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Daniel Jones • QB • Colts

Daniel Jones a Candidate for Franchise Tag?

NFL.com's Judy Battista writes that Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) could receive the franchise tag to buy the team some time to work out a long-term contract extension. The Colts have made it clear that they want Jones to be their starter in 2026 whenever he's healthy. Plenty of teams around the league would be interested in the 28-year-old if he were to reach free agency, though, so the tag could be in play for him if he doesn't agree to an extension before the free-agent negotiating period starts on March 9. Battista adds that the decision on Jones is linked to the Colts' chances of re-signing receiver Alec Pierce, who is coming off a career year as the team's No. 1 wideout. If the Colts get Jones signed to an extension, they could then use the franchise tag on Pierce instead. Jones had a nice bounce-back season in his first year in Indy in 2025, throwing for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions before tearing his Achilles in Week 14 against the Jaguars.

Yesterday

Anthony Richardson Sr. • QB • Colts

Anthony Richardson Sr. Unlikely to be With Colts in 2026

The Indianapolis Colts have made it clear that Daniel Jones (Achilles) is their starting quarterback when he returns to full health, and ESPN's Stephen Holder writes that "it's becoming increasingly likely" that former first-rounder Anthony Richardson Sr. (eye) "will wind up elsewhere." Richardson lost the preseason QB battle to Jones last summer, and the Colts have also "warmed to the idea" that sixth-rounder Riley Leonard can be the backup. According to team sources, Richardson has yet to request a trade, "but it is beginning to feel inevitable." Even though Richardson has been a disappointment and suffered a freak orbital bone injury in 2025, the Colts should be able to get something in return for a signal-caller who will be just 24 next season and is a former first-rounder. Richardson has elite rushing upside, but accuracy as a passer has been an issue, and he hasn't been able to stay healthy. There's no guarantee he'll compete for a starting role if he's traded away this offseason.

Yesterday

Alec Pierce • WR • Colts

Alec Pierce an Ideal Fit for Titans Offense?

ESPN's Matt Bowen thinks that Indianapolis Colts impending free-agent wide receiver Alec Pierce would be a good fit with the Tennessee Titans under new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. "Pierce has the vertical stretch ability to produce downt he field and can play a volume role as a multi-level target for quarterback Cameron Ward," Bowen writes. In a breakout 2025 campaign with the Colts in which he led the team in receiving, Pierce averaged a league-best 21.3 yards per catch and caught 47 of his 84 targets for a career-high 1,003 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games. The 25-year-old also led the league in 2024 by averaging 22.3 yards per reception, so he's established himself as one of the best downfield threats in the NFL. He'll be a popular receiver target in free agency for wideout-needy teams like the Titans, but they will surely have competition on the open market. In Tennessee, Pierce would immediately become the team's WR1.

Yesterday

Jonathan Taylor • RB • Colts

Jonathan Taylor Has Top-Tier Upside with Quarterback Healthy

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor was off to a fantastic start to the 2025 season, but a midseason quarterback change weakened the offense and reduced his upside. The superstar running back was the overall RB1 in PPR leagues from Weeks 1 through 10, scoring an absurd 17 touchdowns during that span. He also had four three-touchdown games over a span of eight weeks. He was slightly less productive after the bye, and his productivity took another step backward when Daniel Jones (Achilles) tore his Achilles in Week 14. He still scored at least 12 points in four of his five games with Philip Rivers and Riley Leonard, but he was more of a low-end RB1 or high-end RB2 during that span. He can get back into the high-end RB1 tier with Jones healthy. In fact, he's an intriguing buy-low in dynasty leagues, and managers in redraft leagues should feel comfortable selecting him somewhere between picks 5-10 if Jones returns healthy for Week 1 of the 2026 season.

2 days ago

Alec Pierce • WR • Colts |

Rashid Shaheed • WR • Seahawks

Raiders Could Target Alec Pierce, Rashid Shaheed in Free Agency

ESPN's Ryan McFadden writes that the Las Vegas Raiders will need to add a top wide receiver who can take attention away from tight end Brock Bowers, and Indianapolis Colts WR Alec Pierce and Seattle Seahawks WR Rashid Shaheed could be targets in free agency. Shaheed is an obvious fit because of his familiarity with new head coach Klint Kubiak's system from their time in Seattle in 2025, and he can provide additional value as a kick returner on special teams. Tre Tucker and Tyler Lockett ended last season as the Raiders' top wideouts following the midseason trade of Jakobi Meyers. Pierce, 25, led the Colts with 47 catches, 1,003 yards, and six touchdowns in 15 games last year, although he could receive the franchise tag. Shaheed, 27, only caught 15 passes for 188 yards and no touchdowns in nine regular-season games with the Seahawks after being acquired from the Saints, and he'd be a questionable fit with a rookie quarterback.

