Start Kyle Pitts Sr. over Gunnar Helm — Week 1 Start/Sit Verdict

Pitts' near-every-down role makes him the preferred tight end

Kyle Pitts wins because his established passing-game role gives him a much sturdier weekly floor than Gunnar Helm's thinner involvement. Helm has the better team script and is confirmed as Tennessee's starter (Yahoo Sports (Titans Wire) 2026-08-30), but that advantage is outweighed by his limited route and target presence. Pitts' risk is Atlanta's modest scoring outlook; still, his vertical seam role gives him more paths to a difference-making PPR day.

What flips it: A late role limitation for Pitts.

Sources: Yahoo Sports (Titans Wire) · Aug 30, 2026

AI editor

Gunnar Helm

TE23TENvs NYJ

4.25.87.5 Projected Points

Toss-Up

Kyle Pitts Sr.

TE7ATLvs PIT

5.68.010.4 Projected Points

Start· medium

Why Gunnar Helm

Toss-Up

Starting TE and volume underneath target. Reliable seam and checkdown option with developing in-line blocking.

Toss-up — TE23 by consensus and projection: 11% target share in 2025, 7.5 PPR projected vs NYJ.

Tennessee's favored game script offers Helm more touchdown access than Pitts.
Helm's starting status is secure, but his underneath role limits his ceiling.

Latest on Helm

Role

Helm is listed as the Titans' starting tight end on the initial 53-man roster, with Daniel Bellinger, David Martin-Robinson and Kylen Granson behind him.

Yahoo Sports (Titans Wire) · Aug 30, 2026

Why Kyle Pitts Sr.

Start· medium

TE1 and vertical seam threat. Rare size-speed mismatch profile with high-volume target share in the passing game.

TE7 with an 88% snap share and 23% target share — that volume plays in any 12-team PPR lineup, even in a modest 19.8-point team total.

Pitts' rare size-speed profile creates splash-play access beyond routine tight-end volume.
The soft-looking Pittsburgh matchup has no game sample; Pitts' usage is the dependable edge.

The call

A 23% target share at tight end is elite-tier usage, and the 88% snap rate means Pitts is on the field for every situational package — that floor alone clears replacement level at a thin position.
Consensus has him TE7 at 10.4 projected points; you are not finding a better option on the waiver wire in a 12-team league.
The DvP composite lists Pittsburgh 27 of 32 (32 = softest), but it carries a 0-game sample and 0.00 confidence, so treat it as neutral rather than a bonus.
The real drag is the 19.8 implied team total with a 3.0-point spread — a low-scoring script caps the ceiling, but the target volume protects the floor.

Latest on Pitts

Fantasy buzz: Pats' Stevenson rises with Henderson out, Cards list Love as RB2

TreVeyon Henderson won't suit up on Wednesday, leaving most of the backfield work for Rhamondre Stevenson.

ESPN · Sep 9, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

Metric	Gunnar Helm	Kyle Pitts Sr.
Projected points	4.25.87.5	5.68.010.4
Consensus rank	TE23	TE7
Opponent vs position	NYJ · 20 of 320-game sample	PIT · 27 of 320-game sample
Receptions	17 of 32	29 of 32
Receiving Yards	17 of 32	28 of 32
Receiving TDs	26 of 32	26 of 32
Targets	16 of 32	28 of 32
Anytime TD	26 of 32	26 of 32
Target share	11%(2025)	23%(2025)
Reception share	14%(2025)	27%(2025)
Implied total · spread	21.3-3.0	19.8+3.0
Depth chart	TE1	TE1
Snap share	53%(2025)	88%(2025)