Kyle Pitts, the Atlanta Falcons’ tight end who just inked a massive three-year, $54 million contract extension through 2028, is already being pegged as one of the biggest fantasy values for the upcoming 2026 season. NFL.com’s Matt Okada didn’t just list him, he put Pitts as a value pick a full two rounds behind guys like Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren. That’s a wild take after the year he just had, isn’t it?
From Rookie Sensation to Bounce-Back Beast
Remember when the Falcons drafted Pitts fourth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft? The hype was unreal, and he absolutely delivered that rookie year, topping 1,000 receiving yards as their No. 1 option. He was everything everyone expected. Then, things got rough. After the team traded quarterback Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts in 2022, Pitts’ production fell off a cliff. To make matters worse, he suffered a knee injury just 10 games into his sophomore season. It looked like that early career trajectory was totally derailed.
But you can’t keep a top-five pick down for long. Pitts bounced back huge in 2025, hauling in a remarkable 88 catches for 928 yards. That’s a serious return to form, putting him squarely back on the map in the fantasy world and earning him that sweet contract extension. He’s proven he can still get it done.
Why This Value Pick Could Be Your Fantasy Steal
So, with that kind of production and a fat new deal, how is Pitts still considered a “value pick” two rounds behind other tight ends? Matt Okada laid out some pretty compelling reasons. First up, new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees is taking over in Atlanta. Rees was the Browns’ tight ends coach in 2024 and then their OC in 2025. What happened under his watch? The Browns ranked fourth and second in tight end targets those years, respectively. That’s a huge sign for Pitts’ potential target share!
Plus, Next Gen Stats showed Pitts had a career-low 7.2 air yards per target last year. Okada believes with a potentially larger target share and better efficiency under Rees, Pitts should absolutely maintain his spot in the top tier of fantasy tight ends. The Falcons also don’t have a clear No. 2 option at wide receiver, which means Pitts is primed to gobble up targets.
Now, fans are naturally cautious about drafting Pitts high because of that year-to-year inconsistency, and yeah, the Falcons not having a starting quarterback named yet doesn’t exactly scream “stability.” But given how tight end friendly Rees’s offenses have been, and Pitts’ undeniable opportunity, this value pick could be the real deal. Keep your eyes on the Falcons’ QB situation, but don’t sleep on Pitts; he might just be the secret weapon you need to win your league.
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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