Josh Downs To Get Plenty Of Looks As WR2 In Week 10
5
months
agoIndianapolis
Colts
wide
receiver
Josh
Downs
has
been
one
of
the
lone
bright
spots
on
offense
regardless
of
who
has
been
under
center
for
Indy,
accruing
nine
or
more
targets
in
five
of
the
seven
games
he's
played
and
nabbing
six
or
moreread more...
Joe Flacco A Low-End QB2 In Week 10
5 months agoIndianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco started in place of the struggling Anthony Richardson in Week 9 versus the Vikings, but the veteran QB was unable to get the offense going, completing 16 of 27 passes for 179 yards, no touchdowns, one interception, and a fumble. Finding success in Week 10 could be just as much of an uphill battle, as the Colts take on a tough Buffalo pass defense and Flacco will be down one of his weapons with Michael Pittman Jr. set to miss the game. While Buffalo has been tough on quarterbacks, allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing signal-callers, their rush defense has been gashed for the second-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. With former Pro Bowl running back Jonathan Taylor in tow, it's all the more reason to lean on the run game. That leaves Flacco as a low-end QB2 in Week 10.Source: ESPN
Michael Pittman Jr. Ruled Out Against Bills
5 months agoIndianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) has officially been ruled out for the Week 10 contest on Sunday versus the visiting Buffalo Bills after missing practice all week, according to head coach Shane Steichen. Pittman has been battling a back injury in recent weeks but hasn't missed any game action until now. He will now look to rest up so that he can hopefully return for a Week 11 clash on the road against the New York Jets. With Pittman now out this weekend, it essentially makes receiver Josh Downs a must-start as quarterback Joe Flacco's likely go-to passing target in a game in which the Colts will likely have to throw often to keep up on the scoreboard. In addition to Downs seeing more targets, the flex-play appeal of both Alec Pierce and rookie Adonai Mitchell goes up for those in deeper leagues.Source: ESPN.com - Stephen Holder
Michael Pittman Jr. Sidelined On Thursday
5 months agoIndianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) is not practicing on Thursday after logging a "DNP" on Wednesday. The 2020 second-round pick has missed several Wednesday practices before returning on Thursday this year, but his absence two days in a row could suggest he's at real risk of missing Week 10. Fantasy managers should monitor his status on Friday, but he's become an unattractive fantasy option in 2024. The USC alum has scored double-digit half-PPR fantasy points in just three of his nine games this year and totaled just 4.0 fantasy points over the last two weeks. If he plays, it will be against the Buffalo Bills, who have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to wideouts.Source: James Boyd -- The Athletic
Michael Pittman Jr. Sidelined On Wednesday
5 months agoIndianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) was not seen at Wednesday's practice, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. The USC product has been dealing with a lingering back injury throughout the past month but has yet to miss any games due to it. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status throughout the week, but given his track record, he should be expected to return to practice later in the week. Pittman had another disappointing showing last weekend, as he brought in just one of his four targets for just 14 yards. Since Week 7, Pittman has not eclipsed double-digit PPR points in a single game and has caught just one pass in two of those weeks. If the 27-year-old suits up this weekend, he should be viewed as a risky WR3 facing a tough Buffalo secondary that has allowed the sixth-fewest PPR points to opposing wideouts.Source: James Boyd
Joe Flacco Named Week 10 Starter
6 months agoIndianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco will remain under center for at least one more week. There was some speculation that the Colts would turn back to Anthony Richardson after Flacco's struggles in Week 9. However, head coach Shane Steichen confirmed that Flacco will remain the starter. The veteran signal-caller completed 16-of-27 passing attempts for 179 yards and an interception in the loss to the Minnesota Vikings. It's not exactly going to get easier for Flacco against the Buffalo Bills next week. Outside of one strong performance, Flacco has been quiet under center. He'll be low-end QB2 for this Week 10 matchup against the Bills.Source: Mike Chappell
Matt Gay Hits Two Field Goals In Week 9 Loss
6 months agoIndianapolis Colts kicker Matt Gay hit two of three field goals in Sunday's 21-13 loss to the Vikings, accounting for all six of the offensive points that his team was able to muster in the contest. The 30-year-old's two makes were from 42 and 54 yards out, while the one miss was a 53-yarder. He also made the PAT on the defensive TD scored by Indy. The Colts could struggle to move the ball again in Week 10 versus the Bills, so there may be better fantasy options for managers to choose from, but at least the game will be played indoors at Lucas Oil Stadium next Sunday.Source: ESPN
Michael Pittman Jr. Held To One Catch For Second Straight Week
6 months agoIndianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. caught one of four targets for 14 scoreless yards in Sunday night's 21-13 loss to the Vikings. So much for Joe Flacco boosting the fantasy value of the receiving group. After catching no less than three passes in any of the season's first seven games, Pittman now has back-to-back weeks with just a single catch. Perhaps he and Joe Flacco can get back on the same page in Week 10, with the two previously hooking up for 185 yards and two touchdowns in the three prior games they played together earlier this season. It won't be easy though, as the Bills are on tap next Sunday, a defense that has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers so far in 2024. Until he displays some chemistry with Flacco again, Pittman will be hard to trust as anything more than a WR3/4.Source: ESPN
