Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson missed his second straight game last Sunday due to an oblique injury, but his team found a way to get it done. Indianapolis, 20-17 winners over the Titans, leaned once again on old gunslinger Joe Flacco. While the former Super Bowl winner is one of the league’s better backups, he’s a godsend for fantasy managers. The 39-year-old has thrown 42 passes per game over his last two starts, nearly double the average amount Richardson threw in Weeks 1 to 3 (24.3).
Now, with the second-year QB set to return, what effect will it have on Indianapolis’ talented group of wide receivers? On the year, the trio of Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce have had varied levels of success. A combination of inconsistency, issues behind center, and injuries have limited all three throughout the year. Is that set to change in Week 7 against the Dolphins?
Michael Pittman Jr.
Entering the season, it was all but certain that Pittman Jr. would be Richardson’s favorite option in the passing game. That’s been the case, but it hasn’t meant much for fantasy purposes. Prior to Week 4 vs. the Steelers, when Richardson left the game with an injury, Pittman had a combined 11 catches for 88 yards. In comparison, he put up 14 catches for 185 yards and two touchdowns with Flacco.
This isn’t just a current problem. In eight career games with Richardson under center, Pittman Jr. has averaged 52.6 receiving yards on less than five catches per game. Most concerning is that the pair has connected on just one touchdown pass, all the way back in Week 1 of the 2023 season. While he may be playable as a flex in some leagues, there’s nothing to suggest Pittman Jr. is close to WR2 quality unless Flacco re-enters the starting lineup.
Josh Downs
Downs, who missed the first two games of the season with a toe injury, has been nothing short of exceptional this year. With 239 receiving yards already, the second-year receiver is on pace to smash his 771-yard mark from 2024. Granted, much of that production has come with Flacco at quarterback. In the one full game that Richardson and Downs played together, the latter put up just three catches for 22 yards. Still, that was Downs’ first game back, so it’s hard to get a read on what his role will be when the Colts’ offense is running like normal.
To add to the confusion, Downs put up a terrific 7-66-1 stat line against Tennessee. Given the recent string of big games and the amount of injuries at wide receiver, it will be tough for managers to bench him. However, it’s important to be realistic. If you’re fortunate enough to have a ‘safer’ option to pencil into your lineup, it might make more sense to wait and see how Indy moves the ball on Sunday.
Alec Pierce
While the other Colts pass catchers have had their ups and downs, Pierce has enjoyed a breakout season. The former Cincinnati Bearcat has emerged as one of the better deep threats in the league, with an NFL-leading 28.3 yards per reception. He’s collected a team-best 368 receiving yards unconventionally, with just the fourth-most targets on the roster (21). That’s led to plenty of monster performances, including two different three-catch, 125+ yard games. It’s also led to plenty of bad, such as Week 6’s zero-reception outing.
It’s safe to say that Pierce is the ultimate boom-or-bust fantasy performer. Yet despite his inconsistency, he’s one of the few Colts to see a statistical drop-off playing with Flacco. In the first three weeks of the season, Pierce put up 225 yards and two touchdowns, albeit on just nine total catches. I’d probably stay away from the third-year receiver, but there’s no denying he has decent chemistry with Richardson. If you’re a significant underdog in fantasy matchups this week, you could do far worse than this human dart throw.
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
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