Injury History. An additional example is shown at 3:46. Don't have an account? By James Bassil March 2, 2023 6:00 am. Thats not uncommon tight ends tend to take more time to develop at every level (how often do rookie TEs put up big numbers in the NFL?). Optimizer Quick Start, Percent Rostered (5) Featured role in passing game plan? Do I really need to answer that one? In fact, Pitts arguably has more competition for work this season than he did last season. He runs the 40-yard dash at a 4.46 (99th percentile). Check out the play at 0:33. And this time in particular there were. 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. Pacheco showed phenomenal things in his rookie season for the Super Bowl champions. 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. Pitts is a much better option than the next tier of tight ends, which features Dalton Schultz, Dallas Goedert and T.J. Hockenson. I have Jonathon Taylor, Kenneth Walker and Deandre Swift as my main RBs. The average NFL team passed the ball 58% of the time, whereas the Falcons passed on 61% of their plays. 10 team ppr superflex. Waller averaged 7.2 FPG, or 39%, in those situations. By: Matt Levine, Projecting 2023 Western Conference Playoff Matchups, 2023 NFL Combine Defensive Linemen/Linebacker Winners and Losers. WebLatest on TE Kyle Pitts including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on NFL.com Michael F. Florio's 2022 fantasy football: Draft strategy. 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. 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. pic.twitter.com/kdtiUp7SQk. The question above that is more interesting. 1 red-zone option, especially since we know new Falcons head coach and playcaller Arthur Smith loves to utilize tight ends.. At the 2015 NFL Combine, he ran a 4.46 40 time. Kittle struggled with injuries last season despite only missing four games, and Waller missed seven games. Hes pushing his routes further downfield, treating SEC defenders like those he faced at Archbishop Wood during his senior season. So let's start with an extended breakdown of what I would give for Robinson. 8/18 half-PPR 12-team: Round 5, No. Kelce finished second at 23%. I would give up 1.02 and 1.10 and a second for Robinson. Hes proven to be a safe option when healthy, but FantasyPros shows Kittle is on average the 42nd player drafted. Dynasty Startup drafts are not for the faint of heart! 10 team ppr superflex. That would be a mistake.. pic.twitter.com/1rdzqEni5C, I currently have the 2nd and 3rd overall picks in my upcoming draft. There are so many great players available at that point in a draft. And you should view Diggs through both lenses. But, with all of that being said: the fact that Pitts currently finds himself with a top-50 average draft position (ADP) in most fantasy football leagues absolutely smacks This was a major disappointment after Pitts came I actually have CeeDee Lamb ahead of Robinson by himself, so I don't love that trade at all. Beautiful. That value is fine for a tight end of his stature, though dont reach on Kittle due to his injury history. I would rather give up 1.04 and 1.06 and a second. Not only did Pitts test so well athletically, but he backed it up with production and game film. send. 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 With question marks like DAndre Swift and Kyle Pitts, this could be a difficult starting lineup to work with. The video closes with a multitude of examples with Pitts on inline targets: 7:49, 8:06, 8:47, and 9:08. As well as two 1s next year (likely 2 mid firsts) . If everything goes right, Howell could go from an afterthought to borderline top-12 this season. section: | slug: dynasty-fantasy-football-mailbag-valuing-kyle-pitts-stefon-diggs-dandre-swift-and-more | sport: football | route: article_single_fantasy | As for tight end, I'm buying several of the second-year tight ends, but especially Greg Dulcich, Trey McBride, and Cade Otton. 2 in the overall dynasty rankings, I am left with no other choice but to move Pitts ahead of him. His coaches wanted him to focus on playing QB. Yes, its a tunnel screen not an NFL route for TEs but it highlights the additional muscle hes added to that frame. And to be honest, I have those same questions in a couple of my own leagues. However, he goes 32nd overall in NFFC drafts and on Underdog. Mock Draft Machine Beta Testing Has Begun! To summarize, with a very promising incoming class of tight ends, in addition to landing in a perfect situation, we hope to see: Unfortunately, the fifth factor cant be evaluated into existence. But Travis and Darren finished 13th and 27th, respectively, in air yards/target (AY/T). 