Jake Ferguson or Kyle Pitts Sr.: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 1 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Too close to call — the edges cancel out.

Jake Ferguson and Kyle Pitts Sr. grade out even this week. Ferguson's best edge is the game script (25.0 implied points to 19.8), Pitts's best edge is the consensus rank (TE7 to TE11) — and they cancel out. Start whichever player's game you trust more this week.

Jake Ferguson

Jake Ferguson

TE11DALvs NYG

Projected Points

Start· medium
Kyle Pitts Sr.

Kyle Pitts Sr.

TE7ATLvs PIT

Projected Points

Start· medium

Why Jake Ferguson

Start· medium

TE1 and high-volume receiving tight end. Reliable chain-mover and red-zone target over the middle.

TE11 with a 17% target share and 67% snap share; 25-point implied total in a 1.5-point game keeps the volume flowing.

  • NYG ranks 7 of 32 against TEs (one of the tougher matchups, 0-game sample).
  • Vegas implies 25.0 team points as 1.5-point favorites.
  • Listed TE on the latest depth chart with a 67% snap share in 2025.

The call

  • Ferguson's 17% target share over 17 games is genuine TE1 usage — he's a core piece of this passing game, not a matchup-dependent streamer.
  • A 25.0 implied total and a 1.5-point spread point to a competitive script where Dallas keeps throwing; that's ideal for a high-volume seam and short-area target.
  • The DvP composite reads 7 of 32 (tough), but it's a 0-game sample with 0.00 confidence — no reason to let an empty matchup number override locked-in role.
  • No injury designation and a clear TE1 slot on the depth chart; the 9.8-point projection is above what a typical 12-team replacement TE offers.

Latest on Ferguson

Veteran defensive tackle Kenny Clark, cornerback DaRon Bland and tight end Jake Ferguson had their deals reworked to give Dallas flexibility, sources said.

ESPN · Sep 4, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

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.

Head-to-head stats

MetricJake FergusonKyle Pitts Sr.
Projected points
Consensus rankTE11TE7
Opponent vs positionNYG · 7 of 320-game samplePIT · 27 of 320-game sample
Receptions7 of 3229 of 32
Receiving Yards10 of 3228 of 32
Receiving TDs6 of 3226 of 32
Targets9 of 3228 of 32
Anytime TD5 of 3226 of 32
Target share17%(2025)23%(2025)
Reception share20%(2025)27%(2025)
Implied total · spread25.0-1.519.8+3.0
Depth chartTE1TE1
Snap share67%(2025)88%(2025)

Signal breakdown

  • 9.8 vs 10.4 projected PPR pointsKyle Pitts Sr. +
  • Rank 11 vs 7Kyle Pitts Sr. +
  • Opponent DvP rank 7 vs 27 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 25.0 vs 19.8 team pointsJake Ferguson +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 67% vs 88% snap shareKyle Pitts Sr. +

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