Feb 10

Alec Pierce • WR • Colts

Franchise Tag on the Table for Alec Pierce?

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler suggests that the Indianapolis Colts could use the franchise tag on impending free-agent wide receiver Alec Pierce as a way to facilitate a long-term deal. The Colts' offseason priority is to sign quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) to a long-term extension, but Pierce is a 1B option, according to Fowler. The only problem with the franchise tag for Pierce is that it would be a steep price tag ($25 to $28 million) for receivers in 2026. The 25-year-old broke out in 2025 in his fourth year in the NFL, leading the Colts with 1,003 receiving yards on 47 receptions. He also caught six touchdown passes on a career-high 84 targets over 15 games played. Pierce's fantasy stock will continue to rise if Jones re-signs, which is expected, and if the Colts cut fellow receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who has one year left on his current deal.

Feb 10

Daniel Jones • QB • Colts

Colts Plan to Begin Extension Talks With Daniel Jones Soon

The Indianapolis Colts plan to begin contract-extension talks with impending free-agent quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) soon on a multi-year deal, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Jones signed a one-year, $14 million deal with Indy last offseason and was having a bounce-back season in 2025 until he tore his Achilles in Week 14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Colts fell apart after Jones' injury and missed the playoffs. There is mutual interest on both sides in getting a deal done this offseason, so the expectation is that Jones will be back with the Colts. If they cannot agree on a multi-year extension, the franchise tag would be in play. The 28-year-old signal-caller completed a career-high 68% of his pass attempts in his 13 starts for Indy while throwing for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Jones' 2026 fantasy value will hinge on his readiness for the start of the season this fall.

Feb 9

Alec Pierce • WR • Colts

Alec Pierce has the Most Consistently Productive Season of his Career in 2025

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce had arguably the best season of his young career in 2025, recording 47 receptions for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns across 15 games played. Pierce remains one of the NFL's most dangerous downfield threats, as he averaged 21.3 yards per reception in 2025 and has led the league in that stat for two years running. However, the 25-year-old also showed signs of becoming a more consistent feature of the Colts' offense this past year. After averaging 4.3 targets per game over the first three seasons of his career, Pierce averaged 5.6 targets per contest in 2025. Pierce is now set to hit unrestricted free agency this spring, but it appears Indianapolis will be looking to bring him back after trading away 2024 second-round wide receiver Adonai Mitchell in the middle of the 2025 season. With the Colts, Pierce profiles as the team's WR2, a role he has proven he can produce in. He may never be an ultra-high volume target earner, but Pierce's fantasy value in dynasty formats should be on the rise after 2025, particularly in leagues that use half and non-PPR scoring.

Feb 6

Tyler Warren • TE • Colts

Tyler Warren has Bright Future After Strong Rookie Season

Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren didn't disappoint after the Colts took him 14th overall in last year's NFL Draft out of Penn State. The 23-year-old immediately became Indy's No. 1 pass-catching tight end, and he finished his first year in the NFL as the Colts' No. 2 receiver, behind only Alec Pierce. Warren was the TE6 in half-PPR scoring with 76 receptions on 112 targets for 817 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games played. His 112 targets were third among all TEs, behind only Trey McBride and Kyle Pitts Sr. Warren wasn't quite as productive down the stretch for fantasy managers after starting quarterback Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. Still, his overall numbers were impressive, and with Jones expected to return to the Colts, Warren will have true breakout potential as a top-five fantasy TE going into Year 2 in 2026.

