Indianapolis

Colts

Taylor has not played since Indianapolis’ Week 4 win over the Steelers, and has not practiced since. It’s possible there’s more in-building motivation than normal for Taylor’s return given just how important this game is to the Colts, as a win over the Texans would tie them for first place in the AFC South. Taylor’s practice status will be a hot Wednesday topic, with our last real update from Taylor himself, before Week 7, hinting to the media that his ankle wasn’t able to move in the ways he’d need it to.

Since an exciting Week 1 start against the Texans, Richardson has played in portions of four games, not completing more than 50 percent of his passes in any of them, and has one touchdown against five interceptions while cracking 200 yards as a passer just once. The good news is that this didn’t stop him from running in Week 7. The bad news is that with the Colts rallying to defend their quarterback, we haven’t seen much of a reason to recommend him as more than a dice roll in standard leagues. Perhaps another meeting with the Texans will jog his memory.

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.

Pierce tied Michael Pittman for the team lead in looks, but it didn’t mean a whole lot with a returning Anthony Richardson completing just 10-of-24 throws. Pierce took the Colts down to the one-yard line in the first quarter only for the 28-yard grab to be nullified by offsetting penalties. He later committed a terrible drop. Today was unfortunately par for the course for Pierce in this volatile offense. He’s not a recommended WR5 for Week 8 against the Texans despite his down-field potential.

Goodson’s seven-yard third quarter touchdown was one of only two total TDs in the game. He out-snapped, out-touched and out-gained Trey Sermon in Jonathan Taylor’s absence, though Sermon did turn his nine touches into 49 yards. Goodson also got out-rushed by Anthony Richardson. Jonathan Taylor’s return hasn’t seemed particularly imminent, but he is nearing what would be the typical return date for a high-ankle sprain. Goodson’s FLEX value will disappear if Taylor manages to suit up vs. Houston.

Sermon and Tyler Goodson played to a snaps standstill in Jonathan Taylor’s latest absence, but Goodson took control of the production this time around, out-touching Sermon 14-9 and out-gaining him 51-49. It was also Goodson who found the end zone. Taylor didn’t seem particularly close to returning this week, so it will probably be Sermon and Goodson forming another Week 8 committee against the Texans. Sermon has sadly lost the FLEX benefit of the doubt even in that setup.

Pittman’s 63 yards were actually his second most of the season, which tells you how things are going in this passing attack. With Anthony Richardson back under center this afternoon, Pittman did at least his post his best non-Joe Flacco statline. 33 of his yards came on a late second quarter grab that helped set up a field goal. The truth, of course, is that Pittman’s best Richardson statline still isn’t a legitimate WR3 box score. There’s little reason to expect things to change for Week 8, where Pittman will be a WR4 vs. Houston’s stout defense.

As ESPN’s Mike Clay points out, Downs has yet to exceed six PPR points in any of Anthony Richardson’s starts. Fiasco. Richardson came back and performed as feared, completing just 10-of-24 throws and failing to sustain drives and create passing-game volume. The Colts only won because of the sheer ineptitude of the Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa-less offense. It’s hard to believe things can remain this bad for Downs with Richardson under center, but he’s clearly outside the WR3 range until proven otherwise. The Texans are not a good Week 8 matchup for anyone involved.

Richardson also lost a fumble. Making his first start since departing after four attempts with a Week 4 oblique injury, Richardson completed 10-or-fewer passes for the third time in four completed starts. He has yet to complete more than 50 percent of his throws in that timespan, and remained visibly inaccurate this afternoon. The only reason the Colts won was the play of the Dolphins’ No. 2 and 3 quarterbacks. On the other hand, Richardson — mostly — avoided big mistakes, while 14 carries for 56 yards certainly isn’t nothing, in either real life or fantasy. He simply has to start connecting on more easy passes. That will be a difficult task in Week 8 against the Texans, keeping Richardson out of the top 12.

The fifth-round rookie was starting in place of an injured E.J. Speed. Before Week 7, Carlies had been earning decent PFF grades on 15-20 weekly snaps.