Indianapolis Colts

With no clear replacement for Zack Moss after he left in free agency this offseason, the likeliest option to ascend to the No. 2 running back spot behind starter Jonathan Taylor appears to be Indianapolis Colts RB Trey Sermon. His hard running style has earned him the first crack at the job during offseason workouts. Sermon is on his third team in four seasons in the NFL, but this is the closest he's come to establishing some consistency in his career. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry in 2023. Things are looking up for Sermon with training camp on the horizon, but fellow backups Evan Hull and Tyler Goodson will also be factors in the competition this summer and in the preseason. The 25-year-old Sermon had 35 carries for 160 yards last year in Indy and would be a popular waiver-wire pickup in fantasy leagues if Taylor misses more time with an injury in 2024.

Indianapolis Colts rookie wide receiver Adonai Mitchell was the team's standout player during the spring and made at least one noteworthy catch during every practice that was open to the media. The 21-year-old refuses to believe that 10 fellow wideouts -- the number drafted ahead of him -- were better than him in this year's NFL draft. "He gets open a lot," second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson said. If Mitchell can get on the same page with Richardson early this year, it could easily help the Colts end their three-year playoff drought. Mitchell's physical skills are off the charts, but he was never even the most productive receiver in college at both Georgia and Texas. There's a lot to like about him in the long-term, but Mitchell will mostly be a dynasty/keeper league asset as he competes for targets in his first year with Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (shoulder) was held out completely from Thursday's organized team activities due to what he described as "a little soreness" in his surgically repaired right shoulder. "It's nothing to worry about," Richardson said. "I've dealt with this before. Normally, I just ice up and just go back at it again." The Colts aren't going to push the second-year signal-caller after he had season-ending AC joint surgery back in October, and Richardson dismissed any notion that he suffered a setback in his rehab. He said the Colts were actually "surprised" that Thursday was the first day he sat out due to soreness because it's been "smooth sailing" otherwise. Despite having played in only four games in the NFL, Richardson has enticing high-end QB1 upside in fantasy. Richardson should be a full-go in training camp this summer.

The Indianapolis Colts signed 2024 second-round pick Adonai Mitchell to his rookie contract on Thursday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 21-year-old spent the first two years of his collegiate career at Georgia before transferring to Texas ahead of the 2023 season. While playing in an offense with Xavier Worthy, Ja'Tavion Sanders, and Jonathon Brooks, he racked up 55 receptions for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was rumored to be a potential first-round pick, but he ultimately fell to the No. 52 slot. In all likelihood, he'll be stuck behind Michael Pittman Jr. in the target pecking order, so he'll have to compete with Josh Downs for the WR2 role. The Colts are likely to have a low-volume passing offense in the first full year of Anthony Richardson at quarterback, so he has limited upside in traditional lineup fantasy leagues in Year 1.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (foot) didn't take part in mandatory minicamp this week as a precaution after his foot was stepped on in practice last week. It's a minor injury for Pierce, who should be a full-go for training camp at the end of July. The 24-year-old wideout will be competing for the No. 3 job in Indy this year with rookie second-rounder Adonai Mitchell behind starters Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs. The former second-rounder in 2022 out of Cincinnati hasn't really been on the fantasy radar in standard 12-team leagues in his first two years in the NFL, catching a total of 73 passes for 1,107 yards and four touchdowns, although a healthy Anthony Richardson at quarterback could change that if Pierce beats out Mitchell for the No. 3 job in training camp and the preseason.