Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Kyle Pitts vs Michael Mayer

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Kyle Pitts is the better fantasy play this season.

Kyle Pitts is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 9.8 PPG and 928 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Michael Mayer (4.7 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Kyle Pitts as the starter and Michael Mayer as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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TEAtlanta Falcons#6PPG LEADER

Kyle Pitts

PPG

9.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

928

Rec TDs

Targets

118

Bye

Week 5

TELas Vegas Raiders#37

Michael Mayer

PPG

4.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

328

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Kyle Pitts

Michael Mayer

Head to Head

9.8 PPG4.7 PPG

17 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Kyle Pitts: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #6 at the position). Michael Mayer: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #37 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Kyle Pitts is producing at 45% of elite pace and Michael Mayer at 21%. That ranking gap means Kyle Pitts carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Kyle Pitts vs Michael Mayer: Who Should You Start?

Kyle Pitts and Michael Mayer 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 Michael Mayer posted 4.7 PPG in 12 appearances for the Las Vegas Raiders.

A 5.1-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 Michael Mayer profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 35 catches). In weeks where Michael Mayer finds the end zone he out-scores Kyle Pitts, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: Kyle Pitts is off Week 5 and Michael Mayer Week 8. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in tight end for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Kyle Pitts at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Michael Mayer is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Kyle Pitts (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Michael Mayer (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Kyle Pitts outscored Michael Mayer by a projected 87 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Kyle Pitts played 17 games in 2025 compared to Michael Mayer's 12. That durability gap means Kyle Pitts contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Kyle Pitts scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Kyle Pitts saw 118 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatPittsMayer

PPG (Half-PPR)9.84.7

Games Played1712

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)16756

Receptions8835

Rec/Game5.22.9

Receiving Yards928328

Rec Yds/Game54.627.3

Receiving TDs51

Targets11850

Target Share/Game6.94.2

Age2524

Experience4 yrs2 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 5Week 8

Summary

Kyle Pitts outscored Michael Mayer by 5.1 PPG in 2025 (9.8 to 4.7). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Kyle Pitts or Michael Mayer in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Kyle Pitts has the edge at 9.8 PPG compared to Michael Mayer's 4.7 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Kyle Pitts and Michael Mayer average in 2025?▾

Kyle Pitts averaged 9.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Michael Mayer averaged 4.7 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 5.1 points per game.

When are Kyle Pitts and Michael Mayer's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Kyle Pitts (ATL) has a bye in Week 5, and Michael Mayer (LV) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Kyle Pitts or Michael Mayer a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Kyle Pitts outscored Michael Mayer by 5.1 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.