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    Deja Vu: Kyle Pitts sees just one target in loss

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    ATL Tight End #8
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    Kyle Pitts Sr. had no catches on one target in a Week 1 loss to the Steelers.

    Pitts owes most of this to a poor performance by Cooper Rush under center. Pitts played on 39 of the team’s 61 snaps and ran a route on 22 of their 29 dropbacks. He simply wasn’t a factor with Rush struggling to move the ball down the field. We should note that the Falcons were very run-heavy with Rush at quarterback, and Charlie Woerner played 38 snaps and was on the field for 22 run-blocking snaps to just 16 for Pitts. If the Falcons are going to continue to be so focused on rushing the ball, that could cut into some of Pitts’ snaps and usage.
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  • ATL Tight End #8
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    The touchdown is nice to see, and Pitts finished tied for second on the team in both catches and targets. However, preliminary snap counts say he played on 37 of the team’s 67 snaps and ran a route on 20 of their 37 dropbacks. Charlie Woerner ran a route on 11 dropbacks and Austin Hooper ran a route on 10 dropbacks, so the Falcons continue to get tons of tight ends on the field. That makes Pitts more of a high-end TE2 option because he does have good touchdown equity.
  • ATL Tight End #8
    Pitts was one of the beneficiaries of a pass-heavy second half for a Falcons offense that was forced to abandon the run game facing a multi-touchdown deficit. Pitts took advantage of single coverage a couple times, including on his first touchdown grab. He now has three touchdowns over his past two games as Michael Penix brings some stability to the Atlanta offense. Pitts, who ran a route on 26 of the team’s 38 drop backs against Chicago, will be a viable play in Week 7 against the Niners.
  • ATL Tight End #8
    Pitts remained largely confined to short area work with his game-long reception going for only 13 yards. A second quarter touchdown from five yards out gave the veteran tight end his first trip to paint through five games and his five receptions doubled that of his previous four appearances. Pitts remains a difficult weekly start for as long as Drake London and Bijan Robinson remain healthy. A Week 6 meeting with the Bears in Atlanta should see him remain in the TE2 ranks.
  • ATL Tight End #8
    Pitts played just one snap on the team’s first two possessions before seeing modest usage the rest of the game. His counting stats were padded in the second half with a 28-yard, catch-and-run reception on a play action pass out of the flat. Pitts isn’t getting the snaps or route participation to return consistent fantasy production and is best left on fantasy benches for as long as Drake London remains healthy. That won’t change ahead of a Week 5 meeting with the Ravens.
  • ATL Tight End #8
    Pitts was the recipient of Michael Penix’s first completion of the 2026 season, with the latter making his season debut following ACL surgery. The return of his starting quarterback was not enough to give Pitts his first fantasy-relevant performance of the season as he watched blocking tight end Austin Hooper score the lone receiving touchdown of the evening from five yards out in the second quarter. Fantasy managers are stuck in the constant hype cycle with Pitts with very little to show for it through three games, making Pitts a difficult start on the road against the Saints in Week 4.
  • ATL Tight End #8
    Cooper Rush was a disaster once again, tanking the fantasy prospects of every Falcon. Pitts narrowly avoided his second straight bagel with a lone catch late in the second quarter. He failed to catch his only target last week. There’s not much to say about Pitts and the entire offense when Rush simply shuts down all production from the jump. Pitts will reclaim a spot in the TE1 ranks if Michael Penix is back for Week 3. He is not on the fantasy radar if Rush is under center once again.
  • ATL Quarterback #9
    Fowler said Penix, still recovering from his 2025 ACL injury, “wants to be fully confident before stepping onto the field. And my understanding is the Falcons are leaving the comfort level part of his recovery up to him.” “Penix is coming off his third ACL reconstruction, which is a lot of ACL reconstructions,” ESPN’s Dan Graziano added. “I believe it takes a lot of mental work to convince yourself it’s OK to go back out there and play. If Penix needs more time, I’m sure the Falcons will give it to him, though I believe we will see him on the field at some point this season.” That would leave Tua Tagovailoa as the team’s presumed starter if Tua can play through the oblique strain that sidelined him in Week 1 against the Steelers. If Tua can’t go, the Falcons could be forced to start Cooper Rush for another game or two. Rush, who had the lowest drop back EPA of any QB in Week 1, makes Drake London and Kyle Pitts iffy starts in 12-team fantasy formats.
  • ATL Tight End #8
    Pitts ripped off multiple double-digit gains, moved well and looked tough to bring down. He delivered a 37-yard catch on the Falcons’ first drive, securing the pass on a quick out route from bunch formation before taking off down the right sideline. He later had a 16-yard gain on a sort crossing route, where he again chewed up yards after the catch. Pitts is a mid-tier TE1 entering the year.
  • ATL Tight End #8
    Fowler settles on Pitts being a “certified first or second option in the passing game.” Pitts sets up as a potential high-end TE1 on an offense that loves to use the tight end, and the fact that he finished second in fantasy points among TEs last year is proof of concept that he was already playing better in 2025. With his contract taken care of, perhaps this will be the year Pitts ascends to the top of the tier, the writer said forgetting any of the last five years had happened.
  • ATL Tight End #8
    The Falcons had previously waffled a bit on potentially making Pitts available after “President Of Football” Matt Ryan took over, but must have liked what they saw in the early offseason. Pitts currently looks to be slated for the No. 2 receiver role in Atlanta behind Drake London and should be a fantasy-viable TE1 this year. (Words that have never come back to bite anyone.) Pitts settles for slightly below George Kittle’s $19.1 million per year and Trey McBride’s $19 million per year and will remain in Atlanta for the near future.

