Team Profile
Indianapolis Colts
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-5.1% 19thOff DVOA
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3.3% 22ndPassing DVOA
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-2.2% 11thRushing DVOA
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0.9% 15thDef DVOA
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11.8% 22ndDef Passing DVOA
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-10.9% 14thDef Rushing DVOA
2024 Team Stats
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Points For22.2 17th
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Points Against25.1 24th
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Yards Per Game335.0 13th
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Yards Allowed Per Game361.0 29th
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) was listed as a full practice participant for the first walkthrough session of the week on Wednesday. It's a bit surprising that Pittman was a full-go on Wednesday after missing the Week 10 loss to the Buffalo Bills with a back injury that he's been dealing with for a while now. As long as the 27-year-old doesn't suffer any setbacks with his back injury later this week, he appears to be primed to play in Week 11 against the Detroit Lions on the road. However, he'll still be a pretty shaky fantasy option with second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson returning to the starting role under center this weekend. Pittman is averaging just 7.1 half-PPR points per game in 2024 and has gone over 100 receiving yards in a game just once (back in Week 4). The emergence of Josh Downs as a more consistent receiving threat for the Colts hasn't helped Pittman's cause.
The Indianapolis Colts are going back to quarterback Anthony Richardson as their starter over Joe Flacco for the Week 11 game this Sunday on the road against the New York Jets. Flacco took over for a struggling Richardson in Week 9 and has led the Colts to two straight losses, so Indy will go back to the fourth overall pick out of Florida from last year. The 22-year-old possesses elite rushing ability with his legs, but he's proven very injury-prone early in his career and has had even bigger issues with his accuracy as a passer. Based on his rushing ability alone, Richardson will have QB1 upside for fantasy managers in his return to the starting role this weekend, although the Jets defense isn't the greatest matchup. If you're in need of QB help in Week 11 and Richardson is available, consider scooping him up. Head coach Shane Steichen said Richardson will be the starter for the rest of the season.
Indianapolis Colts backup running back Tyler Goodson did not receive a single carry in Sunday's 30-20 loss to the Bills, but found the end zone through the air on one of his two catches for a total of nine yards. It certainly perturbed Jonathan Taylor managers, as Taylor was one of the lone bright spots on offense for most of the day for the Colts, but alas, it was Goodson who found paydirt. Nevertheless, without an injury to Jonathan Taylor, the 23-year-old is not usable in most fantasy formats, especially not in Week 11 against a strong Jets run defense. The second-year pro did a decent job filling in for Taylor in Week 7 with 14 rushes for 51 yards and a score, so he could be considered a low-end handcuff.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell capitalized on the absence of Michael Pittman Jr. in Week 10, snaring all six of his targets for 71 yards in Sunday's 30-20 loss to the Bills. The six catches and the yardage total were both easily season-highs for the rookie wideout who had two catches or less in eight of nine games coming into Sunday. The Colts selected him in the second round of this year's draft and after this performance, another solid week could be in the cards for the 22-year-old should Pittman miss another week. It could be tough to replicate though in Week 11 as the Colts face the Jets in the Meadowlands next Sunday, a pass defense that has been superb at limiting production to pass catchers. The product out of the University of Texas should be on the WR4/5 map if Pittman misses another week.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce caught two garbage-time passes on the Colts' final drive, including a 10-yard touchdown reception, giving him four catches for 81 yards and a score in Sunday's 30-20 loss to the Bills. In Michael Pittman Jr.'s (back) absence, Pierce tied a season-high in targets with seven, and the TD was his fourth of the season -- although just his first since Week 5. As of now, Pittman is considered week-to-week, so keep an eye on his status, as that could again mean a few extra targets for Pierce in Week 11 should Pittman miss another game. Regardless, Pierce is always a threat to score on a deep ball given his speed, but in Week 11, the 24-year-old will have to do it against a strong Jets pass defense, putting him in the WR4/5 range again.