into his body. I wont lie, going from. The Atlanta Falcons drafted Kyle Pitts at the #4 spot in the 2021 NFL Draft. Imagine if LeBron James played football, and that is more or less Kyle Pitts. You can view more current content marked with a FREE banner, All the same, it will allow other playmakers to benefit. Finding tight ends who can make a weekly difference can be the key component in a Championship roster -- as was the case for Darren Waller and Travis Kelce managers in 2020. At still just 24 years old, there's no reason Taylor should fall outside of the Top 5 of Dynasty startups, and he can remain a cornerstone building block. We can expect to see him follow a similar transition in the NFL. Draft Pick Analysis: If this were an actual draft, the clock would've run out on me as I stared between Pitts' and Pollard's names on the draft board. At 1:11, Tennessee is masking Cover 6 as Cover 3, a mistake against Pitts he takes full advantage with excellent recognition from Kyle Trask. WebLatest on TE Kyle Pitts including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on NFL.com Michael F. Florio's 2022 fantasy football: Draft strategy. Pitts tosses the LB aside, making the result possible, and making it look easy to boot. Doing so made him the highest-drafted tight end (TE) in the history of the league. VIEW ADVICE Start Over | Edit Players Summary Game Log Stats Points Notes Looking for Start/Sit Advice? While Mariota certainly doesnt have as the kids say a noodle arm, itd be foolish for Smith to overlook Mariotas capabilities as a runner. 57 overall8/3 non-PPR mock: Round 6, No. He discussed the situation with one of the coaches who convinced him to sign with UF, JaJuan Seider, who assured him that he would continue to be in good hands under new HC Dan Mullen. To start, Pitts is probably the most talented TE prospect to ever come into the NFL. Judging from what Ive seen on tape, Pitts is entirely without a ceiling. Evidence of production from a detached alignment. To start, Pitts is probably the most talented TE prospect to ever come into the NFL. Based purely on stats, the two veterans should be valued over Pitts., But thats not how football works. Make sure to follow Michael on Twitter, @MichaelFFlorio. Hunter Renfrow will almost assuredly still hold a special place in Derek Carrs heart, too. 59 overall, 7/7 Superflex mock: Round 6, No. 8/18 half-PPR 12-team: Round 5, No. Who knows, maybe Bryan Edwards finally becomes the player some fantasy analysts hoped he could be? This game against LSU stands as Pitts first career 100-yard performance. I have picks 2, 4, 6, 10 and 12 in the rookie draft. Rookie tight ends typically dont make much of a fantasy impact. NFL No. Pitts and London are in a position to each see a very high target share in this offense. Let alone from a college production standpoint. In 2022 Kyle Pitts played 10 games and accumulated 28 receptions for 356 yards and 2 touchdowns for a grand total of 47.6 fantasy points. The full extension to complete the catch is dazzling. In fact, 27 percent of his throws with the Titans went to tight ends. Pitts would play the majority of his 11 games on special teams in 2018. As you can see, these routes can be very different, especially at 7:49 and 8:47, requiring Pitts to anticipate contact from behind. Kyle Pitts's fantasy value is measured by the players he could be traded for. I will be drafting from the No. It's not uncommon for Dynasty managers to get to the 15th round and not recognize many of the names that are staring them in the face, let alone the two- to three-year prognosis for these players. At the 2015 NFL Combine, he ran a 4.46 40 time. 3 behind Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields. pin. While Pitts situation in Atlanta didnt get better, his situation among the top fantasy tight ends didnt get worse. Youll need to watch individual game footage, but Pitts run blocking technique has also greatly improved over the liability from his sophomore season. Draft Pick Analysis: Burks certainly did not have an out-of-this-world productive rookie season, but that doesn't mean we should be completely off of the former Arkansas wideout from a Dynasty standpoint. Josh Palmer is my favorite sleeper/breakout at wide receiver. In the 12 weeks following wide receiver Calvin Ridleys absence, Gage averaged about one more target than Pitts. This was a major disappointment after Pitts came Tight End History. No exaggeration. The speed from this kid is remarkable. In my view, Chase is landing spot-independent, able to produce in Year 1 no matter the QB. Fun trivia: Pitts was told at his first high school, Abington, that he did not possess the coordination to play the TE position. 4 overall pick in the 2021 Were the Falcons to select Florida tight end Kyle Pitts with the fourth overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, as I had them doing in my most recent mock, it would make Pitts the highest-picked college tight end in the history of professional football.The Rams took LSUs Billy Cannon with the first overall pick in the 1960 draft, Cannon chose to play with But they will be the most difficult to predict. DraftKings Week 3 XFL DFS Tournament Plays, NFL Combine Preview: Major Fantasy Questions, DraftKings Week 2 XFL DFS Tournament Plays, DraftKings Week 1 XFL Intro and DFS Tournament Plays, Advanced Matchups: Conference Championships. What to do with Kyle Pitts? But Travis and Darren finished 13th and 27th, respectively, in air yards/target (AY/T). He's probably past the point you'll get much more than a mid-2023 1st for him, and that's simply not worth sacrificing your window for. Just look at what he does at 3:42. