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Should I Drop Michael Pittman Jr. for Fantasy Football?
Part of Pittman’s underwhelming season can be attributed to a series of injuries that have hampered his ability to stay on the field. He’s been dealing with a back injury and a finger injury, and his status for Week 11 remains uncertain as he works through both ailments.
These physical setbacks have taken a toll on his production and availability, and without a clean bill of health, it’s tough to trust Pittman in lineups, even if he does manage to suit up.
#Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. said that Anthony Richardson definitely grew the last 2 weeks, got to the facility early, and put in extra work. Pittman Jr. added that it was a good wake up call for Richardson and he responded pic.twitter.com/d4CTpI8l76
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— WISH-TV News (@WISHNews8) November 13, 2024
The Colts' offense has also been plagued by inconsistency at quarterback, with head coach Shane Steichen shuffling between veteran Joe Flacco and sophomore Anthony Richardson. While Flacco brings experience, he’s past his prime, and Richardson, while brimming with potential, is still a raw project who’s struggling to complete even 50% of his passes.
This back-and-forth at quarterback has stalled the offense and kept Pittman from developing any rhythm in the passing game. Richardson’s inaccuracy and Flacco’s limited mobility have both hindered Pittman’s fantasy ceiling, and without a stable presence at QB, Pittman’s value remains capped.
Who Should I Pickup in Week 11 Fantasy Football?
Adding to Pittman’s woes is the emergence of fellow Colts wideouts Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, and rookie Adonai Mitchell. These younger receivers have stepped up, proving that the talent gap between them and Pittman isn’t as wide as many assumed.
With more mouths to feed and a rotating QB situation, Pittman is no longer the clear-cut No. 1 option. Downs, Pierce, and Mitchell have each carved out roles in the offense, which only complicates Pittman’s outlook and makes his path to fantasy relevance even murkier.
First-Read Target Shares vs. Average Separation Score
[Through Week 10]- Very exciting to see Adonai Mitchell succeed in the Michael Pittman role
- No player is being brute-forced more volume than Davante Adams right now, but he's topped 10.0 fantasy points just once with NYJ pic.twitter.com/baWdD2lOhb
— Fantasy Points Data (@FantasyPtsData) November 12, 2024
Even if Pittman can return from his injuries, he’s going to be a risky play moving forward. Richardson’s struggles with accuracy make it hard to count on consistent targets, and the emergence of other receiving options means Pittman isn’t the focal point he once was.
For fantasy managers, he’s a hold if you have the bench space, but don’t expect WR2 production the rest of the way. Pittman’s value has taken a significant hit this season, and with the Colts’ offense in flux, he’s best viewed as a depth piece rather than a reliable weekly starter.
If your league has an injured reserve, feel free to place him there. Otherwise, scooping up Mitchell going forward might be the better play ROS.
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