Josh Downs Leads Colts Receivers In Week 9 Loss
6 months agoIndianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs led the receiving corps in targets, receptions, and yards in Sunday night's 21-13 loss to the Vikings, hauling in six of nine balls thrown his way for 60 yards. No other receiver on the team caught more than three passes. Unfortunately, Downs and the rest of the offense were unable to find the end zone, with the lone TD for the Colts coming on the defensive side of the ball. The good news is that the 23-year-old has garnered at least nine targets in five of the seven games he's played this season, making him the most reliable fantasy asset out of all the pass catchers on the team. The bad news is that the Bills are his Week 10 opponent, and they've allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to WRs thus far. The UNC product is likely a WR3 in that matchup, perhaps borderline WR2 in PPR leagues.Source: ESPN
Jonathan Taylor Stifled By Minnesota Defense In Week 9
6 months agoIndianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor was held to just 48 yards on 13 carries in Sunday night's 21-13 loss to the Vikings while adding three receptions on five targets for a paltry 11 yards. It was projected to be a tough assignment coming into the contest and the Vikings' rush defense lived up to its billing, although the Indy offense as a whole never really got anything going, as it accounted for just six of the total points (two FG) with the lone touchdown coming on a defensive scoop-and-score. On the bright side, Taylor draws a Bills rush defense in Week 10 that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to the running back position, with De'Von Achane gaining 121 total yards and two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) against them in Week 9. The 25-year-old is probably a mid-range RB1 in that matchup.Source: ESPN
Joe Flacco Ineffective As Starter In Week 9 Loss
6 months agoIndianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco was unable to lead his team to victory after being named the team's starter, completing 16 of 27 passes for 179 yards with no touchdowns and an interception in Sunday night's 21-13 loss to the Vikings. The 39-year-old was also charged with a fumble in the game after a handoff to running back Jonathan Taylor was not handled cleanly. It was a disappointing performance against a defense that hadn't been great against the pass thus far (seventh-most fantasy points allowed to QBs coming into the week), although it does lead the league in interceptions (14). The Colts have a home date with the Bills in Week 10 who have been stingier, allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points to QBs, so things may not get much better. The veteran figures to be a low-end QB2 again next Sunday.Source: ESPN
Teams Inquiring On Anthony Richardson
6 months agoAlthough a trade is considered unlikely, NFL teams have inquired with the Indianapolis Colts about the possibility of trading quarterback Anthony Richardson, who was benched in favor of veteran Joe Flacco for Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings. FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz says that several teams that he spoke to still view Richardson as a franchise-caliber QB and think that the Colts pulling the plug on him after 10 regular-season starts is "premature." Richardson's fantasy stock has taken a major hit, as he's now rostered in only 49% of Yahoo leagues after his benching, but the Colts could go back to the young signal-caller if Flacco struggles at all. Head coach Shane Steichen said himself that the Colts are "not giving up on Richardson by any means." Still, the 22-year-old's struggles as a passer have been glaring, and he's also proven to be quite injury-prone early in his NFL career.Source: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
Alec Pierce A Boom/Bust Week 9 Play
6 months agoIndianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce will get a tough draw on Sunday Night Football when his team squares off against the Minnesota Vikings. Pierce has been the epitome of a boom/bust wideout this season, with three outings of at least 16 fantasy points and five others in the single digits, including a goose egg in Week 6 against the Tennessee Titans on 89% of snaps. With veteran quarterback Joe Flacco now in command of the offense, the outlook of all Colts pass-catchers is on the rise. Additionally, Minnesota has been one of the most stout units in the league this season against opposing rushing attacks, allowing just 3.9 yards per attempt. If they can be beaten anywhere, it's through the air. Still, the 24-year-old is little more than a desperation dart throw for the contest. Pierce is RotoBaller's PPR WR63 for Week 9's slate of action.Source: ESPN
Mo Alie-Cox Gets Upgrade At Quarterback In Week 9
6
months
agoIndianapolis
Colts
tight
end
Mo
Alie-Cox
gets
an
upgrade
at
quarterback
in
Week
9
with
Joe
Flacco
under
center,
with
eight
of
Cox's
13
total
targets
coming
during
Flacco's
playing
time
earlier
this
season
while
read more...
Matt Gay Not A Preferred Option At Kicker In Week 9
6 months agoIndianapolis Colts kicker Matt Gay has missed just two field goals all season (12-for-14), both of which came from more than 50 yards out, but in Week 9 the 30-year-old takes on a Vikings defense that has allowed the fewest points in all of football to opposing kickers. There are a couple of things working in his favor this week, though, as quarterback Joe Flacco gives the Colts offense an upgrade, which should help get the ball up and down the field against a weak Vikings pass defense. In turn, that should help set up a couple more opportunities for the six-year pro inside U.S. Bank Stadium while being shielded from the elements. Still, with the Colts as five-point underdogs in a game with just a 46.5 over/under, there may be better options out there.Source: ESPN