Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson and the vast majority of the team's starters will see action in the preseason opener this Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium against the visiting Denver Broncos, according to head coach Shane Steichen. "The starters will play a series or two and then we'll get the young guys in there," Steichen said after Friday's practice. It will be Richardson's first time playing in an NFL game since suffering a season-ending right-shoulder injury in Week 5 of last year. He then had surgery on Oct. 24 to fix a sprained AC joint. The 22-year-old former first-rounder has little experience in the league and is more of an injury risk than most QBs because of his propensity to run with the ball, but his dual-threat upside is elite and will make him a popular QB1 target in fantasy drafts once the top-tier names come off the board.

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen commented on the competition between rookie wide receivers Alec Pierce and Adonai Mitchell, noting, "They're still battling. Both of those guys are making plays every day. I think both of them will have an impact for us this year, so I really like where they're both at." This competition becomes even more crucial, with Josh Downs (ankle) expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks, opening up additional opportunities for Pierce and Mitchell. Both will start in three-receiver sets alongside Michael Pittman, but one could secure a more significant role in two-receiver formations. Alec Pierce, who led the NFL in snaps last season with 1,090, is known for his durability and consistent play. Adonai Mitchell, a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, brings significant potential to the table. While Mitchell's upside is notable, Pierce's experience and reliability make him the likely frontrunner for the starting role despite the tight competition.

Updating an earlier report, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (ankle) suffered a high-ankle sprain during training camp practice on Wednesday, according to sources after an MRI exam. Downs' recovery time was estimated at four to six weeks, which puts him right up against the start of the 2024 regular season in early September. It's tough news for the Colts, especially since Downs was impressing in camp and was a potential breakout candidate in his second year in the NFL. The bottom line is that the 22-year-old's availability for Week 1 is very much in question, and it could take him some time to get back up to speed as a reliable fantasy wideout. With Downs now out for the foreseeable future, rookie Adonai Mitchell and Alec Pierce will step into starting roles in three-receiver sets alongside Michael Pittman. Downs' injury makes Mitchell a more attractive late-round flier.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (ankle) suffered a high-ankle sprain during training camp practice on Wednesday, according to a source. The outlook right now is that Downs could miss about a month, but the Colts are sorting it all out. It's a tough break for Downs, who had been a popular breakout candidate in fantasy leading up to Wednesday's injury after catching 68 of his 98 targets for 771 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games (nine starts) in his first NFL season in 2023. We don't know for sure how much time the 22-year-old might miss to open the 2024 regular season, but this news surely puts a dent into his draft stock. With Downs now sidelined, both Alec Pierce and rookie Adonai Mitchell will have more opportunities to make noise in Indy's passing game. While Pierce has looked more consistent in camp, Mitchell is a higher-ceiling, big-play option for fantasy managers.

On their first unofficial depth chart released in the preseason, the Indianapolis Colts listed rookie wide receiver Adonai Mitchell and Alec Pierce as co-starters at the No. 3 wideout position behind Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs. It doesn't come as much of a surprise after Mitchell and Pierce have been rotating reps with the first-team offense so far in training camp. Pierce has been more consistent, although the 21-year-old Mitchell has had his share of impressive moments. Preseason action should help settle the battle before the start of the 2024 regular season. Even if Pierce opens the year as the WR3 for Indy, Mitchell's impressive physical attributes should make him a candidate to overtake Pierce by season's end if he can stay healthy. Mitchell is the higher-ceiling, late-round sleeper to target in deeper fantasy leagues this fall.