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  • SEA Wide Receiver #10
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    Cooper Kupp caught both targets for 20 yards in the Seahawks’ Week 7 win over the Chiefs.

    Kupp saw sparse usage as Jaxon Smith-Njigba went off in the first half and the team transitioned to a run-heavy approach while playing with a lead after the break. Fellow receiver Rashid Shaheed departed with a knee injury following a collision with Smith-Njigba in the end zone at the end of the second quarter, which is something gamers will want to monitor ahead of a Week 8 meeting with the Bears on Monday Night Football. Kupp could work his way into the FLEX discussion if Shaheed missing time.
  • SEA Tight End #88
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    AJ Barner caught 4-of-5 targets for 42 yards in the Seahawks’ Week 7 win over the Chiefs, adding four yards on three carries.

    All three carries for Barner were tush push plays that resulted in first downs in key situations, while his five targets tied his second most of the young season. Even so, that was not enough to return a usable fantasy week outside of tight end premium leagues, keeping Barner best left on the bench of returned to the waiver wire, regardless of the severity of Rashid Shaheed’s injury.
  • SEA Wide Receiver #11
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    Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught 9-of-12 targets for 150 yards and a touchdown in the Seahawks’ Week 7 win over the Chiefs.

    Is there anyone in the league doing it better than Smith-Njigba at the moment? The reigning receiving leader put on an absolute show in this one, making two nearly identical bread basket catches down the left sideline in the second quarter, the first of which he snuck inside the pylon for his touchdown. He was forced out at the two on the second, resulting in an end zone interception from Sam Darnold two plays later. Those two long receptions before the break helped push Smith-Njigba to 126 yards and a touchdown before halftime, adding an additional 24 yards on three more receptions in the final two frames as the Seahawks transitioned to a more ground-heavy attack while playing with the lead. Fantasy’s early-season cheat code has now gone over 100 yards in six of seven games while notching a league-leading eight receiving touchdowns. It goes without saying, but Smith-Njigba remains the overall WR1 in a solid matchup against the Bears in Week 8.
  • SEA Running Back #23
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    Emanuel Wilson rushed 24 times for 100 yards and a touchdown in the Seahawks’ Week 7 win over the Chiefs, adding 15 yard son one reception.

    Wilson handily outperformed former Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker in the latter’s return to Seattle, spiking his fantasy production with a 21-yard touchdown scamper late in the fourth quarter with the Seahawks in ice mode. The outburst went down as the second time in Wilson’s career in which he hit the century mark in rushing, pleasing fantasy managers that were forced into his services in Week 7 through both byes and injuries. Wilson’s days as the lead back in Seattle are likely numbered with veteran Zach Charbonnet reportedly nearing a return from his 2025 torn ACL. That could occur as early as Week 8 when the Seahawks face the Bears.
  • SEA Quarterback #14
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    Sam Darnold completed 20-of-28 passes for 257 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in the Seahawks’ 20-3, Week 7 win over the Chiefs, adding 17 yards on two carries.

