Adonai

Mitchell

Mitchell’s 30 yards matched his second most of the season. The rookie has now caught multiple passes in three straight games, but it hasn’t translated to fantasy value even when a more pass-happy Joe Flacco was under center. With today’s starter Anthony Richardson, Mitchell has essentially zero shot at posting WR4/5 statlines behind Michael Pittman, Josh Downs and Alec Pierce.

The Colts continue to say nice things about their second-round rookie, but he’s posted double-digit receiving yards just twice in six games. Regardless of who is under center for Indy, Mitchell isn’t looking worthy of a roster spot in 12-team re-draft leagues right now.

Pittman was added to the injury report as a DNP on Wednesday. He dealt with a back injury earlier in the season but it never cost him any games. It’s a shocking development and one of a slew of injuries hitting the Colts’ offense. Josh Downs, who would be in line to take over No. 1 receiver duties in Pittman’s absence, missed Wednesday’s practice with a toe injury. He will leap into the WR2 ranks if healthy. Adonai Mitchell will re-enter the three-receiver rotation going forward while Alec Pierce’s contributions as a deep threat will be even more valuable in the coming weeks.

Pittman dealt with a back issue heading into Week 3. He was listed as questionable with back and calf injuries after being a surprise addition to the injury report on Friday. He played through the pair of injuries on Sunday. It’s possible that back injury flared up once again, forcing him to miss Wednesday’s practice. This will be a situation to monitor closely as Josh Downs also missed practice. Adonai Mitchell and Alec Pierce would be the next men up if both receivers are sidelined for Week 6.

The Colts praised Mitchell’s practice habits this week, and he responded with season highs across the board. The problem is that it was Josh Downs who did the compiling and Alec Pierce who took the roof off the defense. The Colts also won’t have this afternoon’s passing volume if Anthony Richardson (oblique) relieves Joe Flacco for Week 6 against the Titans. Mitchell is an end-of-bench stash in deeper 12-team leagues and probably still waivers fodder if your benches are shorter.

The rookie is stuck on two catches for 32 yards through three games. He got out-targeted 5-1 by a returning Josh Downs this afternoon. Mitchell had the makings of an exciting early-season stash, but he is now safely droppable as the Colts search for a passing-game identity under inconsistent QB Anthony Richardson.

Downs missed the first two weeks of the season while recovering from a high-ankle sprain he suffered during training camp. He returned to practice in a limited capacity last week and was considered a game-time call for Week 2. The Colts ultimately held him out to let the injury fully heal before letting the young receiver back on the field. He was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice. Downs’ return will take snaps off the table for one of Alec Piere or Adonai Mitchell. It’s not clear who will see their snaps reduced and it could be both players. Downs will rank as a risky WR4 for his 2024 debut. Mitchell and Pierce are both no-floor WR5s.

Mitchell managed a long catch and run from Anthony Richardson but nothing beyond that in the loss. Mitchell had a bad drop in the second half on his final target of the day. He ran a route on 27 of the Colts’ 39 drop backs. That route rate might decline in Week 3 against the Bears if Josh Down (ankle) is back in the lineup. For now, Mitchell profiles as a boom-bust fantasy play in a run-first Colts offense.

Downs suffered a high-ankle injury in training camp and missed Week 1 because of the issue. He practiced in full on Friday, but, as Rapoport points out, ankle injuries are tricky and the Colts want to make sure there are no further issues after Downs returns. The team could hold him out one more week as a precaution. If they do, Adonai Mitchell and Alec Pierce will start in three-receiver sets alongside Michael Pittman. Pierce posted the big game in Week 1, going for 125 yards and a touchdown, but both and Mitchell will get a few deep shots versus the Packers. Both receivers sit in the WR5 range for Week 2.

The Colts have long targeted a Week 2 return for Downs, who suffered a high ankle sprain last month during training camp. It’s possible Downs could see limited usage in his return to the Colts lineup. With Downs sidelined in Week 1 against the Texans, Adonai Mitchell and Alec Pierce joined Michael Pittman in three-receiver sets. Pierce had two long connections with Anthony Richardson while Mitchell turned 85 air yards into two actual yards.