Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts posted a video of quarterback Anthony Richardson (shoulder) throwing at offseason spring practices, and he appears to be fully healthy after needing season-ending shoulder surgery in his rookie season in 2023. The 21-year-old is expected to be ready to take part in organized team activities in May and June, although the Colts could choose to ease him in. The former fourth overall pick last year out of Florida played in just four games in 2023 due to a head injury and his shoulder ailment, but he flashed high-end QB1 upside in that small sample size by throwing for 577 yards, three touchdowns and an interception while also picking up 136 rushing yards and four touchdowns. There's obvious injury risk involved because of his propensity to take off and run, but fantasy managers can't deny the upside.

Since the Indianapolis Colts didn't address the departure of Zack Moss by taking a running back in this year's NFL draft, the team seems content with Trey Sermon, Evan Hull and Tyler Goodson fighting it out for the backup running back job behind starter Jonathan Taylor in training camp this summer. Of course, the Colts could also add a free agent at the position like Kareem Hunt, but as of right now, Sermon could be poised to be the team's No. 2. Seventeen of Sermon's 35 carries for the Colts last year came in Week 15. In total, the former third-rounder of the San Francisco 49ers in 2021 out of Ohio State had 160 rushing yards and no touchdowns while adding three catches for 13 yards. If Taylor misses time due to an injury again in 2024, the Colts will likely use a committee approach in the backfield.

After the addition of rookie wide receiver Adonai Mitchell in the second round of this year's NFL draft, Indianapolis Colts wideout Alec Pierce will compete with Mitchell on the outside for the No. 3 role this season. Michael Pittman Jr, who signed a three-year, $70 million contract extension this offseason, will continue to see the lion's share of the targets, with Josh Downs manning the slot as the No. 2 option. The 23-year-old Pierce only had 32 catches for 514 yards and two touchdowns last year and will now be battling a much more dynamic pass-catcher for a role in the Colts' offense in 2024. Not only is Mitchell a superior athlete, but his production (55 catches for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2023) speaks for itself.

The Indianapolis Colts selected Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell with the No. 52 overall pick of the second round in the 2024 NFL draft. Mitchell was rumored to be taken as high as the middle of Round 1, but he ultimately fell a bit and landed with quarterback Anthony Richarson. Mitchell spent two seasons at Georgia before transferring to the Longhorns, where he racked up 55 receptions for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns while playing alongside Xavier Worthy and J'Tavion Sanders. With Michael Pittman Jr. in town, Mitchell might be capped in the WR2 role, but the development of Richardson will dictate how much upside he may have.

The New England Patriots quietly brought in free-agent tight ends Brycen Hopkins, Sean McKeon and Mitchell Wilcox in for workouts late last week, which could reflect on their desire to add another layer to the tight end depth chart of Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper and La'Michael Pettway. Hopkins has only 13 receptions on 19 targets for 196 yards and no touchdowns in his four NFL seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. McKeon ended the 2023 season on Injured Reserve due to an ankle injury and has only six catches on 11 targets for 38 yards and one touchdown in his four NFL seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. Wilcox has 29 catches on 35 targets for 211 yards and one touchdowns in his three years with the Cincinnati Bengals.