Colts' Fantasy Football Outlook Centered on Pass Catchers: Josh Downs, Tyler Warren, Michael Pittman and More
Taking a look at the Colts' offense and the best redraft fantasy options.
Let's do another fantasy football outlook, this time going over the Indianapolis Colts.
We have covered the Steelers, Packers, Titans, Panthers, Chiefs, Falcons, Jaguars, Commanders, Texans, Cardinals, Bengals, Lions, Dolphins, 49ers, Chargers, Eagles, Ravens, Seahawks, Bills, Buccaneers, Patriots, Cowboys, Raiders, Rams, Broncos, Giants, Browns, Saints and Bears. We will go over the other teams soon, so keep checking back for more!
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Daniel Jones Fantasy Outlook
Jones is the Colts' starting quarterback to kick off the season. He was brought in for competition for Anthony Richardson Sr., and ended up beating him out for the job.
Richardson still has a higher ADP because of being the presumed starter up until recently, but he's dropping with a week or so to go before games, while Jones is rising. Jones is at pick 273 on average, while Richardson is at pick 236.
Jones has made just 16 starts over the past two seasons, and bounced around in 2024 after being let go by the Giants.
His best season in six years was 2022, when he threw for 3,205 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions and added 708 yards and seven scores on the ground.
If he started every regular season game, that'd probably be a high-end projection for Jones this year. I don't see him playing all that well, and I also doubt he starts all season.
He's a streaming option, and a bit of an overlooked one, as this season starts up. Jones is a decent dual-threat quarterback, and if he takes care of the ball, is capable of producing average-or-better fantasy numbers.
Until he proves things though, he's just a deep-league fantasy option, and probably a depth one at that. He could become a standard league streamer in time if he proves himself and has a good matchup.
The same could be said for Richardson if he were the starting quarterback. The play of Jones and Richardson is probably going to limit everyone else on the Colts' offense though.
Running Back Fantasy Outlook
Jonathan Taylor is the workhorse back for the Colts' offense. DJ Giddens and Tyler Goodson are the depth options for now.
Taylor is RB9 and is going around pick 19 on average. He's slightly trending up over the past week.
When on the field, Taylor is one of the best fantasy players out there. The problem is that he's not always on the field. He's played 24 games over the past two years, and 35 games over the past three seasons combined.
He still went for 1,567 total yards and 12 scores last season, and that was in just 14 games. Again, he's one of the top fantasy assets when he's out there.
Taylor could easily outproduce his ADP and preseason marks if he gets in a full 17-game schedule. I like his chances of at least being close to his ADP if he doesn't miss more than a quarter of the season, so I like him near his ADP.
He's going to be the best offensive weapon for the Colts and be featured often. Taylor isn't a massive receiving threat, but he'll dominate on the ground and be an auto-start for every week he's available. You can build a fantasy backfield around him, just make sure to protect yourself against injuries.
Giddens is RB73 and is going near pick 245 on average.
Giddens was the team's fifth-round pick this offseason. Many see him as the top backup to Taylor, but some projections still have Goodson as the backup.
Neither Giddens nor Goodson are going to be all that involved unless Taylor isn't around, so neither are more than deep-league stashes. In deeper setups, backing up Taylor with either one of those backs makes some sense, but don't expect either guy to be Taylor if they are thrust into the lead role.
Wide Receiver Fantasy Outlook
Michael Pittman Jr. is the team's top wideout heading into 2025. Alec Pierce and Josh Downs are the other projected starters, with Adonai Mitchell also expected to factor in pretty often. Ashton Dulin and Anthony Gould also made the team's initial roster.
Pittman has led the Colts' wideout room for a few seasons, but regressed in 2024. Over 16 games, he had just 808 yards and three scores. He's gone over 1,000 yards twice in his career, but has just 18 scores over five seasons.
A lack of a consistent quarterback is definitely holding him back some, and Pittman is probably a better WR2 for a team, and maybe that happens this season.
However, I also like Downs better as a WR2 for a team. He went for 815 yards and five scores across 14 games in his second season. That was a little improvement from his rookie year, even though he appeared in three less games.
Most are expecting Downs to improve his numbers again in his third year. With him and Pittman being better WR2s though, I think they'll cancel each other out to a degree.
I see both guys as flex-level starting options in standard leagues, then gaining value the deeper a league gets. At their ADPs, I'm fine taking either receiver near that point of a draft. If I had to take one, I'm taking Downs, as I think his fantasy ceiling is a bit higher.
Pierce is WR75 and going near pick 250 on average. Mitchell is WR90 and going near pick 287.
Pierce played in 16 games last season and turned in his best numbers over three NFL years. He had 824 yards and seven touchdowns.
He's the deep-play guy for the Colts, and it meshed well with Richardson and his big arm. I don't like Pierce as much with Jones throwing to him, but maybe the offense will adapt and still make Pierce a decent fantasy asset.
Mitchell was a fantasy disappointment as a rookie, racking up only 318 yards and failing to score over 17 games. He was a second-round pick in 2024.
Mitchell probably has a higher fantasy ceiling, but until we see it, I also like Pierce more. Neither are likely to ever be big standard league options this season, but maybe their outlooks could change if a wideout is moved at some point.
They are fine to utilize and roster in some deeper leagues, but they are more depth options than anything, and might only make a few flex starts this year.
Tight End Fantasy Outlook
Tyler Warren is the new starting tight end for the Colts. The first-round pick from this offseason is TE10 and going around pick 94 on average - that's been on the rise as the season nears.
I am a big fan of Warren, whether that be for dynasty/keeper leagues or standard setups. I think he could thrive in an offense with a so-so quarterback and not many great wideouts around him.
He was a do-it-all offensive weapon in college, and it wouldn't surprise me if the Colts also gave him some chances to shine with the ball in his hands. Maybe he could throw a few passes, or attempt a few runs, which could add a few fantasy points here and there.
I like his ADP and love taking him around that spot. I feel he's got a chance at a top-10 fantasy finish at tight end, and could push for a top-five spot if everything clicks right away and this offense is a bit better than most expect.
There's not a ton of risk in drafting him, but if I land him, I'm also taking another tight end. I don't want to put all my chips in on Warren, even though we might be able to do that later this season and throughout his career.
Approach him in a smart manner this preseason and dream of a stellar rookie season.
