Colts rookie WR Josh Downs caught all six of his targets for a team-high 97 yards in Sunday's win over the Titans. Downs actually had two other targets -- one completed, one not -- negated by offensive penalties. He made half of those receptions with each QB, in a game Anthony Richardson left early with a right shoulder injury. Downs remains third among Colts WRs in snaps and routes but continues to easily beat WR Alec Pierce in targets per route. He looks like a decent PPR WR3 for Week 6 at Jacksonville. Tougher matchups with Cleveland and New Orleans sit beyond that. WR Michael Pittman led Downs 7-6 in official targets against Tennessee, posting a 5-52 receiving line. No other Colt caught more than two passes.
Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. only caught 1 pass on 5 targets for 15 yards in Week 4 vs. the Rams. As disappointing of an outcome as that is, only one Indianapolis pass-catcher (TE Drew Ogletree) recorded more than 2 catches in this contest. The Colts were shut out in the first half and had to claw their way back to even force OT. Next week’s game vs. the Titans should produce much better results for Pittman Jr. and company.
Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. recorded a team-leading 9 catches on 11 targets for 77 yards vs. the Ravens in Week 3. We expected some good production from him, but hello, rookie WR Josh Downs! The first-year wideout had a solid breakout performance, logging 8 catches on 12 targets for 57 receiving yards in the contest. He’d been second on the Colts in targets so far this year, though this is the first game all year where Downs’ involvement translated to the box score. He’ll be a fun name to add off of the waiver wire this week in advance of Week 4 vs. the Rams.
Colts QB Anthony Richardson (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday’s game vs. the Ravens. We’ll see if the rookie can get cleared for Week 4. Richardson will be replaced by QB Gardner Minshew, who played well in relief last week and has experience in HC Shane Steichen’s offense from their time together in Philadelphia. Minshew is only a viable play in 2-QB and Superflex leagues, but he should keep this Colts offense afloat.
Colts QB Anthony Richardson (concussion) remained sidelined on Thursday. He's now looking unlikely to play vs. the Ravens this weekend. That'd leave QB Gardner Minshew under center. Minshew is a capable passer, sporting a career 63% completion rate and 7.1 yards per attempt. And the Colts probably attempt at least a few more passes with Minshew than Richardson. WR Michael Pittman is a nice fantasy WR2 regardless of who's at QB for Indianapolis.
Colts WR Michael Pittman led the team in receiving again in Week 2, hauling in 8 of his 12 targets for 56 receiving yards vs. the Texans. Even without QB Anthony Richardson (concussion) in the lineup for most of the game, Pittman continued to be the focal point of the aerial attack in Indianapolis. These totals are encouraging and will undoubtedly make fantasy managers feel better if Richardson cannot suit up in Week 3 vs. the Ravens. A small note to remember from this game is that rookie WR Josh Downs has now seen 12 targets (second-most on the Colts) through the first two games of 2023. His involvement has yet to translate into useable fantasy points, though he's a name to consider speculatively adding in deeper leagues.
Colts WR Michael Pittman led the Colts with 11 targets, eight catches, 97 yards, and a score in Sunday's loss to the Colts. Those 11 targets were a big 29.7% of the team total. Pittman's TD came on a 39-yard screen, flashing some impressive speed to beat the angles of a few Jaguars defenders. He's a big fantasy winner of Week 1. Pittman looks like the Colts' clear No. 1 WR -- AND it looks like this passing game will be more aggressive and productive than we initially thought.
The Colts plan to ease WR Michael Pittman into training camp after his offseason hip injury, according to the Indianapolis Star's Nate Atkins. "Pittman said he's completely over it, but they just want to be cautious bringing him back into the fold," Atkins writes. This doesn't sound like a concern, although missed reps aren't ideal as Pittman settles into a new offense with a new QB.
Colts beat writer Kevin Bowen considers WR Josh Downs “the ideal slot receiver complement.” While Michael Pittman will kick inside some, Downs’ path to playing in 3-WR sets (with Alec Pierce) looks clear. Bowen adds that the rookie showed a “strong early connection” with QB Anthony Richardson, with Downs “easily creating space in those short areas of the field.” Colts area scout Chad Henry shared the same sentiment. “He’s a playmaker,” Henry said of Downs. “We don’t have a whole lot of guys like him. He’s sort of a human chain mover. Good luck covering him in a short area.” Downs missed part of the spring with a knee issue, but all indications suggest it’s minor. Depending on the play of Richardson, Downs could become a deep-league PPR spot starter. For now, though, he’s not someone to circle on your cheat sheet.