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: fantasynews | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | Instead, we should expect a regression to the mean. The majority of top TE prospects take an uncoordinated path to that end frankly, as uncoordinated as their bodies following common late growth spurts. 61 overall, 7/28 full-point PPR mock: Round 5, No. While it will also read as obvious, it is still of monumental importance when evaluating TE prospects. So how do the three stack up? QB play will be the limiting factor wherever Pitts is drafted. For example, Pitts has a late third-round value in 12-team PPR leagues, but if only one tight end is off the board then, you can afford to wait on Pitts. Which player that is under the radar currently could you see being a breakout in the near future at their position. Kittle struggled with injuries last season despite only missing four games, and Waller missed seven games. In fact, it may have gotten better. 3:47 pm ET, Quentin Johnston: Rookie scouting profile, Dynasty TE rankings: Watch the free agents. Sign up to receive all the latest news and annoucements. The upside for Pollard moving forward is absolutely insane if he becomes the featured back in Dallas - or somewhere else via free agency - but the value point for Pitts was too good to pass up. If he sees an uptick in targets which is expected and efficiency, he could provide league-winning upside.. We still saw flashes, though, of what he can be for fantasy football when he's healthy, and the Colts are going to be a much different team in 2023 than the train wreck that we saw on the field this past season. *All ADP data is courtesy of FantasyFootballCalculator.comand for half-point PPR scoring. This site is not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with these schools or teams. share. he was available for the next game. Over the last 10 seasons, T.J. Hockenson, Noah Fant, Hayden Hurst, O.J. 64 overall6/16 full-PPR mock: Round 3, No. We do have several further examples present in his sophomore tape (1:23, 3:03, etc.,). Pitts would transfer to Archbishop Wood at the conclusion of that season. As much as I love Fields, I wouldnt even be shocked if he is taken at No. Davante Adams is about a year older than Diggs and has continued to be awesome. In 1.5 PPR TE scoring leagues, you are taking Pitts first overall, and not looking back. Prior to his junior season, he transferred to Archbishop Wood, a top-150 nationally ranked school. Walker showcased exactly why he had insane hype coming out of Michigan State in his rookie campaign, and he completely took over this backfield as the season progressed. We offer recommendations from 35+ fantasy baseball experts! After his rookie year, it looked like he would As well as two 1s next year (likely 2 mid firsts) . Since he collected every single catchable target during his junior season, I really dont think we can consider that as a flaw, moving forward. Unknown. All Rights Reserved. but you'll have to sign up in order to access our other articles and content! Yes, Ridley is now in town, which will steal away some targets, but Kirk should easily remain the No. The Atlanta Falcons made history Thursday night, selecting Florida tight end Kyle Pitts with the No. 2. Kyle Pitts 2023 Fantasy Outlook. A QB change would potentially lower Pitts's weekly floor, but Ridder has more upside than Mariota, who is a known commodity at this level, meaning that Pitts would bring some more upside.. Nobody compares to Zeus as to what essentially amounts to a 6-foot-5, 260-pound WR who previously ran a 4.61 40 time at his University of Cincinnati Pro Day in 2013. Kyle Pitts was drafted #4 overall in the 2021 draft and for good reason. I know Kyle Pitts was frustrating last year, but he ended up getting hurt. Health is a concern, too. This time of year, however, it's a pretty good bet there will be questions about rookies. Its one of the top football schools in Pennsylvania ranked No. There aren't many questions at all about who should go No. Then, when Pitts finished as the overall TE6 and TE11 in fantasy PPG, many were disappointed. If everything goes right, Howell could go from an afterthought to borderline top-12 this season. I would be more interested in trying to turn Swift and something into a top-10 wide receiver. 32 NFL teams will be interested in drafting Pitts. However, Pitts has a greater chance of being his teams top target. He is a player with elite talent and youth on his side. He topped 13 Fantasy points in six games last year, he may double that number this year if Allen is gone. WebWho to draft? Draft a league now and start fresh with a 0-0 record and a shortened schedule. His incredible wingspan, overall athleticism, and unprecedented versatility make it Draft Pick Analysis: Pittman's been hyped as a breakout candidate for a few years now, and he's shown his potential to be a top-12 Dynasty wide receiver on multiple occasions, but he's been held back by mediocre quarterback play. Weight-adjusted speed is the ultimate key. I am not anticipating that well see Pitts utilized much on deep passes but, as Ill get to in a bit, his ability against man coverage is truly special. That information tells us that the pair benefited when the offense employed increased spacing. If you dont feel great about the next tier of tight ends, you should target Pitts over Kittle and Waller, just not by much. How should dynasty fantasy football managers value Pitts in 2022 and beyond? If