Start Kyle Pitts Sr. over Terrance Ferguson — Week 1 Start/Sit Verdict

Start Pitts — the consensus rank and availability edges are too wide to ignore.

Kyle Pitts Sr. is the higher consensus play (TE7 to TE22) and is the healthier side of this call (Ferguson carries a Questionable tag). Ferguson's edge is the game script, 25.8 implied points to 19.8. The gap is wide.

Kyle Pitts Sr.

TE7ATLvs PIT

5.68.010.4 Projected Points

Start· medium

Terrance Ferguson

TE22LARvs SF

5.36.78.1 Projected Points

Sit

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.

PIT ranks 27 of 32 against TEs (one of the softer matchups, 0-game sample).
Vegas implies 19.8 team points as 3.0-point underdogs.
Listed TE on the latest depth chart with a 88% snap share in 2025.

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.

Why Terrance Ferguson

Sit

Rotational TE in pass-catching role. Movement-Y receiver with developing target share.

Sit — TE22 by consensus and projection: SF is the 8th-softest matchup vs TEs, 25.8 implied team total.

Carries a Questionable tag — usually plays, but monitor the final report.
SF ranks 25 of 32 against TEs (one of the softer matchups, 0-game sample).
Vegas implies 25.8 team points as 3.0-point favorites.
Listed TE on the latest depth chart with a 44% snap share in 2025.

Latest on Ferguson

Terrance Ferguson wants to expand want he can do in Year 2: 'I just want to be involved in all aspects of the game'

Feeling more comfortable in the Rams' offense, second-year tight end Terrance Ferguson hoping to show more of what he's capable of in 2026.

therams.com · Sep 6, 2026

Injury Updates: Aaron Donald not practicing Monday "part of the plan all along," Myles Garrett "making really good progress," and updates on Terrance Ferguson, Grant Stuard, Keagen Trost and Justin Dedich

Rams head coach Sean McVay addressed why Aaron Donald wasn't practicing Monday, as well as injury updates on Myles Garrett, Terrance Ferguson, Grant Stuard, Keagen Trost and Justin Dedich.

therams.com · Aug 31, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

Metric	Kyle Pitts Sr.	Terrance Ferguson
Projected points	5.68.010.4	5.36.78.1
Consensus rank	TE7	TE22
Opponent vs position	PIT · 27 of 320-game sample	SF · 25 of 320-game sample
Receptions	29 of 32	22 of 32
Receiving Yards	28 of 32	21 of 32
Receiving TDs	26 of 32	26 of 32
Targets	28 of 32	30 of 32
Anytime TD	26 of 32	26 of 32
Target share	23%(2025)	7%(2025)
Reception share	27%(2025)	4%(2025)
Implied total · spread	19.8+3.0	25.8-3.0
Depth chart	TE1	TE3
Snap share	88%(2025)	44%(2025)
Injury designation	—	Questionable