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. If we see Pitts test with a 37-38 inch vertical at his Pro Day, he could force his way into being a top-five pick, maybe even higher. The Atlanta Falcons drafted Kyle Pitts at the #4 spot in the 2021 NFL Draft. With question marks like DAndre Swift and Kyle Pitts, this could be a difficult starting lineup to work with. If you dont feel great about the next tier of tight ends, you should target Pitts over Kittle and Waller, just not by much. 6 to draft Florida tight end Kyle Pitts Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Florida Gators tight end Kyle Pitts (84) during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Weight-adjusted speed is the ultimate key. The fact that he doesnt snag this with his hands can be considered preference. On the very next play (2:40), LSU DC Dave Aranda pulls down safety Grant Delpit on Pitts. 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. 32 overall6/9 Superflex mock: Round 7, No. He did so for his three full seasons with Mariota, finishing as high as third at the position. Is it worth packaging some of this to move up You don't draft a tight end fourth overall if you don't think he'll be a star. He is a legitimate wide receiver in a tight ends body. For now, I pretty strongly prefer Bryce Young to C.J. Moore (WR - Carolina Panthers), 8.07 - A.J. By the end of his recruiting cycle, Pitts had been offered by Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, Oklahoma, Miami (FL), and 15 other programs. 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. Free shipping for many products! These guidelines are far from perfect, but they do provide us with a starting point. Let's go with one at each position. Speed. 8/18 half-PPR 12-team: Round 5, No. This is next-level body control from a junior in college. All Rights Reserved. How Pitts compares to other top tight ends, How Pitts Compares to Other Top Tight Ends, Jessie Bates IIIs 3 Best Fits In Free Agency, Tradeable picks in the Mock Draft Machine. 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.. 4 overall pick in the NFL draft. I cant see him putting up numbers like Kelce or Andrews, but the lack of top-end talent at the position makes Pitts a very safe bet to be a top-five fantasy tight end. Waller and Engram may seem like close fits, but they simply fall short of the unified skillset from Pitts. He lined up in the slot the ninth most of all tight ends. But these defenses have no choice. Its one of the top football schools in Pennsylvania ranked No. The Atlanta Falcons have one of the NFL's best tight pic.twitter.com/E80uVePnwK, Be honest should I have done this trade? Just as weve already seen numerous times before, these 40-50 pound mismatches do not end well. 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. And if anything, I may be lower than the consensus that seems to be he's already RB1 overall. We simply cannot expect first-round TEs to be handed featured targets based on draft capital alone. And even more important should you be willing to buy back into Pitts this season? These routes limit usage of his jump-cut ability. Thats as dominant as dominant gets and its the way Pitts did it that really grabbed scouts attention. Pitts path to college was much of the same. He averaged 5.7 yards per carry as a rookie and the Bills have already talked about increasing his role from 2022. Its only an issue when they lead to drops. While Robinson is younger, I actually believe Lamb should be a productive player for longer, and I definitely expect him to be more impactful in 2023. Kelce averaged 17.7 FPG or nearly 80% of his scoring with 11 personnel on the field. Pitts, 21, has a far more enticing potential career trajectory than Kittle, 28, and Waller, 29. At the 4:19 mark, Richard LeCounte takes a horrific angle on Pitts in Cover 2-Man. He just plays too fast for a kid his size to cover in man. Some of you reading this may not have even been born the last time a rookie tight end scored more fantasy points. So how do the three stack up? WebAll Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Kyle Pitts Make sure to follow Michael on Twitter, @MichaelFFlorio. Touchdowns can vary greatly year-to-year and a player with Pitts's ability and size (66, 245 pounds) has the potential to not only reach seven touchdowns, but double-digits is well in his range of outcomes.. I have picks 2, 4, 6, 10 and 12 in the rookie draft. 2021 Fantasy Football Player Previews: Kyle Pitts Pitts Production in 2020 Pitts played eight games for Florida in 2020, and he put up 43 receptions on 67 targets for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns. He'll get swiped by Round 4 in dynasty/keeper start-ups, and is a consensus top-five overall choice in rookie-only drafts. 