Kyle Pitts vs Mike Gesicki: Who Should You Start?
Kyle Pitts and Mike Gesicki are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Kyle Pitts averaged 9.8 PPG across 17 games with the Atlanta Falcons, while Mike Gesicki posted 4.4 PPG in 13 appearances for the Cincinnati Bengals.
A 5.4-PPG gap gives Kyle Pitts the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.
Kyle Pitts is the volume tight end in this matchup with 88 receptions for 928 yards, while Mike Gesicki profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (2 scores on 28 catches). In weeks where Mike Gesicki finds the end zone he out-scores Kyle Pitts, but the floor gap is real.
One thing to note: both players share a Week 12 bye. That means you need a backup plan at tight end for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.
