Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts, despite snagging five catches for 42 yards and his first touchdown of the season last week, landed squarely on NFL.com’s Matt Okada’s fantasy sit ’em list for Week 6 against the Chicago Bears. That’s a gut punch if you were finally feeling good about throwing him back into your lineup after he banked 15.2 fantasy points. Don’t be hasty, Okada warns.
Falcons Offense is Cooking, But Pitts Is Barely Simmering
The Falcons offense has been straight-up fire since quarterback Michael Penix Jr. returned to the starting lineup in Week 3, averaging a ridiculous 34.3 points per game. Penix’s arm has unlocked a new level for Atlanta, turning them into an offensive powerhouse. Wide receiver Drake London is playing at an elite level, and running back Bijan Robinson’s game has exploded because defenses actually have to respect the passing attack now.
But while London and Robinson are tearing it up, Pitts has been largely invisible from a fantasy perspective this season. Through five games, the “highly paid tight end” has managed just 10 catches for 109 yards. Last week’s five catches were the first time he’s seen more than three targets in a game all season. So, yeah, he’s “trending in the right direction,” but the numbers are still pedestrian. Last season, Pitts led the team with 88 catches for 928 yards, so what gives? It’s tough to stand out when London and Robinson are putting up “record numbers nearly every game,” and Pitts apparently did much of his damage last year when London wasn’t on the field.
The Bears Matchup is a No-Go for Pitts
Matt Okada didn’t mince words about this week’s matchup. He pointed out that the Bears defense has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends across the league. Think about that: only Tucker Kraft has scored more than six fantasy points against this stingy Chicago unit. That’s a tough pill to swallow when Pitts is currently ranking lower than fourth on his own team in target share, sitting behind Jahan Dotson. Okada’s advice is clear: wait until Pitts gets a softer matchup and a higher target share before you even think about playing him. For this Sunday, you’re better off finding a “streamer.”
The Falcons will host the Bears at home for NFL Week 6. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Chicago. While Pitts might not be the guy this week, the Falcons aren’t panicking over his numbers as long as the offense keeps humming. His time is coming as defenses try to figure out how to slow down London.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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