Falcons add Pitts

The Falcons selected Florida TE Kyle Pitts with the 4th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. It’s the highest a TE has ever been picked. Pitts stands nearly 6’6 and 245 pounds with a massive, 83 3/8” wingspan. As a junior in 2020, he tallied 43-770-12 across only 8 games. That sample included monster lines against Alabama (7-129-1), Tennessee (7-128) and Ole Miss (8-170-4). The 20-year-old has the movement skills and versatility of a future WR1, making him a bit of a cheat code at TE. For further confirmation of his dominance, Pitts tested very well with a 4.44 forty time (98th percentile) and a 129-inch broad jump (97th percentile). He joins Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley to give the Falcons 1 of the best groups of pass-catchers in the league. We’ll probably see a lot of 2-TE sets in Atlanta this year with Pitts and Hayden Hurst under former Titans TEs coach and new Falcons HC Arthur Smith.

Falcons TE Kyle Pitts is sidelined for OTAs this week as he continues to recover from November surgery to repair a torn MCL in his right knee. There's been no reported timetable for Pitts' return, but TEs coach Justin Peele said back in February that Pitts was "on schedule" and expected to be ready for training camp. As long as that's the case, there will be no reason to worry about the knee. A healthy Pitts certainly has bounce-back potential after a frustrating 2022. See where he sits in the 2023 fantasy football TE Rankings.

Falcons TE Kyle Pitts is "on schedule" in his recovery from November knee surgery to repair a torn MCL, TEs coach Justin Peele said this week. “It’s an ongoing process every day,” Smith added. “Ultimately, what matters is getting ready for training camp. Feel pretty good about where he’s at.” We never got a reported timeline for Pitts' recovery, but he should at least be ready for the start of training camp, if not some of the offseason program. Pitts was a major fantasy disappointment in 2022, posting a 28-356-2 line across 10 games. He still ranked 6th among 32 qualifying TEs in yards per route run, though, and remains a player to bet on long term. The big question for 2023 is whether the Falcons open up their passing game after finishing 31st in pass attempts last year.

Falcons HC Arthur Smith said Wednesday that TE Kyle Pitts will miss the rest of the season with his knee injury. He underwent surgery on Tuesday (November 29) for what was reportedly a torn MCL. We don't have an official recovery timeline, but we'd expect Pitts to be available for at least some of the offseason program and back to 100% by training camp. He had a frustrating 2nd season but remains a high-upside dynasty asset with plenty of 2023 bounce-back potential. We'll be curious to see exactly where he goes in early drafts this coming offseason.

The Falcons have placed TE Kyle Pitts (MCL) on IR for his knee injury. That means he'll miss at least 4 games. We'll see about confirmation on him missing the rest of the year. MyCole Pruitt and Parker Hesse are the next guys up at TE but shouldn't factor significantly into fantasy football plans. WR Drake London could see more targets with Pitts out. He drew just 1 against Chicago, though, in the game Pitts left early.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Falcons TE Kyle Pitts tore his right MCL in Sunday's win over the Bears and will require surgery. Pitts is reportedly getting a 2nd opinion before making a final decision, but it seems his season is likely over. We'll watch for confirmation over the next day or 2. Don't bet on any Falcons TE stepping forward for real fantasy help if Pitts is done. No other Atlanta TE has caught more than 5 passes this season, and Pitts has consistently come up short for fantasy football managers.