Our Hawks just got clocked 34-17 by the Bears, a gut punch that stings on a Tuesday afternoon. But as hard as that one was to watch, the chaos in the fantasy tight end landscape might be even more wild right now, especially when it comes to Kyle Pitts. Remember when he was supposed to be a locked-in, must-start? Well, since Michael Penix took over at quarterback, Pitts is averaging a measly 10.5 PPR Fantasy Points Per Game, and if that number doesn’t make you want to smash your phone, then you haven’t been watching. The man ranks 13th in receptions and a brutal 18th in yards among tight ends, despite playing every single game with no bye weeks! It’s a full-blown fantasy nightmare, and it’s mostly due to a dangerous reliance on touchdowns that just isn’t sustainable.
Pitts’ Plunge: Touchdown-Dependent Trauma
This isn’t just a minor slump, folks. We’re talking about a guy who has the same number of receiving yards as AJ Barner and the same number of catches as Dallas Goedert, and Goedert has only even suited up for four games in the last six weeks! Let that sink in. Someone who’s missed basically half the recent games has the same receiving production. It tells you everything about Pitts’ current situation. As big a proponent as many of us were for Pitts coming into the year, he is absolutely not a must-start option right now. Forget top-tier, the dude isn’t even in the top 12 tight ends for Week 9. You can’t drop him, sure, but if you’re stuck rostering only one tight end, starting him feels like you’re just praying for a miracle score.
The Rising Tides: New Faces in the Must-Start Club
While Pitts is making us all tear our hair out, other tight ends are stepping up big time. Six guys are hitting that 12 PPR points per game “must-start” benchmark year-to-date: Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, Isaiah Likely, George Kittle, Tyler Warren, and Sam LaPorta. Those are your undisputed studs. But things are always shifting. Over the last month, we’ve seen Colston Loveland explode with 14.0 PPR points per game, and Tucker Kraft not far behind at 13.1. These are the guys who are trending up! LaPorta might have cooled off a bit, but he is still second among all tight ends with eight red zone targets, so expect a bounce back for him against the Dolphins. Even Travis Kelce, the legend himself, is currently just a borderline starter. He scored 11.7 PPR points in Week 8, which was his best game since way back in September. The landscape is wild!
Waiver Wire Wonders and Deep Dives for Week 9
Keep your eyes peeled on a few other names as well. Harold Fannin has run an insane 259 routes this season, second only to Trey McBride. That volume is hard to ignore. Terrance Ferguson showed a crazy 26.7% target-per-route run rate earlier in the year, and if he is back this week, he could be a sneaky pickup. Then there is Eli Raridon, who played a season-high 91.7% of snaps in Week 8. These are the kinds of guys who could fill the void if your main tight end is struggling. And talk about a potential league winner: Colston Loveland. Since Caleb Williams came back, Loveland has seen 28 targets in just three games. That kind of usage is exactly what you want from a tight end, and he is showing everyone why he might be the real deal.
So, what’s the takeaway as we head into Week 9? The tight end position is as unpredictable as a Seattle spring day. You’ve got your established studs, new faces making a name for themselves, and some big names who are borderline unplayable. Make your moves wisely, because every point counts when you’re fighting for those fantasy playoffs. Keep an eye on those waiver wires, trust your gut, and let’s hope our Hawks can turn things around next week because that Bears game still stings!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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