Michael Pittman Jr. Leads Colts Receivers In Week 15 Loss
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. led the team in targets, receptions, and yards in Sunday's 31-13 loss to the Broncos. Unfortunately, with Anthony Richardson under center that hasn't amounted to much this season, as the 27-year-old caught six of his nine targets for 58 yards and no scores. Pittman also lost one of the three fumbles the Colts lost on the day, further diminishing his fantasy output. The 6-foot-4 wideout has become Richardson's preferred option in the passing attack since being renamed starter back in Week 13, but hasn't found the end zone since Week 6 and hasn't topped 100 yards receiving since Week 4. The fifth-year pro gets a more favorable matchup in Week 16 against the Titans, but with the inefficiency of the passing game, Pittman figures to be a low-end WR3 or Flex option next Sunday.
Michael Pittman Jr. A Risky Fantasy Play In Tough Week 15 Matchup
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. has at least seven targets and five catches in the last three games since Anthony Richardson was reinserted under center for Indy. It's an encouraging trend after a rough stretch of relative underperformance midseason and after missing Week 10's contest due to a back injury. The 27-year-old was a full participant in practice all week and with the issue seemingly behind him, especially after a bye week to rest up, he'll look to keep the momentum going in Week 15. However, that will be a challenge as the Colts take on the Broncos this week in Denver, with the Broncos holding opposing wide receivers to the ninth-fewest fantasy points so far this season. Pittman in particular has some things working against him, as the 6-foot-4 wideout will likely draw shadow coverage from star corner Patrick Surtain II and teammate Josh Downs (shoulder) looking like he'll return to action after getting two full practices in to end the week so there will again be more competition for targets. Combined with the fact that Richardson has completed 12 passes or fewer in six of his eight full games played in 2024 with a 7:9 TD:INT, Pittman looks like a risky borderline WR3/4 option.
Michael Pittman Jr. With A Five-Catch Day In Victory
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. led the team in targets, catches, and receiving yards on Sunday, but with quarterback Anthony Richardson completing just 12 passes, it didn't amount to much. The 27-year-old caught five of seven targets for 42 scoreless yards, although the Colts were able to pull off a 25-24 victory anyway thanks to the legs of Jonathan Taylor and the aforementioned Richardson. Since Richardson was reinserted as the starting quarterback, Pittman Jr. has seemingly taken over as the preferred option in the passing game, although he had less competition on Sunday with Josh Downs out with an injury. The former second-round draft pick has at least seven targets and five catches in the last three games, however, it will be hard to exceed that output when the Colts come out of their by in Week 15 as they will face a stout Denver pass defense on the road.
Michael Pittman Jr. To Lead Indy Receiving Corps In Week 13
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. has had 15 targets and 11 catches over the last two weeks with Anthony Richardson under center, which is particularly impressive given Richardson's 53.4% completion rate during that time. Josh Downs had been the clear leader at the receiver position until two weeks ago, but now has eight catches on 12 targets over the last two weeks. Downs was injured last week and will not play Sunday, so Pittman will have even less competition for looks. The 27-year-old, who practiced in full all week, will face a Patriots pass defense that has yielded three 100-yard receivers in the last two games and has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to the WR position this season. Despite the setup, with Richardson not throwing many TD passes (five through seven full games) and winds that will make it feel close to freezing in Foxboro, the fifth-year pro looks like a WR3 on Sunday.
Michael Pittman Jr. Leads Colts Receivers In Week 12 Loss
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. led the Indy receiving corps in Sunday's 24-6 loss to the Lions, tying Josh Downs with a team-high seven targets and turning it into six receptions for 96 yards. No other Colt receiver had more than three catches or 39 yards. It was an encouraging performance on a day where Anthony Richardson completed just 11 passes on 28 attempts. It was the second consecutive week in which the 27-year-old recorded at least seven targets and five catches with Richardson under center. The Colts will take on the Patriots in Week 13 who just allowed Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill to total 192 yards receiving on 13 catches, so Pittman Jr. has a chance to keep the momentum going so long as Richardson keeps feeding him targets.
Michael Pittman Jr. Re-Enters WR3 Conversation In Week 12
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is having a quiet season thus far, but Week 11 gave us hope that he could still manufacture some worthwhile fantasy production with Anthony Richardson under center, garnering a team-high eight targets and turning it into five catches for 46 yards. Week 12 brings a matchup against the Lions in a game that boasts an over/under of 50 points, so there should be a decent amount of scoring on both sides. The Lions have been tough against the run this year but can be beaten through the air, having given up the sixth-most passing yards per game and seventh-most fantasy points to WRs. If this game goes to script, the Colts will be playing catch-up with the Lions throughout, which should mean plenty of targets for the receiving corps. Even though the 6-foot-4 wideout showed up on the injury report this week as he continues to battle through a back issue, he was listed as a full participant all week and has been cleared to play. All of this combined with the fact that six teams are on bye this week make the 27-year-old a low-end WR3 this week.
Michael Pittman Jr. Leads Colts In Targets In Week 11
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. returned to action after a one-week absence and led his team in targets on Sunday with eight, hauling in five of them for 46 yards in a 28-27 nailbiter win over the Jets in Week 11. It was only the third time this season in 10 games played that the fifth-year pro eclipsed the 40-yard plateau and only the third time he's caught five or more passes. Still, with Anthony Richardson looking like a competent quarterback on Sunday, there may be better days ahead for the 27-year-old. Look for the 6-foot-4 wideout to be a fringe WR3 in Week 12, especially with six teams on bye.
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) will play in Week 11 on Sunday against the New York Jets after missing the Week 10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Pittman has been dealing with a back injury for a while now, but it finally caused him to miss a game last week. The writing was on the wall for him to return this weekend, though, after he returned to a full practice on Wednesday. It's good news for the Colts' offense, but the 27-year-old pass-catcher will still be a shaky fantasy play with quarterback Anthony Richardson and his accuracy issues returning to the starting job. Additionally, the Jets defense has allowed the fewest half-PPR points per game to opposing receivers in 2024. Pittman has been outside the top-50 receivers in terms of average PPR points scored per game this season.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) was back on the practice field for the second straight day on Thursday. Pittman has been dealing with a back injury for a while now and missed the Week 10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. However, he was listed as a full practice participant on Wednesday, signaling that he could return this Sunday to face the New York Jets, as long as he doesn't suffer a setback. It's good news for the Colts, but fantasy managers will justifiably have some reservations about starting the 27-year-old wideout this weekend, especially with struggling second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson getting his starting job back against a formidable defense. Pittman is Indy's WR1 when healthy, but it's led to only a 30-366-2 line through nine games in 2024. If he's active against the Jets, Pittman should be viewed as more of a touchdown-dependent WR3/flex. UPDATE: Pittman was a full-go again on Thursday.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) was listed as a full practice participant for the first walkthrough session of the week on Wednesday. It's a bit surprising that Pittman was a full-go on Wednesday after missing the Week 10 loss to the Buffalo Bills with a back injury that he's been dealing with for a while now. As long as the 27-year-old doesn't suffer any setbacks with his back injury later this week, he appears to be primed to play in Week 11 against the Detroit Lions on the road. However, he'll still be a pretty shaky fantasy option with second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson returning to the starting role under center this weekend. Pittman is averaging just 7.1 half-PPR points per game in 2024 and has gone over 100 receiving yards in a game just once (back in Week 4). The emergence of Josh Downs as a more consistent receiving threat for the Colts hasn't helped Pittman's cause.
Michael Pittman Jr.
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