Kyle Pitts

Kyle Pitts enters the 2026 fantasy football season as one of the more interesting tight ends to project because the talent is real, the role looks strong, and the recent production finally backed it up. He signed his franchise tender with Atlanta and is locked in for the season on a one-year deal worth about $15.045 million, so barring a late surprise trade, he should remain in the Falcons’ offense.

The big reason Pitts is generating optimism is that he just delivered his best season since his rookie year, finishing 2025 with 88 catches, 928 yards, and five touchdowns on 118 targets over 17 games. That volume matters in fantasy, especially at tight end, and it suggests Atlanta is willing to feature him heavily again if the offense keeps funneling touches his way. With Drake London standing as the clear top receiver, Pitts also has a realistic path to being the team’s No. 2 target earner, which is exactly the kind of role fantasy managers want from a TE1.

There is still some risk, though. The Falcons’ 2026 quarterback situation is not fully settled, with Michael Penix Jr. dealing with a knee issue and Tua Tagovailoa also mentioned as a possible part of the competition, which adds uncertainty to Pitts’ weekly ceiling and overall efficiency. Pitts also remains on a franchise tag rather than a long-term extension, and there were trade rumors earlier in the offseason, even if they have quieted down for now.

For fantasy drafting, Pitts looks like a strong TE1 but not a player to force into elite tight-end pricing after one rebound year. CBS Sports has him as around the No. 8 tight end in current rankings, with a draft range that can begin as early as Round 7 in many leagues, which feels sensible for a player with top-five upside but some volatility baked in. If you want a tight end who can win weeks with target volume and red-zone potential, Pitts is a very appealing pick; if you want maximum stability, he still comes with enough moving parts to make him more of a calculated bet than a sure thing.

Updated 06/08/2026