Stanley Holditch
Rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End
Week 5 marked the beginning of the Kyle Pitts era at tight end. Week 7 made it official. While guys like Kelce, Waller, and eventually Kittle will continue to post top-five numbers, Pitts is a completely different type of tight end.
His size makes him a tight end, but he runs routes, uses his body and hands much more fluidly than most tight ends, like a wide receiver. He isn’t asked to block meaning his routes run are high. He can beat corners with his size and speed down the sideline.
You don’t normally see tight ends break 160 yards on less than ten targets. Darren Waller saw only 109 yards on 19 targets week 1. Kelce tops out this year with 109 on eight targets. Mark Andrews came close on Monday night against the Colts with 147, but needed 13 targets. Pitts gained 119 yards week 5 on just 10 targets. Week 7 he got 163 on 8. Pitts has the ninth-highest total receiving yards in a game this season, and every single person on the list in front of him is a wide receiver.
Andrews and Waller are both on bye, and Kittle is out, leaving the top tight end slot for week 8 to a battle between Kelce and Pitts. I’m betting Pitts, who has yet to really be utilized in the red zone. On to Tight End Rankings Week 8.
| Name | Opp | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kyle Pitts | vs CAR | New no 1 in town |
| Travis Kelce | vs NYG | MNF, two TDs easy possibility |
| T.J. Hockenson | vs PHI | Back on track |
| Mike Gesicki | @ BUF | Quietly TE3 on the year |
| Dalton Schultz | @ MIN | TE5 |
| Rob Gronkowski | @ NO | At least a TD, maybe 60+ yards |
| Robert Tonyan | @ ARI | Soaking up Adams red zone looks |
| Dallas Goedert | @ DET | Hurts too erratic |
| Zach Ertz | vs GB | Caught TD, should have had another 1st game |
| Noah Fant | vs WAS | Just inconsistent and marred by poor coaching |
| Tyler Higbee | @ HOU | Not a focal point of offense |
| C.J. Uzomah | @ NYJ | On a hot streak but Bengals only pass a lot when they need to |
| Hunter Henry | @ LAC | Catching a TD often and clearly surpassing Smith |
| Evan Engram | @ KC | Lots of targets, subpar player |
| Ricky Seals-Jones | @ DEN | Not worth the hype |
| Jared Cook | vs NE | |
| Mo Alie-Cox | vs TEN | |
| Tyler Conklin | vs DAL | |
| Dan Arnold | @ SEA | |
| Cole Kmet | vs SF | |
| David Njoku | vs PIT | |
| Gerald Everett | vs JAC | |
| Austin Hooper | vs PIT | |
| Jonnu Smith | @ LAC | |
| O.J. Howard | @ NO | |
| Anthony Firkser | @ IND | |
| Pat Freiermuth | @ CLE | |
| Ross Dwelley | @ CHI | |
| Blake Jarwin | @ MIN | |
| Donald Parham Jr. | vs NE | |
| Cameron Brate | @ NO | |
| Adam Trautman | vs TB | |
| Hayden Hurst | vs CAR | |
| Tommy Tremble | @ ATL | |
| Harrison Bryant | vs PIT |
