Colts Fantasy Football Preview: Can a Healthy Anthony Richardson Elevate the Fantasy Outlooks for Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman and More?

Let’s dive into another NFL team fantasy football preview.

Check back soon for more team previews. Of course, things will change between now and the start of the season, and FantasySP will cover any major changes when those happen.

Here’s all the team previews we’ve already covered:

AFC: Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns

NFC: San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Commanders

Let’s talk about the Indianapolis Colts now.

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Anthony Richardson Fantasy Outlook

Richardson had his rookie season cut short because of injuries. He played in four games, but looked good in those contests and is a hot fantasy football draft option going into this season.

In his four games, Richardson completed 50 of his 84 passes for 577 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He added 136 rushing yards and four scores on 25 attempts.

Richardson’s dual-threat ability is what makes him appealing to fantasy owners. He’s got some solid offensive players around him, so if the youngster can stay healthy, he absolutely could be a top-end fantasy talent.

Right now, Richardson is QB6 and going around pick 52. 

That’s an early pick for a quarterback who has not proved a lot in the NFL. I try not to let injury concerns affect my fantasy outlooks for players, but if I do that with Richardson, I still think he’s going a touch too early in drafts. I prefer him in the next round, but also think he could finish as QB5 or better in fantasy, so I’m fine taking him after the big four (Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson).

Running Back Fantasy Outlooks

Jonathan Taylor is the top dog in Indy. Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson are backup options if Taylor were to miss any time.

Taylor appeared in just 10 games in 2023 and has only played in 21 games over the past two seasons. He rushed for 741 yards and seven touchdowns on 169 attempts last season. Taylor had 153 receiving yards and a score on 19 catches and 23 targets.

Sermon was on a different team in his first three NFL seasons. Last year with the Colts, Sermon played in 14 games and had 160 rushing yards and no scores on 35 attempts. He had 13 receiving yards and no touchdowns on three catches and six targets.

Goodson appeared in six games with Indy in his first NFL action. He had 87 yards on 13 rushing attempts, along with 34 receiving yards on six grabs and nine targets - he didn’t find the end zone.

It’s clear that Taylor will serve as the workhorse back for the Colts - and that the team might be in trouble if he misses any time. He’s RB5 and going around pick 10 right now.

I do think that Taylor is going a bit earlier than he should, but I can also understand why a fantasy owner would draft him late in round one or early in round two. He’s going to dominate the backfield touches, and even though Richardson might eat into things a bit, I’m a fan of Taylor for the upcoming season. Taylor isn’t likely to see his ADP change much, so if you want him, it'll definitely cost you an early pick.

The Colts’ backup running backs can be avoided in standard leagues, and probably wouldn’t be starting options even if Taylor were to miss a couple games. They are only options in deeper leagues because they are handcuffs to Taylor - don’t expect them to play much all season.

Wide Receiver Fantasy Outlooks

Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs and Alec Pierce are back and projected as the starters right now. Rookies Adonai Mitchell and Anthony Gould could push Pierce and/or Downs from the starting group, while Ashton Dulin is another backup option.

Pittman has had at least 925 yards and four touchdowns in each of the past three seasons. Last year in 16 games, Pittman had 109 grabs on 156 targets for 1,152 yards and four touchdowns.

Downs, who is dealing with an ankle injury right now, appeared in 17 games during his rookie season. He made 68 receptions on 98 targets, going for 771 yards and two touchdowns.

Pierce accomplished less in his sophomore season than what he did as a rookie despite playing in another game. He had 32 catches, 514 yards and two scores on 65 targets in 2023.

Dulin didn’t play in 2023 after suffering an ACL tear. In his first four years with the team, he went for 450 yards and three touchdowns on 33 catches and 52 targets.

Mitchell was drafted in the second round, while Gould was a fifth-round selection. Mitchell broke out with Texas in 2023, going for 813 yards and 10 touchdowns. Gould never really stood out at Oregon State across three seasons, but did have seven total touchdowns.

Pittman is the Colts’ receiver you want most. He’s WR19 and going around pick 37.

He’s got a pretty safe floor, with enough upside to warrant an early pick. I like the value Pittman provides at his current ADP.

Mitchell is WR57 and going around pick 141, while Downs is WR63 and going around pick 154. I too think these two are the top receivers after Pittman, and would give Mitchell the edge now because of the injury to Downs. Both are lottery tickets near the end of a standard draft, and I’m fine taking either of them. They are better options in deeper leagues and dynasties though, and might only be startable in those leagues most of the season.

Pierce is a deep league option, but he’ll likely only be a depth piece for the season. He might be startable early on if Downs misses regular season games, but when the receiving corps is at full health, I don’t see Pierce doing enough to be worthy of a fantasy starting spot.

Gould is an option in really deep leagues and dynasties, but I’d prefer to pass on him and instead treat him as a waiver wire/streaming option. Dulin is likely a peg below that, and it would take multiple injuries for him to play a good amount of snaps.

Tight End Fantasy Outlooks

Kylen Granson and Mo Alie-Cox are listed as co-starters on the team’s depth chart. Drew Ogletree and Jelani Woods are other options, but in reality, none of these guys are big-time fantasy options.

Alie-Cox played in 17 games for Indy in 2023. He had 161 yards and three touchdowns on 13 catches and 22 targets. 

Granson appeared in 15 games, making 30 grabs on 50 targets for 368 yards and a score. 

Ogletree was a part of 12 games last season. He had nine receptions on 21 targets for 147 yards and two scores.

Woods didn’t play in 2023 because of issues with his hamstring. In 2022, he played in 15 games, catching 25 of his 40 targets for 312 yards and three scores.

The Colts’ tight end group is a mess, and I feel like any of these four guys might contribute here and there throughout the season. They can safely be avoided in standard leagues, and should be looked to as bench options in deeper leagues and dynasties.

Woods is the top-drafted Indy TE on the ADP list, but because he’s listed as a backup, I’m not going to be spending a draft pick on him - or any of the team’s tight ends for that matter. I’d let someone else take the gamble, or get the top-performing guy off the waiver wire after a couple weeks of play.