    Darnold continued to flaunt his connection with wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba with zero regard to the naysayers, feeding his alpha 12 targets on 28 pass attempts, the latter of whom accounted for 157 of the 257 pass yards for Darnold. As you probably guessed, Smith-Njigba was also the recipient of Darnold’s lone touchdown throw, which was a dime down the left sideline on a corner route that the veteran signal caller dropped into the bread basket. The two would connect on another similar play later in the the same quarter in which Smith-Njigba was forced out at the two, with the result of that drive Darnold’s interception in the end zone. Darnold continues to do just enough for his team and not enough for fantasy managers that thought they could grab cheap production late in drafts, better sent back to the waiver wire than inserted into starting lineups. The Seahawks next face the Bears on the second half of back-to-back Monday Night Football games, where Darnold remains a shaky fantasy option.
  • KC Wide Receiver #1
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    Xavier Worthy caught 3-of-6 targets for 11 yards in the Chiefs’ Week 7 loss to the Seahawks.

    Worthy struggled to separate from primary coverage of the Seahawks throughout, also committing a drop in a crucial situation in the second half. The Chiefs continue to show hesitancy in utilizing Worthy in a downfield role, which is of particular concern for his fantasy managers considering the absence of Tyquan Thornton. Worthy is better left on fantasy benches ahead of a Week 8 meeting with the stingy Broncos, particularly if Rashee Rice returns from injury.
  • KC Wide Receiver #13
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    Cyrus Allen caught 1-of-2 targets for 18 yards in the Chiefs’ Week 7 loss to the Seahawks.

    Allen was the recipient of Patrick Mahomes’ first target of the game, which he took down the right sideline for a tidy 18-yard gain. He would disappear into oblivion the rest of the way as he continued to play behind Andrew Armstrong and Jalen Royals, with Justin Watson also worked into the game plan in this one. Head coach Andy Reid has a long history of taking his time to develop rookies, meaning fantasy managers are likely forced to be patient. In other words, keep Allen on fantasy benches, for the time being.
  • KC Tight End #83
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    Noah Gray caught all three targets for 44 yards in the Chiefs’ Week 7 loss to the Seahawks.

    The fact that the team’s top two tight ends tied for the most production through the air at a modest 44 yards tells the story of how the game went against the Seahawks, who limited the Chiefs to just 213 yards of total offense. The absences of the team’s top two receivers continues to place stress on an offense with no true vertical threat, although their primary downfield option was lost for the season prior to their bye. Gray remains unlikely to return weekly fantasy value for as long as Kelce remains healthy.
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    Travis Kelce caught 4-of-8 targets for 44 yards in the Chiefs’ Week 7 loss to the Seahawks.

    While Kelce moved into sole possession of the No. 5 spot on the NFL’s all-time receptions list, the Chiefs suffered their first defeat of the season as they struggled to the move the football against the tenacious Seattle defense. Their offense lacked any downfield threat in the absence of their top two receivers, while Xavier Worthy drew primary coverage. Much of Kelce’s aerial work remains tethered to the short areas of the field in his age-37 season, lacking the burst and YAC ability that once defined his game. Even so, achieving such a lofty accomplishment is a testament to his lasting and standout career. That said, fantasy managers are sure to be disappointed with the early-season as the veteran tight end has surpassed a modest four receptions just once through six games. He gets another difficult matchup on the interior against the swarming Broncos defense in Week 8, where fantasy managers are likely best off leaving him on the bench.
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    Kenneth Walker rushed 14 times for 36 yards in the Chiefs’ Week 7 loss to the Seahawks, adding 21 yards on four receptions.

    Walker was held to below 4.9 yards per carry for only the second time this season while also failing to find the end zone for the second time through six games, with his longest rush going for a meager seven yards. Seattle had all the answers on the defensive side of the ball as they held the Chiefs to just 213 yards of total offense on just over 24 minutes in time of possession. One of fantasy’s breakout stars in the early going of the 2026 season will face another difficult matchup on the road against the Broncos in Week 8, where he remains an elite RB1.