3 weeks 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.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
3 weeks 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.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
3
weeks
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...
3 weeks 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.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoIndianapolis Colts wide receiver
Josh Downs (toe) logged his second consecutive full practice on Friday. He has been removed from the final injury report and will play in Week 9. The 23-year-old has posted mixed results this season, benefitting greatly from
Joe Flacco while struggling to form a rapport with
Anthony Richardson. Fortunately for Downs, Richardson was benched for Flacco earlier this week. Downs has 24 catches, 217 yards, and two touchdowns through parts of three games with the veteran quarterback in 2024, and he should continue to rank as a mid-to-low fantasy WR2 for Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Indianapolis Colts
3 weeks agoIndianapolis Colts wide receiver
Michael Pittman Jr. (back) has been removed from the final injury report despite being limited in practice on Friday. The 27-year-old has posted mixed results this season, benefitting greatly from
Joe Flacco while struggling to form a rapport with
Anthony Richardson. Fortunately for Pittman, Richardson was benched for Flacco earlier this week. Pittman has 185 yards and two touchdowns through parts of three games with the veteran quarterback in 2024, and he should continue to rank as a mid-to-low fantasy WR2 for Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Indianapolis Colts
3 weeks agoThe Indianapolis Colts will start
Joe Flacco under center in Week 9 versus the Vikings. The 39-year-old played nearly three full games for the Colts in Weeks 4 through 6, tossing at least two touchdown passes in each of the games, totaling 716 yards with a 7:1 TD:INT. While the Vikings are tough against the run, they can be beaten through the air, allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to QBs on the season, with the last four signal-callers who faced them faring even better, averaging 298 yards passing and three TDs. In a game with a 46.5 over/under and the Colts as five-point underdogs though, it doesn't foretell of a high-scoring game for the Colts, so while Flacco is a massive upgrade over
Anthony Richardson, he still looks like a low-end QB2 for fantasy this week with some slight upside.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoIndianapolis Colts running back
Jonathan Taylor returned in Week 8 after a three-game absence, going over 100 yards rushing with a touchdown, and does not have an injury designation heading into Week 9. Unfortunately for Taylor, it will be hard to keep the momentum going against a stout Minnesota rush defense. The Vikings have held running backs to 83.9 rush yards per game and 3.9 yards per rush attempt, both third-best in the NFL. However, seven different backs have recorded three or more receptions against the Vikings through seven games and Taylor is a capable receiver. In the only game in which he and
Joe Flacco played together this season, Taylor garnered four looks from the veteran QB, hauling in three of them for 20 yards. Still, with Minnesota allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, the Colts may prefer to attack with their top wideouts, leaving Taylor as a back-end RB1 for Week 9.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoIndianapolis Colts wide receivers
Michael Pittman Jr. (back) and
Josh Downs (toe) both logged a full practice on Thursday according to James Boyd of The Athletic. This is a great sign as both wideouts were non-participants during Wednesday's initial practice session. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor their status during Friday's practice in case they face a setback. Pittman has been dealing with this back injury for a few weeks but has not missed any games. Downs has also been dealing with a lingering injury but has also not missed any time due to it. Both wideouts should be viewed as a solid options this weekend as they will face the Minnesota Vikings who have allowed the most PPR points to opposing wideouts this season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: James Boyd
3
weeks
agoIndianapolis
Colts
wide
receivers
Josh
Downs
(toe)
and
Michael
Pittman
Jr.
(back)
did
not
practice
on
Wednesday.
Both
players
have
been
battling
their
respective
injuries
for
several
weeks
and
have
missed
several
consecutive
Wednesday
practices.
Neither
player
read more...
3 weeks agoIndianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen reported that quarterback
Joe Flacco will be the team's starter moving forward. Indianapolis is going all-in on Flacco, who they believe gives them the "best chance to win right now." Steichen also noted they have not given up on second-year quarterback
Anthony Richardson. Evidently, Indy has finally realized what was immediately apparent when Richardson went down with a hip injury in Week 4 -- the veteran QB is far and away the most competent signal-caller on this squad. The 39-year-old will be a massive boon to all Colts' pass-catchers and should help substantiate the offense overall for the remainder of his tenure as the starter. Among the 225 quarterbacks who have dropped back 250-plus times since the year 2000, Richardson ranks 222nd in completion rate (50%).
--Alex CiullaSource: Mike Chappell
3 weeks agoThe Indianapolis Colts have named veteran quarterback
Joe Flacco the starter for the Week 9 game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football. This move comes after the continuous struggles of second-year quarterback
Anthony Richardson despite the belief that he would take time to develop as a raw prospect out of the 2023 draft class. Through Richardson's first 10 starts, he has compiled a 5-5 record while completing just 50.2% of his passes for 1,535 yards, seven touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Flacco led the Cleveland Browns to the playoffs in 2023 and has the chance to do the same for Indy in 2024. Flacco has appeared in four games this season, throwing for 716 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception. He is now a must-add fantasy option in two-QB and Superflex leagues. His return to the starting lineup should provide a boost for wideouts
Josh Downs and
Michael Pittman Jr.--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
3 weeks agoThe Indianapolis Colts will roll with veteran
Joe Flacco as the starting quarterback on Sunday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings following the early-career struggles of
Anthony Richardson. Richardson has started in just 10 games since being selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, completing 50.2% of his passes for 1,535 yards, seven touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He's racked up 378 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. The Colts are moving him to the bench, but that does not mean his time in Indianapolis is nearing an end. ESPN Colts writer Stephen Holder reporters a team source told him, "We are not quitting on Anthony. That will be the story, but that is not the case." Either way, this is somewhat of a surprising development since most viewed Richardson as a long-term project due to his lack of experience in college and the NFL. Fantasy managers might consider dropping Richardson in redraft leagues, but he remains a hold in dynasty formats.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Stephen Holder
3 weeks agoIndianapolis Colts quarterback
Anthony Richardson has been benched, with
Joe Flacco taking over as the starter. The veteran quarterback will start Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings, his fourth this season. Richardson has struggled this season, completing only 44.4% of his pass attempts in six games. Many wonder if the team is giving up on the former No. 4 overall pick too quickly. However, fantasy players welcome the change at quarterback. Flacco has been significantly better for the Colts' pass catchers, especially
Michael Pittman Jr. and
Josh Downs. Flacco is a must-add off the waiver wire in single-quarterback and superflex leagues. Meanwhile, Pittman and Downs have WR2 upside with the veteran under center. a
--Mike FanelliSource: Tom Pelissero - NFL Network
4 weeks agoPer Arye Pulli of the NFL, Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen would not commit to
Anthony Richardson starting at quarterback in Week 9. "We're evaluating everything," proclaimed Steichen. Yikes. It's a rough turn of events for the second-year starter, but not exactly one that's a surprise. The former Florida Gator has had a tough go in his appearances this season, failing to complete more than ten passes in 4-of-5 contests that he's played the entire game. Alternatively, veteran
Joe Flacco excelled in his three outings, tossing seven touchdowns to just one interception. Fantasy managers must track this developing story ahead of the team's Week 9 road matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. If the team does turn to Flacco, it'd be an instant boost for the outlooks of Indy's pass-catchers. Stay tuned.
--Alex CiullaSource: Arye Pulli
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