Feb 3

Jonathan Taylor • RB • Colts

Jonathan Taylor Continues to Cement Himself as Elite Workhorse Back

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor finished behind only Christian McCaffrey in overall fantasy points at the RB position in 2025 in his sixth year in the league. Taylor led the NFL in carries (323) and rushing touchdowns (18) while gaining 1,585 yards on the ground (4.9 yards per attempt). He added a career-best 46 receptions on 55 targets for 378 receiving yards and two more touchdowns in 17 starts. The 27-year-old former second-round selection in 2020 out of Wisconsin has run for 3,016 yards and 29 touchdowns on 626 rushing attempts for the Colts the last two years, and he's found the end zone double-digit times on the ground in four of his six NFL campaigns. The three-time Pro Bowler will remain the centerpiece of Indy's offense in 2026, and with quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) expected to return, he should maintain high-end upside as a top-five RB for fantasy football managers.

Feb 2

Michael Pittman Jr. • WR • Colts

Michael Pittman Jr. Could Benefit From Change of Scenery

Indianapolis wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. carries an expected $29 million salary cap hit into 2026, but the Colts could clear all but $5 million by cutting him before the new league year. With Alec Pierce coming off his first 1,000-yard campaign and set for unrestricted free agency, the belief around Indianapolis is that the team will prioritize him over the 28-year-old Pittman. With the 12-plus games played by Daniel Jones before his season-ending Achilles injury arguably representing the pinnacle of quarterback play that Pittman has seen in his six-year career, the always steady, but never explosive, receiver could still have more to show. While he's never come close to delivering on his former top-ten dynasty ranking, his value could once again spike if he lands in the right situation.

Jan 31

Josh Downs • WR • Colts

Josh Downs' Arrow Pointing Down After Tough 2025 Season

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs followed up a solid second season in the NFL with his worst yet in Year 3. Downs had career-lows in receptions (58), targets (88), and receiving yards (566) while scoring four touchdowns in 16 games played. The 24-year-old pass-catcher also had a career-low 9.8 yards per catch as he operated as the team's No. 3 receiver behind Alec Pierce and Michael Pittman Jr. Even with quarterback Daniel Jones having a career resurgence before his season-ending torn Achilles tendon in the second half, Downs was unable to take advantage. He never clicked with Jones in the passing attack, and it didn't help that rookie tight end Tyler Warren caught 76 passes for 817 yards. Unless Indy releases Pittman this offseason to give Downs a clearer path to consistent targets, he won't be much more than a late-round dart throw with limited upside in 2026 fantasy drafts.

Jan 29

Philip Rivers • QB • Colts

Philip Rivers Withdraws from Bills' Head Coaching Search

Former NFL quarterback Philip Rivers has withdrawn from the Buffalo Bills' head coaching search, per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Garafolo reports that NFL head coaching "might very well be in (Rivers') future, just not right now." After initially hanging up his cleats at the end of the 2020 season, Rivers came out of retirement at age 44 and finished the 2025 season as the starting quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts. He has coached high school football, but has no coaching experience at the NFL level. Buffalo moved on from long-time head coach Sean McDermott after the team's recent AFC Divisional Round loss to the Denver Broncos. McDermott went 98-50 in the regular season across nine years as the head man in Buffalo and led the team to seven consecutive double-digit win seasons from 2019 through 2025. However, Buffalo has not yet broken through past the AFC Championship Game since the emergence of star quarterback Josh Allen. A clear favorite to replace McDermott has yet to emerge, but the Bills appear to be casting a wide net in their search.

Jan 26

Philip Rivers • QB • Colts

Philip Rivers Interviewing for Bills Head-Coaching Job

Former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers and current St. Michael Catholic High School coach Philip Rivers is interviewing on Friday for the Buffalo Bills' head-coaching job, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Rivers surprisingly came out of retirement to play for the Colts again in 2025 after Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles tear. The 44-year-old eight-time Pro Bowler threw for 544 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions in his three starts, but he was unable to help the Colts get into the playoffs before retiring for the second time. Rivers is now interested in coaching at the NFL level, although he feels like more of a long shot to land the Bills' head-coaching job with zero prior coaching experience in the NFL. However, maybe there's a chance he wins over quarterback Josh Allen, who is going to have significant say in who the next head coach in Buffalo is.

Jan 23

Anthony Richardson Sr. • QB • Colts

Colts Non-Committal on Anthony Richardson Sr.'s Future

When asked if quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. (eye) had a role on the team next season, Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen was non-committal while referring to Richardson's eye injury that caused him to end the year on Injured Reserve, according to The Athletic's James Boyd. General manager Chris Ballard also openly theorized about Riley Leonard being the backup in 2026 if Richardson "doesn't get to where we think he can be." Boyd assumes that the Colts won't want to pick up Richardson's fifth-year option, since the former fourth overall pick in 2023 has played in just 15 games in his first three years due to various injuries. The 23-year-old is still recovering from an orbital fracture that affected the vision in his right eye. When healthy, A-Rich hasn't sustained a high level of play for the Colts, which is why they brought in Daniel Jones (Achilles) in 2025.

