Kyle Pitts Sr. or Michael Pittman Jr.: Who Should You Start?
2026 Week 2 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
Start Pitts — the consensus rank and game script edges are too wide to ignore.
Kyle Pitts Sr. is the higher consensus play (TE7 to WR32) and plays in the better game script (23.0 implied team points to 19.5). Pittman's edge is snap share, 88% to 63%. The gap is comfortable.
Kyle Pitts Sr.
6.89.011.2 Projected Points
Michael Pittman Jr.
6.38.911.5 Projected Points
Kyle Pitts Sr.’s market
Michael Pittman Jr.’s market
Why Kyle Pitts Sr.
Toss-Up· mediumTE1 and vertical seam threat. Rare size-speed mismatch profile with high-volume target share in the passing game.
TE7 on paper at 11.1 projected, but a 5% target share and a zero-catch Week 1 on one look make Pitts a bet on volume that hasn't shown up.
- CAR ranks 13 of 32 against TEs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 1-game sample).
- Vegas implies 23.0 team points as 1.5-point favorites.
- Listed TE on the latest depth chart with a 63% snap share.
The call
- The projection (11.1, TE7) and a near-even game — Atlanta -1.5, 23.0 implied total — say playable, but that number is built on reputation more than 2026 usage.
- Role red flag: 63% snap share with just a 5% target share, and Steelers.com noted he was "targeted just once by Cooper Rush and finishing with zero catches" in Week 1.
- Matchup is neutral at best — Carolina grades 13 of 32 vs the position (softest = 32), and that's a 1-game sample with 0.00 confidence, so there's no soft-spot bonus to lean on.
- Tip it to start if he draws early-down and red-zone looks with Rush under center; if you have any top-12 TE with a defined target share, play that instead this week.
Latest on Pitts
Kyle Pitts was shut out entirely in Week 1, targeted just once by Cooper Rush and finishing with zero catches as the Steelers defense effectively limited Atlanta's top two pass-catching options behind Robinson.
Steelers.com · Sep 14, 2026TreVeyon Henderson won't suit up on Wednesday, leaving most of the backfield work for Rhamondre Stevenson.
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Why Michael Pittman Jr.
Toss-UpWR2 and high-volume possession target. Big-bodied contested-catch winner over the middle and in the red zone.
Toss-up — WR32 consensus, projects WR33 this week: 8% target share, 11.5 PPR projected vs NE.
- NE ranks 15 of 32 against WRs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 1-game sample).
- Vegas implies 19.5 team points as 4.5-point underdogs.
- Listed WR-2 on the latest depth chart with a 88% snap share.
Latest on Pittman
Pittman (hamstring) did not appear on the Steelers' first Week 1 injury report and was cleared to play against the Falcons after missing significant camp and preseason time.
ESPN · Sep 11, 2026Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Kyle Pitts Sr. | Michael Pittman Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 6.89.011.2 | 6.38.911.5 |
| Consensus rank | TE7 | WR32 |
| Opponent vs position | CAR · 13 of 321-game sample | NE · 15 of 321-game sample |
| Receptions | 2 of 32 | 15 of 32 |
| Receiving Yards | 14 of 32 | 21 of 32 |
| Receiving TDs | 21 of 32 | 13 of 32 |
| Targets | 6 of 32 | 15 of 32 |
| Anytime TD | 20 of 32 | 13 of 32 |
| Target share | 5% | 8% |
| Reception share | 0% | 13% |
| Implied total · spread | 23.0-1.5 | 19.5+4.5 |
| Depth chart | TE1 | WR2 |
| Snap share | 63% | 88% |
| Start/Sit record | 0–1+1 toss-up | 0–1 |
Recent form
Kyle Pitts Sr. — last 1 week
| Week 1 | vs PIT | 0.00.00.0 |
Michael Pittman Jr. — last 1 week
| Week 1 | vs ATL | 5.87.38.8 |
Signal breakdown
- 11.2 vs 11.5 projected PPR pointsMichael Pittman Jr. +
- Rank 7 vs 32Kyle Pitts Sr. +
- Opponent DvP rank 13 vs 15 (32 = softest)even
- Implied 23.0 vs 19.5 team pointsKyle Pitts Sr. +
- No injury designationseven
- 63% vs 88% snap shareMichael Pittman Jr. +
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