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. There is enough talent around Pitts that should help take some defensive coverage away from him, but not enough to funnel volume away. *All ADP data is courtesy of FantasyFootballCalculator.comand for half-point PPR scoring. Well, Kelce collected 12 FPG or 54% of his scoring on hitches, outs, slants, and crossers a combined average of 8.2 AY/T. 57 overall8/3 non-PPR mock: Round 6, No. tweet. Yet, they were only 19th in pass attempts. As much as I love Fields, I wouldnt even be shocked if he is taken at No. And theyve been treated as such. WebKyle Pitts Fantasy Football Average Draft Position (ADP) | Atlanta Falcons | FantasyPros Kyle Pitts TE - ATL - IR Age: 22 College: Florida 2023 Outlook Draft Rank (ECR) #47 Volume is king, and not just at the running back position. 32 NFL teams will be interested in drafting Pitts. share. June 21, 2022. Those concerns dont exist with Pitts.. Prior to Mariotas arrival, Walker had never finished better than the ninth-best fantasy tight end. 2.6k shares. Fortunately for Pitts, his skillset allows him to be used in multiple ways. Hopefully, your team (or injury luck) will make that clear. Lastly, the biggest thing in fantasy sports is draft cost. These gaps in zone coverage will show up on every play, but recognition can be tricky. In fact, it may have gotten better. Also notable was how comforting the Travis Kelce pick turned Pitts has done his best to change that. With only four drops the entire season, we really havent seen Pitts suffer from consistently allowing the ball into his body. Additionally, Pitts should continue to see heavy volume and very easily could top his 110 targets from last year. Waller ran 50% of his routes this season from a detached alignment. At this time last year, Pitts wasn't getting out of the top-15 picks in Dynasty Startups, which makes the fact that he was still on the board here astonishing. By James Bassil March 2, 2023 6:00 am. Pitts will be asked to play these inline snaps in the NFL. at If he sees an uptick in targets which is expected and efficiency, he could provide league-winning upside.. If you have Jonathan Taylor and Kenneth Walker, it's completely understandable you'd be considering trading Swift. Guys like A.J. Adding him as a flex option is a fantastic selection this far along in the draft. We offer recommendations from 35+ fantasy baseball experts! Perception is reality. For just $0.83/month, get an ad-free experience and access to RotoBaller's VIP Discord Chat Community, If you can't subscribe, please consider turning off your adblocker for RotoBaller.com, Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App, Perception is reality. Pitts was the first rookie tight end to finish a season with 60-plus catches and over 1,000 receiving yards. If you're one of these managers that's about to head into a Dynasty startup draft this offseason, don't fret! As an RB3 on my roster, I can live with the potential range of outcomes. Playing within the right offense, opposing defenses will be forced to specifically scheme to contain him. 79 overall, Quentin Johnston: Rookie scouting profile. As for Waller, he and Pitts share a similar physical archetype as bigger-bodied wide receivers rather than your typical tight end. The guy above that question is in a Superflex league. But Pitts had his sights set on playing for the Florida Gators. Even if Patterson and Edwards carve out sizable roles, Pitts should easily be the more involved player. Truly remarkable. Luckily, Kyle Pitts is no ordinary tight end. Just last year he provided WR3 production as a rookie. If you'd going to accept a package then shoot for TE1 Mark Andrews and something else. Playing within the Pro Style offense certainly helped with his learning curve. The combined group has averaged 4.96 targets/game and 79.3 targets/season nearly half of the target rates from Kelce and Waller this season. The one aspect that might give him the most trouble is facing the better zone coverages. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. 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. 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. Pitts is going universally as the third tight end off the board. Before we dig into the story on Kyle Pitts, lets touch on the difference-making potential in fantasy To start, Pitts is probably the most talented TE prospect to ever come into the NFL. Delanie Walker thrived with Mariota in Tennessee. Past success is a great potential indicator for future success the keyword being potential. Just because Pitts posted those numbers doesnt mean hes a lock for replicating them. So how did Pitts live up to the hype if some people think he didnt? For a player his size, the footwork to generate these moves are unheard of in the mortal realm. While I know I say this a lot, it's the worst place to be. NFL TEs averaged well over half of all routes run from that Kelce quartet, nearly the identical number on Wallers most common routes. We want to see him collecting these with his hands, but sometimes that option can be eliminated by the coverage defender. Free shipping for many products! Jumping ahead to 1:50 facing a talented Texas A&M defense, we see safety Leon ONeal Jr. in man on Pitts. Draft Pick Analysis: Wilson showcased his ridiculous talent all last season, despite woeful quarterback play for the majority of the year. 