Fantasy Football Player Notes

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.