Fantasy Football ADP Duel: George Kittle vs. Kyle Pitts (2024)

Welcome to the fantasy football ADP duel comparing George Kittle and Kyle Pitts for 2024 fantasy football drafts. One crucial aspect of building a successful fantasy football team is understanding and leveraging average draft position (ADP) data. ADP provides a snapshot of where players are selected in drafts, offering insights into market trends and helping managers make informed decisions. By comparing ADPs across different platforms and leagues, fantasy enthusiasts can identify potential value picks and avoid overhyped players, ultimately giving them a competitive edge.

The intricacies of ADP comparisons extend beyond merely noting where players are drafted. It involves analyzing the discrepancies and patterns that emerge from sources such as ESPN, Sleeper and FFPC. Each platform has its unique user base and scoring settings, which can significantly influence player rankings and draft strategies. By delving into these variations, managers can tailor their draft strategies to exploit specific league settings and capitalize on inefficiencies in player evaluations. Understanding these nuances is essential for making astute decisions, especially in high-stakes leagues where every pick counts.

Moreover, ADP comparisons are a valuable tool for identifying sleepers and busts. Players consistently drafted higher or lower than their projected performance can signal potential over- or under-valuations. Savvy managers can use this information to their advantage, targeting undervalued players likely to outperform their draft position and steering clear of those who may not live up to the hype.

As the fantasy football landscape evolves, staying abreast of ADP trends and comparisons will remain a cornerstone of effective draft strategy, helping managers build robust and competitive rosters. Let’s break down the ADPs of TEs George Kittle and Kyle Pitts and see who the better pick for your fantasy football team may be.

ADP Duel: George Kittle (TE – SF) vs. Kyle Pitts (TE – ATL)

George Kittle (TE – SF)

ADP: TE6, 62nd Overall

George Kittle was a wildly efficient statistical anomaly during the 2023 season. He has the distinction of being the only player in the position to exceed 1,000 receiving yards (1,020), yet he did this on just 65 receptions (TE10). He was also TE10 with 89 targets on the season, but his snap share (91%) ranked as the TE2 on the year, indicating Kittle is on the field quite a lot. But as you dig deeper into the numbers, some things begin to stand out. He benefitted greatly from an offense that was able to push the ball down the field often because the defense had to account for Christian McCaffrey at all times.

Kittle ranked as the TE12 in routes run (443) a season ago but was TE3 in air yards (852) and the top at the position in deep targets (11). This led to a very high average depth of target (aDOT) mark of 9.7, which was TE2 among eligible tight ends. Another area in which he excelled was the ability to create yards after the catch (YAC), where his 7.51 YAC/reception, along with David Njoku (7.48), was well out in front of others at the position. Then there was his yards per target (11.46), a number that essentially lapped the field. All of this points to a player whose season was hinging on massively efficient numbers that helped to propel him into the discussion of one of the league’s elite tight ends a season ago.

As we move forward into the 2024 season, Kittle again finds himself among the top tight ends being selected during fantasy drafts. Although he may not be in that elite tier at the position in fantasy anymore, many fantasy managers know what they are getting with the 49ers TE. But picking a player like Kittle will come with its ups and downs as well. For all the 20 fantasy point games that he has (four in 2024), he will also provide you with frustrating games under 10 points (nine last season). At this stage of his career, and with the weapons the 49ers have on their roster, Kittle may have to continue to rely on unsustainable efficiency to remain atop the leaderboard in fantasy football rankings.

Kyle Pitts (TE – ATL)

ADP: TE7, 63rd Overall

Kyle Pitts has infamously become the poster boy for unrealized potential in the eyes of fantasy managers. After storming out of the gates in his rookie season with 68 receptions for 1,026 yards on 68 targets, only finding the end zone once all year is what left many wanting more. After his injury-plagued 2022 season, Pitts became a boom or bust option for fantasy managers who took the chance on him in 2023. Although it came out later on that he was playing through a knee injury, there were some encouraging numbers to focus on, despite the horrendous quarterback play that he has been plagued with throughout his career.

Even though Pitts ranked as only TE24 in snap share (65.1%), he was the best at the position in deep targets (11), aDOT (11.5) and air yards (1,012). Where his production took a hit was the inability to consistently score. His three touchdowns on the season set a career-high (sadly), but those scores did come on an embarrassing five red-zone targets. Needless to say, Pitts has constantly left many fantasy managers wanting more. After burning bridge after bridge, it could be hard for some to take a leap of faith again.

But as we head into the 2024 season, things may finally start to look promising for his fantasy potential. The addition of Kirk Cousins gives Pitts his most trusted QB option that he’s had the pleasure to share the field with in his young career. An area that will be a breath of fresh air for Pitts will be finally seeing a consistent stream of catchable targets.

In 2023, T.J. Hockenson saw 99 catchable targets from Cousins, while Pitts has seen only a combined 90 over the last two seasons. The improvement of QB play has many in the fantasy community salivating at the promise of what could be from Pitts due to his athletic ability. Couple that with his continued use as an option out of the slot (347 in 2023) and you have all the makings of a career year for the Atlanta Falcons TE.

Verdict

There you sit in the sixth round of your draft and you are debating on pulling the trigger and picking up your starting TE for the 2024 season. Well, you’ll likely be facing the decision between these two players as they are currently sitting back-to-back in ADP. But the question naturally becomes, who should I draft? There are benefits to both players. With Kittle, you have a player who is involved in a high-octane offense and he has proven to be a quality fantasy tight end for the majority of his career. Pitts, while flashing potential at times, has largely left a sour taste in the mouth of fantasy managers in the past being an albatross in lineups more than benefitting them.

For me, this is a very close call but from a projection standpoint, I think that there is more to be excited about with Pitts and what he can accomplish with Cousins as QB in 2024. The volatility that we see in Kittle’s metrics from a season ago could prove to be scary if he is unable to maintain the efficiency that he was lucky enough to keep in 2023. Whereas Pitts could see his numbers rise across the board, potentially setting career-high marks in receptions, yards and touchdowns. I will gladly take the risk on that upside over being left with a descending player every time.