that proves to be the case, itll be due to defenses -- equipped with excellent coverage LBs -- scheming specifically to slow him down. Luckily, Kyle Pitts is no ordinary tight end. NFL offenses will continue to evolve, forcing us to follow suit with our evaluation process. As for the top question, in 10-team leagues I more aggressively pursue elite players. Even after former HC Jim McElwain was dismissed in 2015, Pitts remained loyal. Free shipping for many products! The fact that he doesnt snag this with his hands can be considered preference. (3) Ability to produce on NFL routes. Affirmative. Optimizer Quick Start, Percent Rostered The Falcons got their guy at pick Number 4 when they made Kyle Pitts the highest drafted tight end in NFL history. I plan on taking at least 1 of Stroud or young in the draft. Kelce ran 245-of-606 (40%) routes out wide this season. June 21, 2022. at He also has the upside to top that and well within his range of outcomes is finishing as the top scoring fantasy tight end., Pitts showed us that he has the talent and capability to play at a high level in the NFL and just a jump in touchdowns will make him worth taking as the third tight end off the board. 59 overall, 8/12 half-PPR 10-team: Round 6, No. Along with being the highest-drafted tight end ever, he may be the most hyped tight end prospect ever, and with that comes some lofty expectations for his rookie season. There is a bit of an unknown with Ridder, but you do always hear that a strong tight end provides a nice safety blanket for a QB. pic.twitter.com/kdtiUp7SQk. For example, there is a perception by some that Kyle Pitts was a bust last season and that could not be further from reality., When Pitts was drafted with the fourth overall pick, as the first non-QB off the board, expectations just shot up and up. Draft Pick Analysis: Wilson showcased his ridiculous talent all last season, despite woeful quarterback play for the majority of the year. Not only is Pitts's failure to live up to lofty expectations last year a reason some people are not jumping back in, but so is the change in QB. Kyle Pitts (ATL) Pitts had a solid rookie season. The average NFL team passed the ball 58% of the time, whereas the Falcons passed on 61% of their plays. By James Bassil March 2, 2023 6:00 am. WebPitts was a major fantasy disappointment in 2022, posting a 28-356-2 line across 10 games. Pitts is no longer the main big-body target in Atlanta. With only four drops the entire season, we really havent seen Pitts suffer from consistently allowing the ball into his body. And to be honest, I have those same questions in a couple of my own leagues. Tight End ADP Report: Kyle Pitts, Cole Kmet Poised For Breakouts Evaluating tight end average draft positions to assess value, upside and risk. Before we dig into the story on Kyle Pitts, lets touch on the difference-making potential in fantasy from truly special performers at the tight end position.For anyone with a reasonable amount of fantasy experience, one thing is remarkably clear: the dearth of consistent production 54 overall8/6 PPR Superflex mock: Round 5, No. And you should view Diggs through both lenses. Several veteran quarterbacks have been linked to this team, and whichever one ends up in town is going to provide Wilson with the stability that he didn't have in his rookie campaign. He managed to make SEC players look outclassed thanks in large part to his 6-foot-6, 245-pound frame mixed with 4.44 speed. Justin Carter compares ADP of tight ends Kyle Pitts and Noah Fant to determine which player is a better draft value at TE for the 2021 fantasy football season. send. We would appreciate your support by either turning off your adblocker or signing up for our ad-free subscription tier.Thanks for being a reader! Therefore, its reasonable to assume Pitts will take a step forward while Kittle and Waller dont. It's easy to get excited about Pitts, but more importantly than that, we want to keep you up to date with everything surrounding his 2021 profile. The question above that is more interesting. If you boosted Pitts from one to six touchdowns, making him just an average touchdown scorer, he would have finished last year as the overall TE3 in fantasy and the TE6 in fantasy PPG. Fantasy Value. Unfortunately, his 2022 season was a nightmare for fantasy players. Pitts will be asked to play these inline snaps in the NFL. So dont expect London to completely eradicate Pitts opportunities. But we can pull some helpful information out of how that pair succeeded. Kyle Pitts TE | Florida Gators | 6-5 | 239 lbs. Waller led all NFL TEs this season with a 27% target share. Gronk and Kelce are too big. Not all speed is equal. But these defenses have no choice. As you can see, Pitts' ADP has been a rocket ship just in the last month going from a seventh-round pick to a mid-fourth-round pick. I have no doubt about that. It caps his upside as the potential TE1 in fantasy, which brings us to. Had they closed off the middle in Cover 3, the deep safety wouldve been all over this seam route. And theyve been treated as such. The Atlanta Falcons drafted Kyle Pitts at the #4 spot in the 2021 NFL Draft. Waller and Engram may seem like close fits, but they simply fall short of the unified skillset from Pitts. Well, Kelce collected 12 FPG or 54% of his scoring on hitches, outs, slants, and crossers a combined average of 8.2 AY/T. He also led the position with 45 targets while lined out wide, only two others (, After what Pitts did as a rookie, there should be plenty of optimism about what he could do as a sophomore in the NFL.