Fantasy Football Player Notes

Alec Pierce's downfield role provided again last week as Pierce finished as the WR3 for the week. In two games, with Philip Rivers, he has had only a 7.9% target share and 10.2% first-read share, but he has secured all five of his targets with a 19.0 aDOT, 51 receiving yards per game, and 1.73 yards per route run. In the last two games, he has had two deep targets and two red zone targets. Pierce is a desperation flex only, but he could pay off again this week. Since Week 10, Jacksonville has ranked 15th in deep ball completion rate and given up the tenth-most deep passing yards per game.

In his two games with Philip Rivers, Pittman has had a 15.9% target share (third on the team) with 29 receiving yards per game, 0.95 yards per route run, and a 16.3% first-read share (third on the team). He hasn't seen a red zone target, but has gotten two deep targets. Pittman could have a bounce-back game this week, but with his prior usage with Rivers, he's only a middling flex play this week. Since Week 12, Jacksonville has allowed the eighth-most receiving yards per game and the tenth-most fantasy points per game to perimeter wide receivers.

With Philip Rivers, Indy has increased its usage of 11 personnel as Downs has seen an 83.3% route share while soaking up a 22.2% target share and 26.5% first-read share while producing 39 receiving yards per game and 1.42 yards per route run. In those two games, Downs has had one touchdown, one red zone target, and three deep targets. Downs is a low-end flex play this week with a tough matchup. Since Week 13, Jacksonville has allowed the sixth-fewest PPR points per target and the ninth-lowest passer rating when targeted to slot receivers.