Indianapolis Colts DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

The Minnesota Vikings are considering using quarterback Daniel Jones as the primary backup to Sam Darnold in the postseason over Nick Mullens. The Vikings signed Jones to their active 53-man roster this week after he spent six weeks on the practice squad. Mullens appeared in relief of Darnold only four times during the regular season as his backup all year. "The best way I can put it is we're doing everything we can to get Sam ready to go, but at the same time, whether it's Nick or Daniel or Brett, having all those guys absorbing the game plan like always. It's such a fluid thing here the rest of the way. We're going to do whatever we think gives us the best chance to win," head coach Kevin O'Connell said. Darnold had his worst game of the season in Sunday night's loss to the Lions with a 34.5% off-target rate, the second-worst of his career. Jones opened the year with the Giants but was benched after 10 games.

The Minnesota Vikings signed quarterback Daniel Jones from their practice squad to the active 53-man roster on Tuesday and waived quarterback Brett Rypien in a corresponding move. Jones was waived by the Giants in November and latched on quickly with the Vikings' practice squad, but now he'll be on the active roster as QB insurance for the postseason behind starter Sam Darnold and backup Nick Mullens. It will be the first time the 27-year-old Jones is on the team's active roster since joining the organization late in November. Depending on the future of Darnold in Minnesota after this season, Jones could very likely be playing for another team in 2025. Remember, the Vikes also drafted rookie J.J. McCarthy (knee) in the first round in April of 2024. It's unlikely that Jones will be on the fantasy radar in single-QB fantasy draft in the fall.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (back) will be the team's starter in 2025, according to team sources. Head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard will also get at least one more year to improve the team next season, owner Jim Irsay announced on Sunday night. The Colts missed the playoffs in 2024 for the fourth straight season, which is the club's longest playoff drought since a seven-year streak from 1988-94. Going into his third year in the NFL, Richardson's stock is down considerably with more doubt than ever about his ability to be a franchise QB. He missed the Week 18 regular-season finale with a back injury that he said "might be chronic" and has missed 17 games in his first two seasons due to injury. Richardson finished with the league's lowest completion percentage (47.7), and his 61.6 passer rating is the third-worst by a QB with at least 250 pass attempts since 2010.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) admitted that he's been playing through a small fracture in his back. Pittman first noticed it during a joint practice with the Arizona Cardinals in training camp, and a scan showed the extent of the injury. He decided to play through his back injury and had a follow-up scan in Week 3. The 27-year-old will have another scan on Monday to determine if he'll require offseason surgery. Surprisingly, Pittman only missed one game in 2024, although his back injury certainly played a part in what was a down season for his standards. He finished with 69 receptions on 111 targets for 808 yards -- his lowest total since his rookie season in 2020 -- and only three touchdowns in 16 games. Second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson's own injuries and inaccuracy didn't help Pittman's cause in 2024.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs caught 10 of his 13 targets for 94 yards during Sunday's Week 18 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Colts' passing attack has seen a significant boost ever since quarterback Joe Flacco took over for the injured Anthony Richardson (back), but Downs truly took his productivity to the next level during Sunday's season finale. He finishes the 2024 campaign with 72 catches, 803 yards, and five touchdowns. Each of these three marks represented season-highs, topping the totals he delivered as a rookie last year. Downs has firmly established himself as an appealing 1B option with the Colts, pairing nicely alongside their 1A receiver, Michael Pittman Jr. The UNC product will rank as a high-end WR3 when 2025 fantasy football drafts kick off next summer, and he has even greater appeal in dynasty leagues.