George Kittle or Kyle Pitts Sr.: Who Should You Start?

The call

• When he plays, the role is elite for the position: 81% snap share and a 19% target share across 11 games make him the clear focal point of the 49ers passing game, well above what a TE18 consensus rank implies.
• The availability line reads PUP-P and normalizes to unknown, which is why the consensus projection sits at just 8.4 points and TE18 — the market is pricing in real doubt, not a bad role.
• Matchup and script are neutral: the Rams grade 17 of 32 in DvP composite (on a 0-game sample, so treat it as noise), and a 22.8 implied total with a 3.0 spread points to a competitive game that keeps the offense throwing.
• Tip it to start the moment he's confirmed active for Sunday; if he's still carrying the PUP tag at kickoff, you need a replacement in the TE slot.

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.