Week 6 at Cleveland Browns
George Kittle exploded last week. He had three catches for 67 yards, with all three resulting in touchdowns! It was Kittle’s first time(s) in the end zone this season, but he showed the kind of explosive outing he’s capable of in this offense.
This week, Kittle faces a Browns defense that ranks 19th in aFPA to opposing tight ends. Cleveland has been much better against wide receivers than tight ends, so it’s possible quarterback Brock Purdy leans on his star tight end again this week. We have him ranked just outside our top-five options this week, and fantasy managers should keep him active in all leagues.
Week 5 vs. Dallas Cowboys
George Kittle was limited to just one catch for nine yards last week as the 49ers stomped on the Cardinals in a lopsided victory. Kittle only has one good fantasy outing out of four games this season after crushing with Brock Purdy at the end of 2022. You have to think he’ll turn around at some point, but there are an awful lot of talented targets to choose from in this offense.
Kittle has a tough matchup this week against the Cowboys, who rank second in aFPA to opposing tight ends. Kittle is still worth starting, given his talent at a position where there is always a dearth of viable fantasy options. Temper expectations for the veteran, however, as this could be a rock fight. We have him ranked just inside our top 10 tight end options this week.
Week 4 vs. Arizona Cardinals
George Kittle had a nice game against the Giants last week, catching seven of his nine targets for 90 yards. He still has yet to find the end zone this season, but it was good to see him approaching double-digit targets after nine total in his first two games. Kittle remains a heavy part of this offense and one of the more explosive players at his position.
This week, Kittle faces a Cardinals defense that ranks 16th in aFPA to opposing tight ends. Regardless of matchup, however, Kittle is a must-start in all formats based on his usage at a position with very few consistently reliable options. We have Kittle ranked as an elite fantasy option this week. Start him.
Week 3 vs. New York Giants
George Kittle hasn’t put up much in the way of fantasy points through two games this season, but it’s good to see him healthy. He’s had three catches in each game, with a grand total of just 49 yards on the season. Still, the late-season rapport he developed with Brock Purdy in 2022 should prove fruitful sooner or later, so fantasy managers shouldn’t panic just yet.
This week, Kittle has a nice matchup against the Giants, who are struggling on both sides of the ball. They allowed 88 yards and eight receptions to the tight end position a week ago. Tight ends are tough to find with consistency in the fantasy realm, so keep starting Kittle as a top-10 option, given his usage. While he had only three targets last week, he had six in Week 1.
Update: With Brandon Aiyuk not expected to play, Kittle should benefit with additional looks.
Week 2 at Los Angeles Rams
George Kittle was questionable going into last week’s tilt against the Steelers, but he wound up playing. He was limited to just three catches for 19 yards, but he did receive six targets in the lopsided victory. Kittle’s usage makes him one of the best fantasy tight ends in football, however, and he was the TE1 in games where Brock Purdy started last year.
This week, keep Kittle active against the Rams. Los Angeles held the Seahawks in check last week but have gaps on defense on paper and Kittle scored a touchdown the last time these two teams met up. Keep him active in all leagues as long as he’s healthy.
Week 1 at Pittsburgh Steelers
George Kittle was the TE1 in fantasy last season while Brock Purdy was quarterback. Yes, that includes Travis Kelce, albeit in a small, six-game sample size. Kittle is one of the best in the game and while he’ll likely see a little touchdown regression and see fewer targets with Deebo Samuel healthy, he’s still expected to be an elite fantasy option you can bank on each week.
He starts the season against a Pittsburgh defense that ranked 16th in aFPA to opposing tight ends last year. Regardless of matchup, he should be in your lineup, but check the injury report diligently. He was a limited participant in practice this week and isn’t certain to start, so be sure to have a backup plan in place.
Fantasy Upside
Quarterback Brock Purdy took the league by storm when he filled in for an injured Jimmy Garoppolo, and the former seventh-round pick wasted no time building rapport with George Kittle. Kittle was on the receiving end of seven of Purdy's 13 touchdown passes during the regular season, with all of those scoring strikes coming over a six-game span. With Purdy slated to be the starter over Trey Lance, Kittle could be in for the best year of his career should he get to play with Purdy for an entire 17-game season. Of course, that would require Kittle to stay healthy, which hasn't always been the easiest of tasks for the 29-year-old, but the rewards outweigh the risks here.
Fantasy Downside
While health is an issue (Kittle hasn't played 15-plus games since 2018), so is the wealth of talent working alongside the star tight end in this offense. Will Kittle be targeted often enough to suit his fantasy managers? At the very least, it could lead to some week-to-week inconsistency.
2023 Bottom Line
The hope is the same concern outlined above also works in Kittle's favor. The 49ers are bound to have a potent offense with Christian McCaffery and Deebo Samuel helping take some of the attention off Kittle, who is certainly worthy of being one of the first tight ends taken off the board. San Francisco also has the seventh-easiest strength of schedule, according to PFF, making Kittle an even more intriguing option.
Week 17 at Las Vegas Raiders
Brock Purdy has been very good for George Kittle. He has two touchdowns in each of his last two games, and he finished last week’s contest against the Commanders with six catches for 120 yards. He’s been inconsistent throughout the season, but with a new quarterback, anything is possible.
This week, Kittle faces a Raiders defense that ranks 10th in aFPA to opposing tight ends. Despite the matchup, he’s a must-start. The tight end position is a barren wasteland of risk and inconsistency, and Kittle’s production lately separates him from the pack. Start him.
Week 16 vs. Washington Commanders
George Kittle had a great game against the Seahawks last week, catching four of his five targets for 93 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Kittle has been volatile as a fantasy producer, but he’s capable of those kinds of numbers in any given week. It’s a good sign that he has five targets in each of Brock Purdy’s full games as the starter.
This week, Kittle has a tough matchup against Washington. The Commanders rank eighth in aFPA to opposing tight ends. Kittle is always a risk to disappoint, but with only one really steady tight end option in fantasy (Travis Kelce), you take the risk and fly with Kittle’s upside. We have him ranked inside our top five tight ends once again and he should be active in all leagues.
Week 15 at Seattle Seahawks
George Kittle was limited to just 28 yards last week, but he had four catches on five targets. It was good to see the volume, especially since the 49ers ran away with the victory and only threw the ball 23 times.
Kittle has a great matchup this week. The Seahawks have a budding young secondary, but they’ve been awful against tight ends this season, ranking 31st in the league in aFPA to the position. Kittle has been inconsistent, but inconsistent with big boom potential is still better than the vast majority of the tight ends available in fantasy. Start him.
