Dennis Pitta unfortunately broke his hip before last season and ended up missing the first 12 games, so he finished with only 20 catches, 169 yards and a touchdown. However, he’s healthy now and he had 669 yards and seven touchdowns in 2012, plus he had another 163 yards and three touchdowns in the playoffs that same year. The Ravens were hoping Pitta could become a huge part of an offense that needed reliable receiving targets last season, and they’re hoping for the same in 2014.
Fantasy Upside
Prior to his injury last season, Pitta had an upward trajectory to his career, setting career marks in all major statistical categories in 2012, and emerging as the primary starting tight end in the Ravens offense. This season, he should benefit from the addition of former Texans Head Coach Gary Kubiak taking over the reigns as Baltimore’s Offensive Coordinator and bringing his historically tight end friendly system with him. Baltimore’s offense struggled last year, and Pitta has an excellent chance to be the reason the Ravens get back on track in 2014.
Fantasy Downside
The Ravens offense will be adjusting to a new scheme, Pitta is coming off that hip injury and what was essentially a lost season, and as a BYU graduate, Pitta is already 29 years old entering just his fifth season. Also, for all the ability he’s flashed, he’s still only had one pretty good season at the NFL level and he has a quarterback who has been an inconsistent fantasy producer. The addition of Owen Daniels could also be problematic, as he knows the system from his time in Houston.
Bottom Line
Pitta is a high upside fantasy option at the tight end position with the potential to be one of the leaders of that second tier of tight ends after the big three of Jimmy Graham, Rob Gronkowski, and Julius Thomas. With the Ravens offense set to improve, Flacco coming off a season where he can only get better, and Pitta’s main challenger, Owen Daniels, past his prime, the stage is set for Pitta to deliver. Our rankings view him as a top ten option, and amidst the likes of Jordan Reed, Kyle Rudolph, and Zach Ertz, Pitta may actually be one of the more reliable upside options there. If you miss on one of the big guys, grabbing Pitta in rounds 8-10 is good value.