Fantasy Football Player Notes

Taylor has missed 16 games over the last three seasons, and his recurring ankle injuries are major concern. But when Taylor is healthy, he's one of the best pure runners in the league. Despite missing three games in 2024, Taylor had 303 carries for 1,431 yards and 11 touchdowns. Taylor doesn't catch many passes -- he's had fewer than 20 receptions in each of the last two seasons -- but if he can stay healthy, he'll continue to stack up big rushing totals.

Tyler Warren posted absurd numbers for Penn State in 2024, with 104 catches, 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns. He has an angry playing style reminiscent of Georget Kittle. Warren is not easy to tackle. The Colts landed Warren with the 14th overall pick of the draft. It seems like a suboptimal landing spot given the Colts' uncertainty at quarterback. But Warren did some damage as a runner last year at Penn State, adding 218 rushing yards and four TD runs. That's one possible way for Warren to pad his value. But it's probably best to temper expectations for Warren in his rookie season.

Josh Downs was WR32 last season in PPR fantasy points per game (13.1) among receivers who played at least eight games. Downs is a short-area receiver whose average depth of target last season was just 6.9 yards. He hasn't been a prolific touchdown scorer, with only seven touchdowns in 31 career games. The Colts' QB situation could hinder the value of Indy pass catchers, and Downs could lose some short-area targets to the Colts' first-round draft pick, TE Tyler Warren.

After catching 109 passes for 1,152 yards and four touchdowns in 2023, Michael Pittman Jr. produced 69-808-3 in 16 games last season. Pittman spent much of the year playing with a fracture in his back, and the Colts' abysmal quarterbacking was no doubt a limiting factor. Pittman should be healthier this season, but QB play could remain a problem despite the Colts' offseason addition of Daniel Jones. And we probably shouldn't expect many touchdowns from Pittman, who hasn't had more than four TDs in a season since 2021 and has never had more than six. Pittman is a reasonable bench option, but his ceiling looks capped.

Last year, Alec Pierce was the WR48 in fantasy points per game, operating as Indy's field stretcher. If Anthony Richardson wins the job, maybe he will have some flex-viable weeks in 2025 in deeper leagues, but he's off my draft board if Daniel Jones is the team's starter. Last year, Pierce led 85 qualifying receivers in aDOT (22.2). His role won't be heavily utilized if Jones is starting. Last year, among 40 qualifying quarterbacks, Jones had the 14th-lowest aDOT and the ninth-lowest deep throw rate (per Fantasy Points Data). Pierce could luck box into some spike weeks for best ball, but it won't be often enough to make him a redraft-worthy managed lineup pick.

Giddens was the 15th running back selected in the draft as he landed with the Colts. He'll compete with Khalil Herbert to earn backup duties behind the Colts' incumbent starter, Jonathan Taylor. Giddens' talent is very real after he ranked 16th in yards after contact per attempt, sixth in breakaway percentage, and 22nd in elusive rating last year (per PFF). He's in the final-round pick bucket that could pay off handsomely if he earns the RB2 spot and Taylor misses any time.

After six topsy-turvy seasons with the Giants and a late-season stint as Sam Darnold's backup in Minnesota last season, Daniel Jones signed a one-year, $14 million deal with the Colts, who have named Jones the Week 1 starter over Anthony Richardson. Jones had a good fantasy season in 2022, finishing QB9 in fantasy scoring that year, largely on the strength of 708 rushing yards and seven TD runs. But Jones was ineffective in 2024, and the Giants benched him after 10 starts. Because of his rushing ability, the 28-yard Jones could have some low-level fantasy value if he's able to hold on to the starting job.

After two disappointing and injury-marred seasons, former fourth overall draft pick Anthony Richardson will start the 2025 season as a backup behind Daniel Jones. Richardson played only four games as a rookie in 2023, with an October shoulder injury putting him on the shelf for the rest of the season. Richardson offered glimpses of immense fantasy potential, with 136 rushing yards and four TD runs in those four games, along with three TD passes. But Richardson was a disaster as a passer last season, completing only 47.7% of his passes, with eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The 6-4, 244-pound Richardson is a remarkable physical specimen who still offers considerable fantasy upside because of his rushing ability, but his struggles as a passer threaten to derail his career.

The Colts were the DST22 in fantasy points per game last year, but they could take a big step forward in 2025. Their defensive line is stout with Kwity Paye, Grover Stewart, DeForest Buckner, and Laiatu Latu. The addition of Charvarius Ward to the secondary should help solidify their pass coverage with Kenny Moore locking down the slot. I know Lou Anarumo had a rough ending to his tenure in Cincy, but he's still a very good defensive mind who could get the best out of this group this season.