Colts Fantasy Football Outlook After Daniel Jones' Injury: Phillip Rivers, Jonathan Taylor, Tyler Warren and More

The Indianapolis Colts looked like true contenders in the AFC for much of this NFL regular season. The team has faded of late, and was dealt a devastating blow on Sunday when quarterback Daniel Jones suffered an Achilles injury.

That injury will cost him the season, so the Colts' season seems to be in peril. Let's take a look at the team's top fantasy players heading into week 15, and let you know who might be worth starting, let alone rostering, going forward.

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Quarterback

With Jones out for the season, Indy was left with rookie Riley Leonard on the active roster. Leonard came on in relief of Jones in week 14, and picked up an injury of his own that throws his week 15 status in flux.

Anthony Richardson Sr. is still on the injured reserve list, but won't be activated, at least for week 15. Brett Rypien is on the practice squad.

In other words, the Colts needed some quarterback insurance. In a stunning move, the team decided to add Philip Rivers. He will join the team's practice squad, but given the team's other injuries at QB, and options overall, there's an outside chance he suits up for the team down the stretch.

Rivers obviously had a very good NFL career (and was just about eligible for the Hall of Fame, which would be reset if he ends up playing, or joining the team's active roster), but he's 44 years old now, and hasn't played since 2020.

If he ends up starting for the Colts in week 15, I have no clue how to assess him as a fantasy asset. A tough matchup against the Seahawks this coming week should end any thought of trying Rivers in a standard league (should he start). In deeper leagues though, Rivers will be an option.

If Leonard ends up starting, I'd treat him the same way. The same goes for Rypien. So I guess I view whoever starts for the Colts as just a deep-league option in a very tough matchup.

Running Back

Jonathan Taylor has been the team's workhorse back all season, and he might take on even more now with Jones out of the picture. No other fantasy back in Indy has over 25 fantasy points.

Taylor has been a high-end fantasy option, and that shouldn't change down the stretch. Defenses are certainly going to stack the box to slow Taylor, and make whoever is at quarterback beat them.

The Seahawks are a tough matchup for him as well, but that's not going to stop me from ranking him highly, and starting him in all fantasy leagues. I'd avoid any other Colts' running backs because of the tougher matchup.

Taylor's efficiency might fade down the stretch, but he should remain a reliable fantasy option. If fantasy trade deadlines weren't passed, I'd probably suggest selling Taylor, but you need to trust in the elite back to get the job done.

Wide Receiver

Michael Pittman has led the Colts' wide receivers (and pass catchers) to this point of the season. Alec Pierce and Josh Downs are other notable options at wideout.

All three take a hit from Jones being ruled out for the season. Anyone who starts at quarterback the rest of the season is likely to be a downgrade, and that hurts the wide receivers and pass catchers the most.

Pittman is the best fantasy starter for most fantasy owners, although Pierce had an argument for some of late. I still like the idea of starting both guys, but in tougher matchups, they are better as flex options, or left on the bench altogether.

Downs has been trending down for several weeks, and is really back to being a deep-league option only. Jones' injury means Downs is droppable in all standard leagues for sure, and that he might also be droppable in deeper leagues going forward.

Seattle is a tough matchup on wide receivers too, so all three wide receivers will be risky starting options in week 15. I like Pittman over Pierce, but both closer to the flex-level line, if not below it. Downs is just a deep-league option, and not a very good one.

Check back on Wednesday for my week 15 wide receiver rankings to see if any Colts crack my top 30!

Tight End

Tyler Warren is the only Colts' tight end who has made a fantasy difference this season. He trails just Taylor, Jones and Pittman as a fantasy asset this season.

Warren might be the only pass catcher who doesn't take a huge hit from Jones' injury. Whoever starts at quarterback is more likely to look the tight end's way than a receiver, so Warren could thrive down the stretch.

Warren was also a do-it-all guy while in college, so the Colts' offense might get him involved as a running back, or even quarterback, down the stretch.

Seattle struggles to slow tight ends, so Warren could thrive in week 15. Start him with confidence in all leagues, as he could end up as the team's top fantasy player by the end of the week.

Final Thoughts

The injury to Jones is a devastating blow to the Colts' chances, and more specifically, the team's offense.

Whoever starts at quarterback is a downgrade, and that will lower the fantasy outlooks for just about every offensive player. Taylor and Warren are the two guys you can start confidently going forward, while Pittman, Pierce and Downs have weaker outlooks and need to be questioned weekly.

We'll see who ends up starting at QB, but week 15 is a tough matchup pretty much any way you slice it. Only Warren has a favorable matchup, and that remains true the rest of the season too.

Hopefully Jones' injury doesn't wreck the Colts' offensive fantasy weapons, because the fantasy playoffs are here (or starting next week).