The NFL offseason is off to a fast start this Monday with several key contributors finding new teams right away during the negotiating period. The Colts re-signed Alec Pierce in one of the first moves of the day, and in an accompanying move, they traded Michael Pittman Jr. to the Steelers. Pittsburgh will give Pittman a new, three-year deal.
Pittman is a big addition to the Pittsburgh offense, but what does his arrival mean to his fantasy value for 2026? Let’s take a look at what the deal means for Pittman and for the team he leaves behind in Indianapolis.
Michael Pittman Jr. Fantasy Football Outlook with Steelers:
In his six years with the Colts, Pittman flashed some solid upside, although he struggled with inconsistency, partially due to shaky quarterback play. His best season was in 2023, when he hauled in 109 catches for 1,152 yards and four touchdowns.
Last year, he got off to a strong start while working with Daniel Jones, averaging 5.4 catches and 58 receiving yards per game through the first 10 weeks of the season with six touchdowns. He tailed off after Jones’ injury, though, as the Colts struggled to keep up their offense with Philip Rivers and Riley Leonard at QB. Pittman finished with a career-high seven touchdowns and caught 80 passes for 784 yards.
He’ll set up as the Steelers’ second WR behind DK Metcalf, and if Aaron Rodgers returns, he could be in a more productive passing offense overall. If Rodgers doesn’t return, Pittman’s value would take a hit, but assuming he’s working with Rodgers, this could actually be a slight upgrade in stability, raising his floor.
Pittman has a very high ceiling and has flashed WR1 upside, but if Metcalf is healthy, Pittman is likely a WR3 in most standard-sized leagues or a high-end depth option as a WR4. He has shown great hands in the end zone over the last few years, and Rodgers did tend to throw many short touchdowns last season.
He’ll likely be touchdown dependent, but a solid depth addition once you have your starting receivers locked in.
Colts WR Outlook without Pittman:
At the NFL Combine just a few weeks ago, Colts GM Chris Ballard said “any suggestion that” Michael Pittman isn’t going to remain a Colt is “a pure hypothetical in my mind.” While he denied that it was either Pierce or Pittman, that is the way the scenario ended up playing out, and the team opted to go with the younger, more explosive Pierce.
After his big, four-year deal, Pierce is clearly the top receiver in Indy. He will be a great option right away if Daniel Jones is healthy for the start of the season, and could be a WR2 with WR1 upside if he gets the majority of the targets in Indy.
Pittman’s departure could also open up a big window for Josh Downs to step up. He was crowded out a little bit last season after Pierce’s breakout and Tyler Warren’s emergence as a top tight end target. If the Colts don’t make another big addition at the position, he’ll be worth a late-round draft pick in standard leagues as the Colts second receiver.
