Kyle Pitts Fantasy
Historically drafting a tight end in the first round has not played out well for teams, but Kyle Pitts is a different calibre of player that could help break that trend. Listed at 6’6” 245lbs, the reigning John Mackey (top TE) award winner from the Florida Gators was selected fourth overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2021 NFL Draft. Pitts had a successful collegiate career, including leading the Gators with 54 catches for 649 yards and five touchdowns in his Sophomore year. He gained 770 yards on 43 receptions in his last year and finished with 21 touchdowns earning himself AP first-team All-American honors.
SKILL SET
Pitts is profiled as an athletic monster who can line up anywhere on the field and create all sorts of mismatches for the defense. He put on a show at Florida’s Pro Day, which included a 33.5-inch vertical leap, a broad jump of 10’9”, and posted a 4.46 40-yard dash time. In addition, Pitts had the largest wingspan measured in the last 20 years at over 83 inches. While it helps to have great numbers at Combine, this is one case where the player can back it up. His stellar workout solidified him as one of the top positional players available in the draft. His combination of size and speed, along with his excellent ball skills, will be a welcomed addition to the Falcons. He should see plenty of red zone and goal-line looks once acclimated to the offense, given his sheer size. However, given how big his frame is, he lacks strength for in-line blocking and is not an excellent lead blocker in the run game. With time and conditioning, both are skills that can be developed with on-the-job training as he starts the next chapter of his career.
Pitts landed in a great spot and has a solid opportunity to succeed with the Falcons on day one. Physically he’s already the best tight end on the roster; if he can pick up the playbook and offensive scheme, he will be ahead of Hayden Hurst for playing time sooner rather than later. In addition, the Falcons have a capable wide receiver in Calvin Ridley, who will be looking to take a step forward this year and become a true number one option for Matt Ryan now that Julio Jones has left town. Pitts is a great complementary asset to have to help push this offense and elevate everyone’s game. Overall the pick was solid and, on paper seems like a great fit, as Pitts should be able to carve out a role in this offense. Julio Jones saw 68 targets last year which are now up for grabs. There’s a good chance Pitts will see many of them, however with Julio now gone, the Falcons are going to have to get creative with their plays to open up the offense.
FANTASY IMPACT
There are always rookies who get fantasy players excited in redraft formats as we head toward summer draft season, and often they over-draft the hot names. Rookies are tricky in most cases to project in any format, especially at the tight end position where guys rarely make an impact in their first year. Pitts has the skills and ability to be a difference-maker in the league and, he landed in a spot with a veteran quarterback who can still make plays with the football. Sure there are more proven options at the position, but he may be worth taking a flier on in the later rounds (if he lasts that long) as a wait-and-see approach. The optimal strategy for drafting Pitts will be to pair him with a veteran tight end if things take some time to develop in Atlanta early in the season. Pitts will be on the field a ton, and as fantasy drafts get underway and reports start coming in from camp, his ADP will rise. The trading of Julio Jones alone will bump him up draft boards, and the Falcons were confident enough in his game that they could afford to make this move. It’s hard to keep a player who’s unhappy in town, but you also need to be confident in your roster when moving a blockbuster talent like Jones. As his ADP creeps up, you may need to take him earlier than you anticipated if you are sold on him, in which case taking a veteran later in the draft is also a solid strategy.
DYNASTY VALUE
For dynasty leagues, it doesn’t get much better than Pitts. He’s young, athletic, and a great all-around football player in an offense that chucks it all over the field. Even though rookie tight ends have struggled out of the gate, Pitts will not be a bust. He has the build and profile of a receiver with excellent route running and ball skills and will drive defensive coordinators crazy while trying to figure out a coverage scheme for him. Even if it takes time for him to put it all together at the NFL level, the talent is there and can’t be ignored in dynasty formats. This offense can transform into a special air attack if they can figure out how to distribute the ball evenly to keep everyone happy. His long-term outlook in Fantasy Football is bright, and he’s worth grabbing early in drafts if the situation presents itself.