Jan 16

Michael Pittman Jr. • WR • Colts

Colts to Part Ways With Michael Pittman Jr. This Offseason?

The Athletic's James Boyd writes that Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. sits atop the list of potential big names that the Colts could part with this offseason due to salary considerations, mutual decision, or poor performance. Pittman pretty much admitted after the season finale in Week 18 that he could have played his last game with the team. He has a $29 million salary cap hit in 2026, but the Colts would clear $24 million in cap space with only $5 million in dead money if they release him. Boyd thinks Pittman will either have to restructure his contract with Indy or play elsewhere next season. The sense is that Pittman doesn't want to leave, but Alec Pierce took over as the Colts' top wideout in 2025, with Pittman catching 80 passes for 784 yards (second-fewest of his career), although he did have a career-high seven touchdowns.

Jan 16

Daniel Jones • QB • Colts

Colts Plan to Re-Sign Daniel Jones

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard said the team plans to re-sign quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) this offseason, according to Stephen Holder of ESPN. "I'm looking at him both near and long [term]," Ballard said of Jones, adding, "When you're chasing the quarterback all the time, it makes it very hard. Your margin for error really shrinks down. And I feel very good about Daniel Jones and where he's at, where he's going. Yes, he's got the Achilles. But I think Daniel Jones has got a really bright future here in Indianapolis." The 28-year-old tore his Achilles in Week 14, and the Colts ended up missing the playoffs after starting 8-2. Meanwhile, former first-rounder Anthony Richardson Sr.'s future in Indy is in question after losing the starting job to Jones and then suffering a season-ending orbital fracture in October. Jones threw for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight picks in 13 starts before his season-ending Achilles tear. He proved in 2025 that he has QB1 upside in the Colts' offense, but his lengthy injury history makes him more of a QB2 target in fantasy drafts.

Jan 9

Riley Leonard • QB • Colts

Riley Leonard Could be Colts Long-Term Backup

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Riley Leonard was impressive in his first career start in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Houston Texans, going 39-for-67 passing for 415 yards and two touchdowns, although he did throw three interceptions and lost a fumble. Leonard displayed second- and third-level touch and accuracy from the pocket, which was one of his biggest question marks coming into the NFL. Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan thinks it's unfair to wonder if Leonard can be the next Brock Purdy, but it's realistic to ask if he could be the team's long-term backup behind the oft-injured Daniel Jones (Achilles). Bowen believes Leonard's performance against the top defense in the league in the regular-season finale proves that he should be considered as QB insurance for the Colts if they run it back with Jones in 2026.

Jan 7

Charvarius Ward • CB • Colts

Charvarius Ward Considering Retirement

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Charvarius Ward (head) is considering retirement due to debilitating migraine headaches, according to Nathan Brown of the Indianapolis Star. Ward suffered a concussion in the Week 14 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and ended up missing the final four games of the season as a result. It was the 29-year-old's third concussion of the year, prompting him to consider his future going into the offseason. In total, Ward missed 10 games in 2025 due to his concussions. "If I walk away, I won't regret it," Ward said. He finished with only 25 tackles (17 solo), seven pass breakups, and a fumble recovery in his eight starts in his first year in Indy. Over eight NFL seasons, Ward has a total of 460 tackles (338 solo), one sack, 10 interceptions, 77 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 109 regular-season games (96 starts).

Jan 5

Daniel Jones • QB • Colts

Colts Want Daniel Jones Back in 2026

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said on Monday that he thinks quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) will want to run it back with the team in 2026, and that the team would like to have him back, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. The Colts were well on their way to a playoff spot and were battling for the top seed in the AFC until Jones suffered a torn right Achilles tendon in Week 14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 28-year-old did more than enough for the Colts to want him back next year as their starting QB after he completed a career-best 68% of his 384 pass attempts for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 13 starts. Jones added 164 rushing yards and five TDs on the ground. Barring a setback with his rehab from an Achilles tear, Jones figures to be ready right around the start of training camp in late July.

Jan 5

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