Pruitt caught 16 of 21 targets for 150 yards and four scores across 13 appearances during the 2022 campaign.
What it means:
Pruitt signed with Atlanta's practice squad after failing to make the initial 53-man roster. However, following Kyle Pitts' knee injury in Week 11, Pruitt stepped up and made the most of his increased opportunity. He caught 12 of 17 targets for 119 yards and three touchdowns over the final six games of the season and ended the campaign with career highs in receptions, targets, receiving yards and touchdowns. The veteran tight end will be a free agent this offseason, but a return to Atlanta could be in the cards given his solid production and head coach Arthur Smith's proclivity for utilizing tight ends.
Pruitt caught all four of his targets for 49 yards during Sunday's 20-19 victory over the Cardinals.
What it means:
Pruitt notched season highs in targets, receptions and receiving yards during the Falcons' Week 17 win. Across 12 appearances, he's totaled 13 receptions on 16 targets for 116 yards and three touchdowns. He's been a touchdown-dependent streaming option in deeper leagues, but his overall value is diminished by Atlanta's lackluster passing attack. With Desmond Ridder at the helm, Pruitt has secured six of eight targets for 69 yards over the past three games, but he hasn't caught a touchdown since posting back-to-back scores in Weeks 12 and 13, when Marcus Mariota was operating as the primary signal caller.
Pruitt caught two of three targets for 20 yards during Sunday's 21-18 loss to the Saints.
What it means:
Pruitt caught at least one pass for a sixth straight game and finished with a season-high 20 receiving yards, but he snapped his two-game touchdown streak. Desmond Ridder failed to move the ball well through the air during his NFL debut, which limited all of Atlanta's pass catchers. Pruitt may have some value in deeper leagues, but he's likely a touchdown-dependent option moving forward.
Pruitt caught his lone target for seven yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 19-16 loss versus the Steelers.
What it means:
Pruitt's only target went for a seven-yard touchdown in the third quarter to cut Atlanta's deficit to 19-13, giving him a touchdown in back-to-back games. With Kyle Pitts (knee) out, the veteran tight end operated behind Parker Hesse but ahead of Anthony Firkser for a second straight game. Despite playing fewer snaps, Firkser and Pruitt remain more involved in the passing game than Hesse, but all three will remain risky fantasy plays due to Arthur Smith's run-first mindset.
Pruitt gathered in two of three targets for nine yards and one touchdown during Sunday's 19-13 loss versus Washington.
What it means:
With Kyle Pitts (knee) sidelined, Pruitt saw an increased role and secured Marcus Mariota's lone touchdown pass. Pruitt finished second among tight ends in offensive snaps (32), which put him behind Parker Hesse (35) but ahead of Anthony Firkser (22). As long as Pitts is out, Hesse figures to lead the trio in snaps, but Pruitt will likely continue operating as the top pass catcher among the group.
Pruitt will be among the group of players who are asked to step up in the absence of Kyle Pitts (knee), Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.
What it means:
Pruitt saw an increased role after Pitts went down in Week 11 and finished with a season-high 30 offensive snaps, securing his lone target for 17 yards. With Pitts on IR, Atlanta will likely use a committee approach to replace the talented pass catcher. Parker Hesse, who's expected to operate as the No. 1 tight end in Pitts' absence, is mostly known as a blocker, so Pruitt, who's caught eight touchdowns over the past five seasons, could step up as the primary pass-catching tight end. However, neither player projects to have as large of an impact in the passing game as Pitts did.