Anthony Richardson Back as Colts Starting Quarterback | Week 11 Fantasy Football Outlook for Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman, Josh Downs and More

A couple weeks ago, the Indianapolis Colts made the interesting decision to bench Anthony Richardson in favor of Joe Flacco.

It was done to help jumpstart a sputtering offense, but after two more losses and not great offensive showings, the Colts are going back to Richardson again.

Let’s take a look at what the move means for the other Colts’ fantasy options, and then determine the best starting options for week 11.

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Season Stats

In six games and starts, Richardson has completed just 44.4% of his passes (59-of-133). He’s thrown for 958 yards, four touchdowns and seven interceptions.

He’s only topped 200 passing yards twice, and has only one game with multiple TD passes (week 1). Richardson has thrown a pick in four of his six games, but only had one across his past three starts (60 attempts).

Richardson has 242 rushing yards and a touchdown across 41 attempts this season. He’s had at least 24 yards in every game and topped out at 56. 

Jonathan Taylor has rushed for 616 yards and five touchdowns across his seven games played. He’s also got 108 receiving yards on 12 receptions and 20 targets.

Taylor has over 100 rushing yards in four games, and has at least 48 yards in each contest. There were only two times this season in which Taylor failed to reach 100 total yards.

Alec Pierce is surprisingly the team leader in receiving yards with 516. He also has four scores across 23 receptions and 40 targets. 

He’s been a boom-or-bust fantasy player, with three games over 80 yards (including games of 134 and 125 yards) and four at 15 yards or less. 

Michael Pittman Jr. did not play last week because of a lingering back injury, which has hampered him over the past several weeks. He has 366 yards and two scores on 30 catches and 57 targets for the season.

He’s topped 40 receiving yards just once in the past five games, and only has one game over 65 yards all season. He’s been practicing in full so far this week, so his chances of playing in week 11 look good.

Josh Downs is up to 483 yards and three touchdowns across 45 receptions and 66 targets - he’s played in eight games.

Downs has at least 60 yards in each of the past three games, and has only failed to top that mark twice all season (both came in Richardson starts).

Adonai Mitchell hasn’t been heavily involved, but is coming off his best showing in week 10 (when Pittman was out). He has 211 yards and no touchdowns across 18 receptions and 38 targets.

Last week was Mitchell’s first time over 40 yards and four catches in a game. His most-targeted games came when Flacco was the quarterback.

Indy hasn’t gotten much out of their tight ends (Mo Alie-Cox, Kylen Granson, Drew Ogletree and Will Mallory), with a big reason why being they split the snaps between the four of them.

Week 11 Matchups and Projections

The Colts take on the Jets in week 11.

It poses a slightly below-average matchup for Richardson, with New York giving up 15 fantasy points to opposing fantasy quarterbacks. Taylor has another below-average test, with the Jets giving up 20 points to running backs.

The Colts’ receivers have the worst matchup on paper this week, as New York surrenders just 25 fantasy points per game. The tight ends also have a below-average clash, with the Jets allowing 10 points.

Our weekly projections have Richardson set for 14 fantasy points. Taylor is projected for 16 PPR points.

Downs is the top Indy wideout, projected for 11 PPR points. Pierce is at eight points, Pittman seven and Mitchell misses the top 63 slots. No Colts tight end cracks the top 24 this week.

Starting Recommendations

Richardson is always a decent fantasy option because of his dual-threat ability, but in the tough matchup, I’m trying to avoid him. Some of you might be forced into playing him in a deeper league or two-QB setup, but I’d temper my expectations for him.

Taylor is pretty close to being a must-start fantasy option. The matchup this week is tougher, but I’m still keeping him in my starting lineup and feeling confident he’ll deliver at least an average fantasy showing.

I am against starting the wide receivers in standard leagues. Richardson has struggled as a passer, and this matchup is as tough as they get.

I like Downs the best of the bunch, but would feel much safer playing him in a deeper league. Pittman is another one to possibly play in a deeper league, but the back injury makes him even riskier.

I’d try to stay away from Pierce and Mitchell outside the deepest of leagues. A big play could spark them to solid fantasy totals, but in the tough matchup, I’d try my luck with someone else if I could.

None of the tight ends appeal to me in any format in the tougher matchup - not that a favorable matchup would have helped all that much either.