As fun and exciting as fantasy football can be, sometimes it is very cruel.
Injuries are always the worst.
But also watching a coach chronically misuse your first-round pick is just as bad.
Not only does it hurt your fantasy football team, but probably your feelings as well.
Just look at all the Breece Hall and Bijan Robinson owners crying in the corner.
Sometimes, though, the fantasy gods understand we can only take so much before we break and they let up.
Or maybe just throw us a bone, if you will.
So goes the saga of Kyle Pitts and how a heaven-sent Tucker Kraft saved the day.
Last week, the barrage of start/sit questions were filled with frustration.
After finding the end zone in Week 1 against the Steelers, Pitts slapped his fantasy owners in the face with three-straight disappointing performances, including a zero in Week 4 against the Saints.
This was supposed to be his year and many pundits had earmarked him as one who could emerge as a top-tier tight end, given the changes expected in the Atlanta offense.
The questions coming in weren’t even, “can we start him?” They were more of the “can we drop him?” variety.
Not only did most analysts tell you to start him, but they also tried to help you understand why.
The tight end position was a wasteland again, but there was no one sitting on your waiver wire who had the upside to do what Pitts could do.
Sure, you might be able to find someone to stream in for a week, but dropping Pitts meant you were destined to stream tight ends for the rest of the season.
Colby Parkinson?
Cole Kmet?
Cade Otton?
These were your Week 5 options and none of them had any long-term appeal.
When Pitts finished Thursday’s game with seven catches for 88 yards (15.8 fantasy points in a full-point PPR format), those who benched or dropped him lost their minds.
How could this happen?
The cruelty was just too much to take and the fantasy gods knew they pushed too far.
As Sunday approached and fantasy-angst levels were high, a beam of light shined down on the Packers and the helmet of Tucker Kraft was touched.
Betting on the NFL?
To ensure Kraft’s productivity, the gods gave Romeo Doubs an attitude problem and turned the hands of Dontayvion Wicks to stone.
Fantasy owners and the gods smiled as Kraft went on to catch four of his five targets for 88 yards and two touchdowns for 24.8 fantasy points and the week was saved.
The bond that links Pitts and Kraft will forever be carved into fantasy football lore.
But make no mistake — cruelty to us mortals is still the fantasy gods’ preferred toy.
Why else would we be left to ask ourselves the biggest question of Week 6 — Who do I start? Kraft or Pitts?
Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy football news and advice.
