Michael Pittman Jr. DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is coming off of a quiet showing in Week 16, catching just two of three targets for 19 yards, however, outside of teammate Josh Downs, all Colts pass catchers suffered in last week's matchup as Anthony Richardson completed just seven passes on the day with Jonathan Taylor doing all of the heavy lifting for the offense. Prior to that game, Pittman Jr. had no less than seven targets or five receptions in four consecutive contests heading into Week 16. This Sunday, the Colts are eight-point favorites against the Giants who have been tough against wide receivers, allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to WRs on the season, but have been bottom third in the league in yielding production to RBs, so look for the offense to run through Taylor again. There is also uncertainty as to who will be under center for the Colts as Anthony Richardson (back, foot) missed practice all week, so it could be veteran Joe Flacco in his stead. With Flacco at QB earlier this season, the numbers indicate Downs was the 39-year-old's preferred target. As such, regardless of who is throwing the ball, Pittman Jr. projects as a risky Flex play this week with fantasy championships on the line.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. caught 2-of-3 targets for 19 yards and no touchdowns in a 38-30 win over the Titans on Sunday. With Jonathan Taylor running wild on the Tennessee defense, quarterback Anthony Richardson wasn't tasked with airing it out much in this one, completing only seven passes in the game. Josh Downs returned to being the "preferred" receiving option in this one, logging three catches on four targets, but both receivers probably have a similar chance to lead the receiving corps next week. In Week 17, the Colts will take on the Giants, a defense that has been good at limiting fantasy production to receivers but one of the worst against running backs, so look for Taylor and Richardson to carry the load again next Sunday. That likely leaves Pittman Jr. as a dicey WR3/4 option with fantasy championships on the line.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was a full participant in practice on Friday. The 27-year-old did not practice on Wednesday, but was back to a full participant the following two sessions to close out the week. The 6-foot-4 wideout has dealt with back issues seemingly all season long, but it has cost him just one week of playing time. The former second-round draft pick has been Anthony Richardson's preferred target in the passing game over the last four weeks since being reinstated as the starting QB, averaging over five catches per contest, albeit for just 60 yards per game. The fifth-year pro hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 6, which happened to be against his Week 16 opponent, the Tennessee Titans. Although he found paydirt in that first meeting, he did so on just three catches for 35 yards. With the Titans allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers and with Richardson completing less than 50% of his passes on the season, expectations for Sunday's divisional showdown should be tempered. While the Colts are 3.5-point favorites in this one, there is a low expected total of 42.5 and Pittman Jr. projects as a WR4 this week, so hopefully fantasy managers have other options.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) was upgraded to a full participant during Thursday's practice. This is a great sign for the wideout as he was a non-participant on Wednesday. Pittman has battled a lingering back injury throughout the season and has only missed one game due to it back in Week 10. Since Week 11, Pittman has averaged 5.5 receptions per game while tallying 60.5 yards per contest. This is a nice improvement compared to the 40.5 yards he averaged per game during the first nine contests of the season. Fantasy managers should monitor his stats on Friday in case he faces a setback, but he is currently on track to be a full-go on Sunday. This weekend, he will face the Tennessee Titans, who have allowed the fifth-fewest PPR points to opposing wide receivers this season.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) is practicing on Thursday after resting his back on Wednesday. Pittman has been managing a back injury of late, but he managed to play 96 percent of the offensive snaps in the Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos and caught six of his nine targets for 58 yards while losing a crucial fumble in the second half. The 27-year-old has at least five receptions and seven targets in each of the last four games, but he hasn't found the end zone since Oct. 13 and only has one 100-yard game in 2024. Pittman's fantasy stock has taken a hit this year in Indy's low-volume passing attack and with young quarterback Anthony Richardson struggling with accuracy and consistency. The good news is that one of Pittman's two TDs on the year came against the division-rival Titans in their first meeting, although they also allow the third-fewest PPR points to receivers.