The first week of the 2025 NFL season has finally arrived, with the opening weekend carrying on into Sunday.
The Falcons are moving on from an 8-9 record in 2024 as they head into a new season, hoping to break a seven-year playoff drought. Some analysts see them as potential dark horses in the NFC, especially with key players returning, notably veteran tight end Kyle Pitts. Currently, his average draft position (ADP) is around 15-17 across various scoring formats, which suggests that most league managers view him as a borderline starter or a high-end backup.
In the following sections, we’ll discuss Pitts’ prospects for fantasy football in the first week.
Fantasy Football Analysis: Falcons TE Kyle Pitts
I ended up being the fantasy manager who selected Pitts. During training camp, many opted to steer clear of him based on his ADP. Over four seasons, the former standout has struggled to meet the lofty expectations that came with being the fourth pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. While he’s certainly attracted his share of criticism, much of his underwhelming production can be attributed to the average play of the quarterbacks he has worked with since joining the team. Last season, he posted 47 catches and four touchdowns totaling 602 yards.
This season is poised to be a pivotal one for Pitts, as he enters the final year of his contract. It looks like Michael Penix Jr. will be stepping in as the starting quarterback, and I think there’s belief that he might unlock Pitts’ potential. Whether or not that actually materializes remains to be seen.
Should you start or sit him in the first week of a standard/PPR league?
Start. While there might be some hesitance to start him against the NFC South Champions, the matchup is actually quite favorable. Tampa Bay was notably weak against tight ends last season. They allowed the second-highest total yards—1,114—and tight ends averaged 8.3 fantasy points per game against them. Additionally, Pitts excelled in his two outings against the Bucs, racking up 11 receptions for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Penix will likely want to make a strong impression, particularly in involving his tight end, so it’s worth the risk to start him in the opener.
