Alec Pierce Catches Team-Leading Seventh TD Pass On Sunday
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce did his usual thing on Sunday, catching a deep 40-yard touchdown pass on the team's opening drive and adding another 17-yard catch in the 26-23 win over the Jaguars. Despite only 37 receptions on the season, the 24-year-old finishes as the Colts' receiving leader with 824 yards and seven touchdowns. With blazing speed, he led the league in average depth of target (aDOT) which helped him rack up the yardage. The former second-round draft pick will likely fill a similar role in 2025 but, unless he can garner additional targets, it's hard to envision outpacing this season's production. Nevertheless, he should be worthy of at least a bench spot in next year's drafts, as he can be a viable (yet volatile) fill-in when the bye weeks hit.
Alec Pierce A High-Ceiling/Low-Floor WR5 In Season Finale
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce is coming off a big game that saw him post season-highs in targets and catches, putting up a 6-122-1 line against the Giants. It surely helped that the Colts were playing from behind all game, but the speedy wideout surprisingly leads the Colts in receiving yards (767) despite having only 35 catches on the season, compared to Josh Downs with 62 and Michael Pittman Jr. with 63. That's because of his league-leading aDOT of 21.5 yards per target. While he likely won't see a ton of targets again this week, the 24-year-old should get his usual three to four targets of the deep variety, which should translate to at least a couple long gains. With Pierce, however, he can be "boom" like we saw last week, or he can be more "bust" as he's logged six games with one catch or fewer this season. The matchup versus the Jaguars is a good one, and he posted 134 yards with a TD on them earlier this season, but did so on just three catches. The third-year receiver projects as a volatile WR5 in Week 18.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce caught six of nine targets for 122 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 45-33 loss to the Giants. Both the target and catch totals were season highs, while it was the third time the speedy wideout has gone over 100 yards in a game this season. Although the 24-year-old is the third option behind Josh Downs and Michael Pittman Jr. with just 35 receptions on the year, he leads the Colts in receiving yards (767) and reception TDs (6) thanks to his league-leading average depth of target (aDOT). If Joe Flacco gets the start again next Sunday, Pierce could be in line for at least a few more accurately thrown long-balls before the season is out in a great home matchup versus the Jaguars.
Alec Pierce Cleared To Play, Still A Boom/Bust WR Option In Week 17
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (concussion) has been cleared to play in Week 17 against the Giants. While the matchup is favorable versus a New York squad that currently has the No. 1 pick in next year's draft, Pierce doesn't typically garner enough attention to warrant starting in season-long fantasy. The 24-year-old has caught two passes or less in eight of the 14 games he's played, although he's managed five touchdowns on the season as Indy's deep threat. The speedy wideout leads the NFL in average depth of target (aDOT) by a wide margin at 21.58 yards per target, so he's always got a good chance to break off a chunk play, but the volume likely won't be there. Anthony Richardson is in danger of missing the contest and if Joe Flacco is under center, then Pierce's targets could be a bit more accurately thrown. However, he's still only a boom/bust WR6 for Week 17 regardless of QB, and not a preferred option in fantasy championships.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (concussion) is still in the league's concussion protocol but is advancing well. Pierce suffered a concussion in the Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos and was unable to play in the Week 16 win over the Tennessee Titans this past Sunday. The 24-year-old is recovering, but he'll need to gain clearance from an independent neurologist later this week to have a shot at returning to action for the Week 17 game this Sunday at the New York Giants. The matchup against the two-win Giants is a great one for the Colts offense this weekend, but Pierce would be a pretty shaky WR4/5 for fantasy managers in a low-volume passing attack if he's cleared to play. Quarterback Anthony Richardson only attempted 11 passes in the win over the Titans. When active, Pierce is Indy's WR3 behind Josh Downs and Michael Pittman Jr.
According to Joel A. Erickson of the IndyStar, the Colts have ruled out wide receiver Alec Pierce (concussion) for Week 16's divisional tilt against the Tennessee Titans. Pierce sustained this concussion during last weekend's loss to the Denver Broncos and was unable to practice all week. The 24-year-old will need to clear the league's protocol in order to return in Week 17 to face the New York Giants. During Weeks 10 through 13, Pierce found the end zone twice and averaged a solid 10.8 PPR points per game. While sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Josh Downs and Michael Pittman Jr. to lead the passing attack. However, they do have a tough matchup ahead of them on Sunday as the Titans have allowed the fifth-fewest PPR points to opposing wideouts this season.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (concussion) was seen doing some agility work off to the side during the team's practice on Thursday. Pierce is in the league's concussion protocol after suffering a head injury in the Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday and is missing his second straight practice on Thursday. He still has one day left to try and get on the practice field, but as things look right now, Pierce is trending toward being inactive in Week 16 against the division-rival Tennessee Titans on Sunday. If that's the case, rookie Adonai Mitchell would see a bigger role in three-wide sets alongside Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs. However, we still wouldn't consider Mitchell an intriguing flex play in fantasy if Pierce is out while going up against a Titans defense that has allowed the third-fewest half-PPR points per game to opposing receivers in 2024.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (concussion) will not take part in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. Pierce suffered a concussion early in the Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday and is in the league's concussion protocol. His status is firmly up in the air for a divisional tilt in Week 16 against the Tennessee Titans. Pierce will have several more days to work through the protocol and will need clearance from an independent neurologist later this week in order to be active on Sunday. If the 24-year-old doesn't get the green light to play this weekend, rookie Adonai Mitchell would step into a starting role in three-wide sets next to Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs. However, in Indy's low-volume passing attack, Mitchell wouldn't come recommended as a flex option for fantasy managers in their league's semifinal matchup.
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that wide receiver Alec Pierce (concussion) is in the league's concussion protocol after leaving Sunday's Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos with a head injury. Pierce hit the ground hard in the first half while going after a deep ball and was later ruled out for the rest of the game with a concussion. The 24-year-old was targeted four times before his injury but failed to come down with any of them, giving any fantasy managers that started him a donut. Ashton Dulin (ankle) was inactive for the game, so rookie Adonai Mitchell played just shy of half of the offensive snaps. Mitchell didn't take advantage of Pierce's injury, failing to catch any of his four targets and also throwing a pick-six on a trick play in the fourth quarter. Pierce's status for Week 16 against the division-rival Tennessee Titans is now firmly up in the air.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (concussion) won't return to Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos. The wideout wasn't involved before going down with a concussion, failing to catch any of his four targets. Fortunately, the Colts got Josh Downs (shoulder) back for this one, which will help lessen the blow. Michael Pittman Jr. could also see a few more looks from Anthony Richardson with Pierce out of commission. Pierce has been a sporadic fantasy contributor throughout the 2024-25 campaign, amassing 29 catches for 645 yards and five touchdowns heading into Week 15. But now the question remains if he'll be healthy enough to play in Week 16 versus the Titans. If not, Pittman, Downs, and Adonai Mitchell should get most of the looks on the receiving end, with Jonathan Taylor potentially getting a few more targets out of the backfield.
Alec Pierce
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Colts
