Latest

Colts players you should and shouldn't target in your 2024 fantasy football drafts

   

All 32 teams are roughly a month out from their players arriving for their 2024 Training Camps. 

This also means we are approaching a popular window for fantasy football drafts to begin taking place. 

I have you covered on which Indianapolis Colts players you should and shouldn't target when you get on the clock to make a selection. 

Anthony Richardson

Target: Should

In the small sample size we saw last season, Anthony Richardson already looked like one of the best QBs in the NFL in terms of the run game, which is fantasy football gold. If he can stay healthy, Richardson has a plausible case to be the QB 1 in all of fantasy football. It's a high-risk, high-reward move that could be a league winner if it goes your way. If you choose this route, just make sure you grab a more than serviceable backup earlier than you typically would. 

Jonathan Taylor

Target: Should

Last season, those who owned Jonathan Taylor in fantasy experienced a roller coaster of production. They had to wait until Week 5 to see him take the field, and he split time with Zack Moss in the backfield, which hurt his numbers. He didn't have over 10 carries in a game until Week 7 but was the clear lead back, with Moss as a prominent backup the rest of the way. This year, though, Moss is gone, and Taylor is expected to get the share of carries for the Colts' offense. Some may get annoyed with Richardson taking touchdowns away from Taylor, but I think both will thrive in the red zone because of the other. I think Taylor will finish the upcoming season as a top 5 RB in fantasy football. 

Adonai Mitchell

Target: Shouldn't 

The Colts drafted Adonai Mitchell with the 52nd pick in the 2nd round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He is expected to enter his rookie Training Camp to battle with third-year WR Alec Pierce for the team's final starting WR job. I think Mitchell will end up winning this battle, but I believe this role will end up third in terms of targets this season behind Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs. And I don't think that role in this offense will warrant being a part of an average rotation in fantasy for this upcoming season. But if you are looking for a late-round player in your rookie dynasty drafts, circle Mitchell's name. Because I think year two or three of his rookie deal could be a very different story. 

Alec Pierce

Target: Shouldn't

As I said above, I expect Pierce and Mitchell to battle for the final starting job in the WR room. I think Mitchell has the upper hand, but whoever loses will still see a solid amount of snaps come their way. I see Pierce being able to focus on the routes he already excels in, which is attacking defenses vertically. And if he and Richardson connect just twice on those looks, that's a big production day for the young WR. He projects as a real "boom or bust" fantasy option. So unless you want to play the fortune teller game with Pierce's stat lines, I'd suggest looking for a more consistent option. 

Michael Pittman Jr. 

Target: Should

Pittman Jr. is coming off a career year in terms of targets, receptions, and yards. And that was with Garnder Minsehw under center. I think he could be in for another year of career bests with Richardson, as I still believe Pittman Jr. ends the year with the most targets, catches, and yards on the Colts offense. If you are looking for a consistent WR to add in fantasy, who will produce just about every week, look no further than Pittman Jr.

Colts TEs

Target: Shouldn't

I'd stay away from the Colts TE by committee due to them using so many of them that it's impossible to figure out who to start each week. Kylen Granson would be the most constient name to consider, but Jelani Woods and Will Mallory offer you more upside. But any of them could put up a goose-egg-type performance any given week if another is having a strong day. 

Colts Defense

Target: Should

This may be controversial to many people reading this, but hear me out. The Colts are coming off a year where they finished 5th in the NFL in sacks with 51, and they used their 1st-round pick on the most NFL-ready edge rusher in the 2024 NFL Draft, Laiatu Latu. I think the Colts are going to see another jump in production in terms of pass rush, and I expect DeForest Buckner to see the least amount of double teams he's had during his tenure with the Colts due to Latu's presence. If you are drafting individual players, I'd stay clear of the secondary, but Buckner, Latu, and Zaire Franklin all could have big fantasy seasons.

Josh Downs

Target: ShouldDowns is coming off a solid rookie season, but it could have even been better if Richardson hadn't gone down with an injury. The chemistry between Downs and Richardson is very apparent, and he looked prime to become the Colts QBs safety blanket last season. I think Downs is going to be Pittman Jr.'s biggest competition in terms of targets and catches in the Colts offense. And I think there will be games where he leads the team in both. I wouldn't draft Downs to be an every-week starter by any means. But I think he has a lot of value as a key backup WR in fantasy for the upcoming season. He can start during bye weeks or if an injury takes a starter out of the lineup. 

Was this article helpful?
Yes
No

Related articles

t2news.cafex.biz