Michael

Pittman Jr.

Pittman played through most of the season with his back injury. It should come as no surprise that he turned in the worst season since his rookie year as a result, but Pittman still posted a respectable 69-808-3 line over 16 games in a season that proved challenging for all Colts pass catchers. It sounds like some rest and rehab will be all Pittman needs to return healthy for a 2025 season that is already setting up to be a do-or-die year for Anthony Richardson, head coach Shane Steichen, and Ballard.

Pittman posted career numbers in 2023, largely spurred on by Gardner Minshew taking over for an injured Anthony Richardson at quarterback. Minshew peppered him with easy-button targets and the young wideout converted on them to the tune of 109 grabs for 1,152 yards. The breakout season earned Pittman a contract extension and gave fantasy managers hope that he could coexist with Richardson, who struggled to connect with Pittman on layup looks as a rookie. That fear instantly materialized in 2024 with three games under 40 receiving yards to start the season. Pittman finally broke out in Week 4 with 113 yards…in a game that saw Joe Flacco replace an injured Richardson. Pittman topped 63 yards three times over his final 12 games and only posted one additional 100-yard outing, also with Flacco under center. The Colts will presumably keep Flacco or replace him with a similar veteran addition, but Pittman’s inability to get things going when the No. 4 overall pick on the field is more than a little concerning for his 2025 fantasy outlook. The continued breakout of Josh Downs could also move targets away from Pittman, making him a risky fantasy bet for early drafters.

With Joe Flacco back under center, Pittman revived for his second most yards of the season, and first 100-yard effort since Week 4. He was taking advantage of an awful Giants pass defense, but that was something Josh Downs failed to accomplish. Alec Pierce also had a 100-yard afternoon. At the end of a disappointing, injury-plagued campaign, Pittman does have a chance to close strong against the hapless Jaguars in Week 18.

The Colts’ passing offense was low volume on a fruitful rushing day. This led to limited looks for Pittman, who saw just three targets, converting two catches for 19 yards. He is still the team’s top perimeter receiver, but his fantasy viability is volatile as long as Anthony Richardson is the Colts’ quarterback. Pittman is in the WR3 mix for Week 17 against the Giants.

Pittman was held out of practice on Wednesday but returned for full sessions in the following two practices. He routinely gets days off, so this is nothing new. Pittman has had a shockingly high floor over the past month, catching at least five passes for 46 yards in four straight games. Pittman is seeing more than enough targets to weather the ups and downs of Anthony Richardson, putting him just outside of the WR2 ranks for Week 16.

Pittman was a DNP on Wednesday due to a back injury that he’s been dealing with all season. His return to practice on Thursday is an encouraging sign for his Week 16 availability against the Titans, but Pittman can’t be trusted as anything more than a WR3/WR4 at this point in the season. Currently on pace for his worst season since his rookie year, Pittman has turned in just one top-24 PPR performance since Week 5.

Pittman has regularly taken days off while managing this back injury so a Wednesday absence is hardly concerning. If past injury reports tell us anything, he is likely to practice in full on Thursday. If he is unable to, this will become a situation worth monitoring.

Pittman led the team in targets. Josh Downs returned from a shoulder injury and caught three of his eight targets from a highly inaccurate Anthony Richardson. Sunday was the seventh straight game in which Pittman has not caught a touchdown. Pittman has become a borderline WR3 option thanks largely to the low-volume nature of the Indy passing offense and Anthony Richardson’s massive struggles as a passer. Pittman will be a flex option next week against the Titans.

Downs missed Week 13 with the shoulder issue but got a well-timed bye in Week 14. He returned for multiple full practices this week before being listed as questionable on Friday. Downs had at least five catches and 60 yards in four straight games before suffering the injury in Week 12. Having fully taken over the role of No. 1 receiver in Indianapolis, Downs is back in the WR2 ranks for his matchup with the Broncos.

With Josh Downs sidelined for this game, Pittman stepped up as the clear No. 1 receiver for Anthony Richardson, logging a 29 percent target share in the process. Though he seemingly did little with the increased role, his 42 yards were 20 more than any other Colts pass-catcher. He also drew two pass interference calls including a crucial one on the Colts’ final drive that kept the chains moving on third down. Pittman’s role will shrink if Josh Downs is healthy coming out of Indy’s upcoming bye. With Downs active and Anthony Richardson under center, Pittman has struggled to do more than post WR4 numbers.