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. Kyle Pitts is chasing stardom 1071 49 Pitts is among the top five tight ends in the league. He is a player with elite talent and youth on his side. I have no doubt about that. In fact, 27 percent of his throws with the Titans went to tight ends. Well, Atlanta went from a big-armed pocket passer to a dual-threat passer. QB play will be the limiting factor wherever Pitts is drafted. We can expect to see him follow a similar transition in the NFL. 59 overall, 7/20 half-PPR mock: Round 5, No. And if you have him, the only move is to plan on starting Kyle Pitts. Not all speed is equal. But we can pull some helpful information out of how that pair succeeded. It wasnt until he attended a camp at Temple University that the FBS scholarship offers started pouring into his mailbox. Target Pitts as an undervalued TE in fantasy football drafts. Ads help us pay RotobBaller's award-winning writers as much as possible they are vital to the site's operations and team. Pitts target competition is rookie Drake London, Bryan Edwards, Auden Tate, Damiere Byrd, and running back Cordarrelle Patterson. Otherwise, more run plays will mean fewer targets for him. Whereas Waller totaled 10.6 FPG or 58% of his production on speed outs, crossers, slants, and hitches a combined average of 5.1 AY/T. With Georgia in Cover 2-Man at 3:57, Pitts reminds us how much of a mistake it can be to utilize LBs in coverage, here with Monty Price paying the price. I would be more interested in trying to turn Swift and something into a top-10 wide receiver. Devin Singletary is a free agent, so that should help. Kyle Pitts enters his first Fantasy Football season as that one player we see every August whose ADP starts going up and seemingly never stops because there will always be analysts like myself who still see a path to beat out his ADP regardless of where it lands. We use cookies to personalize content, ads and analyze site traffic. 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. only site on the planet. With his senior highlights, we see Pitts with a full year of experience under his belt at TE. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Draft Network. Pitts suffered a left foot injury during the game against Texas A&M. But I don't believe James Cook is getting enough love. Subscription, Early-March Top 10 Defensive Back IDP Rankings, 5 RBs to Buy In Dynasty Before NFL Free Agency, 4.06 - DeVonta Smith (WR - Philadelphia Eagles), 6.02 - D.J. Using an out-and-up route, Pitts gives an ever-so-slight shove on Delpit to create space for the big play. 4 overall pick in the 2021 Tight End History. I agree to receive the "Fantasy Football Draft Kit" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. (4) Proper coordination to motion across the formation to maximize mismatching purposes? The likelihood that he falls off in the next year or two is too great to hold onto him through a rebuild. He will turn 30 years old during the 2023 season. Translation: Atlanta ran a slow offense. How should dynasty fantasy football managers value Pitts in 2022 and beyond? Instead, we should expect a regression to the mean. So dont expect London to completely eradicate Pitts opportunities. Fun trivia: Pitts was told at his first high school, Abington, that he did not possess the coordination to play the TE position. However, adding him as a WR3 - as I did here - is an excellent way to balance your roster. I do not love taking him in the second round, but if Pitts is sitting there in the third round and if early best ball drafts are an indicator, he often will be Pitts is a bet worth taking. Share. Or should I take another back at 3, 12 Team, 1QB, .5 PPR - Finished 2nd in 2022What sort of packages would you be willing to give in picks to move up to 1.1? He scored the most fantasy points by any rookie tight end since 1989. Looking ahead to 2023 and beyond, the Colts are committed to finding a long-term answer at football's most important position, and that could be the key for Pittman working his way up the Dynasty rankings. Another of the factors that we want to see from our TEs is success on NFL routes. The pair also finished first and second in air yards/game (93.0 for Kelce, 76.3 for Waller). His incredible wingspan, overall athleticism, and unprecedented versatility make it almost an insult to call him a tight end. 4 overall pick in the NFL draft. 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. 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. Evidence of production from a detached alignment. While a lot of Dynasty trade questions are as clear as the one above, D'Andre Swift is not. 2. 