Trey

Burton

Jacksonville is the league’s most tight end-needy team after losing James O’Shaughnessy to a long-term ankle injury in Week 2. Burton, 29, after a career season in Chicago in 2018, was hardly used at all while struggling through injuries in two years with the Colts. He would be the Jags’ test pass catching tight end if he were to sign with the team. For now, Luke Farrell and possibly Jacob Hollister will take on pass-catching duties while O’Shaughnessy recovers.

Burton again ran well behind Jack Doyle and his seven grabs for 70 yards and a touchdown. More than half of Philip Rivers’ 27 completions against Buffalo went to tight ends. Burton led Colts tight ends with 47 targets this season while struggling through a variety of physical ailments, including knee and calf injuries. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. It wouldn’t be a shock if head coach Frank Reich -- who coached Burton in Philadelphia -- pushed to re-sign the athletic tight end. He won’t be a reliable fantasy option unless and until he’s the team’s unquestioned primary pass catching tight end.

Fresh off a five catch, 50 yard performance against the Steelers, Doyle is looking iffy for Week 17’s game against Jacksonville, though he missed last week’s Thursday practice with the same quad issue. None of the Colts tight ends are reliable fantasy options unless one or two of them are injured.

It was the fourth consecutive game Burton finished with fewer than 20 receiving yards. He also hasn’t scored a touchdown in that span. Fantasy players should continue to ignore him in Week 17.

Burton and Jack Doyle ran 15 pass routes while Mo Alie-Cox ran nine routes against Houston. All three guys saw two targets. None of the Colts’ tight ends are fantasy viable unless fantasy managers have cracked the code for determining Indy tight end usage.

The Colts’ tight end group combined for five grabs for 36 yards. Doyle has cleared 20 yards twice since Week 1. Moving on.

Alie-Cox has now missed two straight practices. He’s not a reliable fantasy option even if he suits up this week against Houston, but his absence should open up snaps for Jack Doyle and Trey Burton, who returned to a full practice Thursday after missing Wednesday’s practice with a knee issue. Burton would be a desperation streaming play against the Texans if Alie-Cox is inactive.

Burton has just one catch to his name over the last two games. Teammate Mo Alie-Cox also missed practice on Wednesday, and neither are fantasy viable against the Texans in Week 15.

Jack Doyle led the Colts’ tight ends with three targets. It’s a three-player rotation, one that shouldn’t be counted on for fantasy purposes. Only a red zone score can get Burton back onto the TE2/3 border right now.

Alie-Cox also drew the most targets (4) among Colts tight ends. He finished with three catches for 23 yards against Houston. Alie-Cox ran 20 routes, while Trey Burton ran 16 and Jack Doyle ran 10. Indy’s tight end rotation has proven a nightmare for fantasy managers seeking waiver wire options. It’ll likely stay that way in Week 14 against the Raiders.