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Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts was selected fourth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, so needless to say, his expectations are sky-high. He became only the second rookie tight end in NFL history to post 1,000 yards in 2021, but his 2022 sophomore campaign left a lot to be desired.
Pitts caught 28 of his 59 targets for 356 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games played before a knee injury cost him the rest of his season. Despite a down year, redraft and dynasty fantasy managers are going to expect big things from the elite prospect in 2023.
Will Pitts be ready for training camp and what is his early 2023 fantasy outlook? We'll dive into both of those questions below.
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Kyle Pitts Injury Update for Fantasy Football
Pitts' (knee) rehab/recovery from a season-ending right knee injury is "on schedule," according to tight ends coach Justin Peele. The 22-year-old Pitts needed surgery for a Grade 2 MCL sprain in late November after getting hurt in Week 11. The good news is he's on the right track and could be able to take part in all of the team's offseason workouts, barring a setback.
It's early in the offseason so fantasy managers and NFL fans should be sure to stay tuned for further updates, but the initial news is encouraging.
Kyle Pitts 2023 Fantasy Outlook
Pitts should be expected to bounce back next season, but his overall ceiling will be affected by who is at quarterback for the Falcons in 2023. Marcus Mariota's time with the team is almost certainly over, but will Atlanta roll with Desmond Ridder next year? Ridder was only a third-round pick and didn't impress in his limited action, so it's far from a guarantee.
The Falcons have been a rumored team to be interested in Lamar Jackson should he become available, but no one really knows if there's a chance of that happening. Derek Carr and Aaron Rodgers are potentially available for trade, but Atlanta has not been linked to either quarterback. Ultimately, Atlanta will probably roll with Ridder or look to take a first-round QB in the upcoming draft.
Kyle Pitts PlayerProfiler.com Stats and Metrics
Either way, Pitts should remain high in 2023 tight end rankings. Even in a down season, Pitts posted a 27.3 percent target share (second among tight ends), a 34.3 percent target rate (first among tight ends), and a 32.9 percent air yards share (first among tight ends). He finished inside the top 10 of plenty of advanced stats and metrics for the position, but it didn't come to fruition last season. With any kind of quarterback upgrade, his ceiling will be back to a top-3 player at the position.
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