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. The stuff he did in the Alabama game cannot be described with words. This site is not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with these schools or teams. Should You Draft Pitts? Tight End History. He has an elite wide receiver duo in Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson. At this ADP, flipping a coin on Pitts is just not worth it. Doing so made him the highest-drafted tight end (TE) in the history of the league. However, there was an expectation that he could have finished as one of the very best tight ends in the sport, not just among rookies. 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. The Atlanta Falcons made history Thursday night, selecting Florida tight end Kyle Pitts with the No. As for Kittle and Waller, theyve each finished as top-three tight ends twice in the last three seasons. tweet. This is the exact route we will need Pitts to master in the NFL. Mariota also has a track record of elevating his tight ends. It is worth proceeding with slight caution due to Pete Carroll's historic track record of utilizing multiple backs, which could lead the Seahawks to bring in a running back in the NFL Draft or free agency, but Walker proved that he can be the guy for an offense. Pitts upside comes from his enticing athletic profile and as we discussed today a perceived lack of competition thats a bit over-exaggerated. Currently, on FFPC his ADP is 19th overall. he was available for the next game. As I said, though, the dip in Pitts upside comes from the Falcons offense without quarterback Matt Ryan. As well as two 1s next year (likely 2 mid firsts) . All Rights Reserved. In 1.5 PPR TE scoring leagues, you are taking Pitts first overall, and not looking back. If he's still available by Round 5, take him in seasonal leagues. Draft Pick Analysis: It was a rough year for Taylor in 2022, but we need to realize that a lot of factors were beyond his control. If Keenan Allen gets released, Palmer could be looking at 125 targets in 2023. Pitts and London are in a position to each see a very high target share in this offense. 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. Many of his catches during his junior season are on crossers over the middle. WebKyle Pitts stats, game logs, red zone data, fantasy football news, rankings, projections, injury updates, strength of schedule and more. Looking at the plays at 2:17 and 2:34 facing Georgia, Pitts can be seen manipulating his coverage unlike any TE Ive seen in college football. He is one of just two rookie tight ends since 1967 to top 900 yards, let alone 1,000. Pitts lived up to the expectation that he would be one of, if not the best, rookie tight end ever. But if you did want to sell, I would be looking for a veteran that helped me win right now. NFL offenses will continue to evolve, forcing us to follow suit with our evaluation process. One of the most significant factors fueling top TE results is not from a bloated AY/T average, it can be attributed to featured involvement within the offense. Dillon (RB - Green Bay Packers). Pitts appears just as fast with three more inches of height to him, with additional room to add muscle. It caps his upside as the potential TE1 in fantasy, which brings us to. He should be drafted as such, just dont reach for him. WebAll Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Kyle Pitts We all know that the path for Pitts played out perfectly in his favor, but his body development was still in the works during his true freshman season. Luckily, Kyle Pitts is no ordinary tight end. Pitts I got the 1st overall pick The 9th pick in the 2nd round Michael Gallup Gave Lamb24 1st pic.twitter.com/qqbnabae5u. section: | slug: kyle-pitts-fantasy-football-2021-changes-in-adp-mock-draft-tracker-offseason-updates-on-falcons-tight-end | sport: football | route: article_single_fantasy | The majority of top TE prospects take an uncoordinated path to that end frankly, as uncoordinated as their bodies following common late growth spurts. Pitts accumulated an average stat line of 2.8 receptions for 35.6 yards and .2 touchdowns per game last season. 57 overall, 8/3 non-PPR mock: Round 6, No. Kirk's coming off of a fantastic year in Jacksonville this past season, and the chemistry that he developed with If that proves to be the case, itll be due to defenses -- equipped with excellent coverage LBs -- scheming specifically to slow him down. Unfortunately, his 2022 season was a nightmare for fantasy players. Kyle Pitts is viewed by many as a generational TE prospect -- and for good reason. 10 team ppr superflex. He showed flashes at times last year and is entering his third year in the NFL, a common breakout season for wide receivers. When healthy, Kittle and Waller were top-three in targets per game over the course of those three years. Evan Engram is fast. That includes both Kansas City and Las Vegas. 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.