Colts WR Michael Pittman got plenty of target and reception volume last season. He finished 16th among WRs in target share and 10th in the league in receptions. But his yardage efficiency tumbled. Pittman's yards per catch fell from 12.3 in 2021 to 9.3, with poor QB play a (the?) primary culprit. His average depth of target fell by more than 2 yards, with QBs Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger and Nick Foles all ranking 28th or worse in Pro Football Focus passing grade. Pittman also produced his lowest mark yet, though, in yards after catch per reception. According to PFF, he tied for just 53rd in yards per route and ranked 44th in receiving grade, among 97 WRs with 40+ targets. Pittman did, at least, rank a decent 26th in targets per route, matching his 2021 ranking. Rookie QB Anthony Richardson should be good for Pittman's aDOT. But we'd bet on the WR coming down from last year's 70.2% catch rate. Overall, it's tough to bet on big upside for Pittman from his WR3-level ADP. Read more about the outlook for Indy's lead wideout and see where he lands in our 2023 fantasy football rankings.
The Colts have named Jim Bob Cooter their new OC. He turned in 3 generally underwhelming seasons as Lions OC from 2016-2018, with finishes of 21st, 13th and 24th in total yards. Cooter then bounced to Jets RBs coach to Eagles "consultant" to Jaguars passing-game coordinator this past year, playing a part in QB Trevor Lawrence's breakout season. Cooter will work under offensive-minded HC Shane Steichen in Indianapolis. Steichen is expected to call plays, according to The Athletic's Zak Keefer.
Shane Steichen is set to be named the Colts' HC, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Rumors of the move gained steam in the days leading up to the Eagles' Super Bowl loss, and Steichen is flying to Indianapolis on Monday afternoon to finalize the deal. The 37-year-old spent the past 2 seasons as Philadelphia's OC under HC Nick Sirianni, helping the Eagles to 14th- and then 3rd-place finishes in total yards. Prior to that, he spent the 2020 campaign as Chargers OC, leading that team to a 9th-place finish in yards with rookie QB Justin Herbert. With the 4th overall pick of this spring's draft, there's a good chance that Steichen is again working with a rookie signal-caller in 2023. Shoddy QB play left the Colts among the bottom 6th in both points and total yards last year. But they have an elite RB in Jonathan Taylor and a young, developing WR corps led by Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce.
Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. drew a team-high 8 targets and caught a team-high 6 passes in Sunday's lopsided loss at the Giants. He managed just 41 yards but secured the team's only TD (from QB Sam Ehlinger). Pittman remains among the top 30 WRs in PPR points per game despite playing with 3 separate (poor) QBs this season. We'll see how Indianapolis addresses that position this offseason, after applying different Band-Aids each of the past 3 years. Pittman heads into the final year of his rookie contract -- and age-26 season -- in 2023. WR Parris Campbell led the team with 52 receiving yards Sunday on 3 catches (6 targets).
The switch to QB Nick Foles did not work Monday night against the Chargers. The veteran backup tossed 3 INTs and took 7 sacks in the loss, compiling only 143 yards on 17-of-29 passing. TE Jelani Woods led the receiving with 43 yards, while WR Michael Pittman Jr. was the only Colt to catch more than 3 passes. Interim HC Jeff Saturday still said after the game that he has "no reservations" about switching to Foles and that he still plans to start the vet for the final 2 games.
Colts WR Michael Pittman caught 10 balls for 60 yards in Saturday's OT loss to the Vikings. He drew 14 targets, accounting for 42.4% of Indy's total pass attempts. No other Colt drew more than 4 looks or exceeded 2 receptions. WRs Parris Campbell and Alec Pierce tied for 2nd in targets. Campbell caught 2 balls for 13 yards. Pierce went catchless. The Colts finish up with the Chargers and Giants the next 2 weeks.
Colts WR Michael Pittman set season-lows in targets (4), catches (2) and yards (16) in Week 13. Yikes. Pittman was shadowed by CB Trevon Diggs for 83% of his routes, per Next Gen Stats. Diggs didn’t give up a single reception, as he blanketed Pittman all night. Despite the tough matchup, it’s certainly a disappointing result considering the production from Alec Pierce (4-86-1) and Parris Campbell (4-43). Pittman will look to rebound Sunday at Minnesota.
Colts WR Alec Pierce caught just 3 passes for 28 yards in Sunday's loss to the Eagles, but he drew a team-high 8 targets. That came in the 1st game all season in which Pierce ran more routes than WR Parris Campbell. Michael Pittman (7) and Campbell (6) finished close behind in targets. Pittman led the team with 6 catches and 75 yards. Campbell caught 5 balls for 67 yards. Next up for Indy: an upside passing matchup with Pittsburgh.
The targets returned Sunday for Colts WR Parris Campbell, with QB Matt Ryan taking back over for Sam Ehlinger. Campbell matched WR Michael Pittman for the team leads in targets (9) and receptions (7) in the win over the Raiders. He turned those into 76 yards and the team's lone TD catch (from 35 yards out). Pittman gained just 53 yards on his 7 catches (7.6 per reception). TE Kyren Granson checked in 3rd with 4 catches for 57 yards. Campbell now has 9+ targets and 7+ receptions in each of the past 3 Ryan games.
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