Kyle Pitts: Fantasy Star or Bust?

The 2020 NFL Draft is less than 2 weeks away and there is some major buzz surrounding TE Kyle Pitts. The closer we get to draft night, the more we will hear the typical overused terms to describe draft prospects. The "can't miss prospect", "generational talent", and "checks every box" comments will soon burn a hole in our brains. It'll get to the point when those comments become so commonplace that we fall for it. We'll fall in love with the potential that the draft prospect can bring and how they can change the fortunes of our favorite team. However, in reality, until a player joins a franchise, we never truly know how they will perform. To make things even dicier this year, the upcoming draft is based on limited information.

As fantasy football players, our goal is to make optimal choices based on matchups, scheme, usage, and overall talent. Following the completion of this year's Pro Days and NFL Scouting Combine, one player has left both NFL and fantasy football GMs mesmerized. Game tapes on Florida University's TE Kyle Pitts show that he is truly a special player.

We're certainly dealing with plenty of unknowns, but there's no denying that Kyle Pitts is a monster. Pitts is listed at 6-foot-5 inches tall, weighing 245 pounds with a 4.44 speed. The most impressive stat regarding his build is that he has the longest wingspan (83.38 inches) of any wide receiver or tight end in the NFL during the last 20 years. That's sure to garner plenty of attention. The youngster doesn't even turn 21 until October. The upside with Pitts is just waiting to be unlocked.

Last season, Pitts averaged 4.91 yards per route run (YPRR) against man coverage, which was the third-best in college football. What makes him special is his ability to line up everywhere on the field. Pitts lined up as a slot receiver in 42% of all of his routes last year. He is a playmaker that’s too big for corners and too quick for linebackers. With his elite hands and speed, he simply can’t be covered by just about anyone on the field.

From an NFL perspective, it's rare to see a rookie tight end being projected to go in the top-5. Dating back to 2000, only four tight ends have gone in the top-10 of the first round. It's rare for a rookie tight end to come in and make an immediate impact, let alone have a breakout fantasy football season. In the past, it has been difficult for rookie tight ends to crack the top-12 due in part to the growing pains of transitioning into the NFL, as well as blocking assignments and only one tight end per team getting play time. One of Pitts' weaknesses is his run-blocking ability or lack thereof. According to Pro Football Focus, Pitts' 63.7 run-block grade ranked 128th among 366 qualified tight ends last season. Over the last 10 years, only two rookie tight ends have finished top-12 overall. Those two are Rob Gronkowski and Evan Engram. As the game changes to favor speed, could Kyle Pitts be the third name added to that top-notch list?

The game is evolving and we can look no further than last year's Super Bowl to see the impact that the position can have on a game. For the Chiefs, TE Travis Kelce finished with 10 catches and 133 yards (55% of all Mahomes's yards.) Meanwhile, Tampa Bay Buccaneers TE Rob Gronkowski caught six receptions for 67 yards and two touchdowns. Coaches in today’s game are more willing to adapt the offense around players who are skilled rather than those who fit a certain scheme they may want to implement.

It would be a surprise to no one if we hear Kyle Pitts' name called within the top-10 in this year’s NFL draft. Some potential landing spots are the Falcons, the Bengals, the Dolphins, the Cowboys, and the Panthers. Some teams may even opt to trade up to get into the top-10 to have a shot at selecting Pitts. Where Pitts ultimately lands will affect his draft position heading into fantasy football drafts in 2021. Pitts is skyrocketing up mock drafts and has breakout potential, as a "can’t miss prospect". So the question remains, will Pitts live up to the hype that he is garnering or will he struggle as a rookie adjusting to the NFL level of play?