Indianapolis Colts DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

After missing three weeks due to injury, Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) looked like his old self on Sunday, rushing 20 times for 105 yards (5.3 YPC) and a score while adding one catch for 12 yards in the 23-20 loss to the Texans. Neither Tyler Goodson nor Trey Sermon received a single carry in the contest as Taylor monopolized the rushing duties. The 25-year-old now has five touchdowns in five games played and has gone over 100 total yards rushing and receiving in four straight games he's participated in. The former second-round draft pick will probably be an RB1 again in Week 9, although Minnesota has limited backs to just three rushing touchdowns (two through the air as well) thus far.

It was another rough afternoon for Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, completing just 10 of 32 passes for 175 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. The 22-year-old also fumbled twice, losing one of them, and was sacked five times, while 69 of his total passing yards came on a single play to Josh Downs. If not for that one play and Richardson gaining 45 yards on the ground, it would have been an even more forgettable performance. The former first-round draft pick also left the game briefly, which seemed concerning at the time, but after the game he said he just "needed a break." Now with a 44.4% completion rate on the year with a 4:7 TD:INT, it is hard to imagine things will get better in Week 9 on the road versus a Vikings defense that is top three in the league in interceptions and sacks.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce has had some big plays this season, however, they've come on few catches. The 24-year-old owns a superb 25.5 yards per reception average thus far but has just 15 total catches in seven games. One of those catches was a 60-yard touchdown back in Week 1 versus the Texans, which is his opponent in Week 8. It was Anthony Richardson who threw him that ball and it will be Richardson under center again this week, while Houston has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. Whether or not that translates to fantasy points for Pierce again seems like more of a roll of the dice with the second-year QB's poor completion rate (48.5%), so view the former second-round draft pick as a boom/bust candidate in the rematch versus the Texans as a WR5.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson completed less than 50% of his passes again in his return to the starting role last week, completing 10 of 24 passes for a miserly 129 yards and no touchdowns. On the bright side, he did not throw an interception and contributed 56 yards on the ground on 14 carries, but he did not find the end zone there either. In the four full games Richardson has played, the 22-year-old has a 47.4% completion rate and is averaging a meager 178 yards passing per game along with a 3:6 TD:INT. Despite these uninspiring numbers, the second-year pro will face the Texans in Week 8, a team allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks so far this season and one who Richardson tallied three touchdowns (two pass, one rush) against back in Week 1. Still, the former first-round draft pick is a low-end QB2 this week and there are probably higher-floor streaming options for those in need.

After missing practice Wednesday, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (toe) practiced in full Thursday and Friday, carrying no injury designation heading into the weekend. Still, with Anthony Richardson at quarterback, the team's pass catchers have limited upside as Richardson has a 47.4% completion rate and is averaging a meager 178 yards passing per game in the four full games he's played. In the two games Downs has played with Richardson under center, the 23-year-old has just four catches on eight targets, totaling a paltry 25 yards receiving. Regardless of QB, Downs is reliant on his yards after catch (YAC) ability, as the third-round pick has a low 5.24 aDOT, gaining 109 YAC (45.0% of 242 total). In Week 8, the Colts face the Texans who have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, but Indy already took them on in Week 1 with Richardson completing just nine of 19 passes in the contest. Thus, Downs figures to be a WR5 this week or low-end Flex play.