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Kyle Pitts Addresses Production Shortage

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Brendan Howe | Last updated Apr 18, 2025 2:41 PM ET

Fantasy football owners and sports bettors have a love-hate relationship with Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts. The former Florida Gators star has a message for those who remain frustrated with his output.

"For the people who never really know what's going on in the huddle, those are the people who have the most to say," Pitts said last week on Cam Newton's podcast, "4th&1 With Cam Newton." "They think, 'Oh, it's just you not getting open.' Or it could be, damn, O-line might be getting ate up, the defense just playing really good that game. ... That's how it goes."

Pitts stressed that it's not solely his fault he doesn't always get the receptions people expect should go to a former No. 4 overall draft pick. He had a banner year as a rookie, putting up 1,026 receiving yards on 68 receptions. He's failed to reach 700 receiving yards in any of the three seasons since.

"In general, just to play the game, it's all 11," Pitts said. "So, when one person messes up, that kinda is a trickle-down effect. With the O-line, if somebody blitz and somebody comes scot-free off the edge, it don't matter how much you beat that guy. You won that route, but a quarterback (dealt with the) blitz.

"It's a bunch of things that go into one play, and everybody think it's just, 'Why aren't you getting open?' No, you might be open, but you might be on the other side of the play. Or they changed the defenses. It changes every play, every quarter."

The Falcons offense has cycled through quarterbacks over the past four go-rounds, fielding a starting array that includes Kirk Cousins, Michael Penix Jr., Desmond Ridder, Taylor Heinicke, Marcus Mariota, and Matt Ryan.

"It's obviously tough. This is my first year going into (a season with) a quarterback that I've played with previously," Pitts said. "You know, OTAs and all the camp, we'll go into it with not a new relationship, but something that we're building on."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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