Colts "Not Quitting" On Anthony Richardson
The Indianapolis Colts will roll with veteran Joe Flacco as the starting quarterback on Sunday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings following the early-career struggles of Anthony Richardson. Richardson has startedread more...
Anthony Richardson To The Bench, Colts Will Start Joe Flacco
Anthony Richardson has been benched, with Joe Flacco taking over as the starter. The veteran quarterback will start Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings, his fourth this season. Richardson has struggled this season, completing only 44.4% of his pass attempts in six games. Many wonder if the team is giving up on the former No. 4 overall pick too quickly. However, fantasy players welcome the change at quarterback. Flacco has been significantly better for the Colts' pass catchers, especially Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs. Flacco is a must-add off the waiver wire in single-quarterback and superflex leagues. Meanwhile, Pittman and Downs have WR2 upside with the veteran under center. aSource: Tom Pelissero - NFL Network
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Steichen, Non-Committal On Anthony Richardson As Week 9 Starter
Anthony Richardson starting at quarterback in Week 9. "We're evaluating everything," proclaimed Steichen. Yikes. It's a rough turn of events for the second-year starter, but not exactly one that's a surprise. The former Florida Gator has had a tough go in his appearances this season, failing to complete more than ten passes in 4-of-5 contests that he's played the entire game. Alternatively, veteran Joe Flacco excelled in his three outings, tossing seven touchdowns to just one interception. Fantasy managers must track this developing story ahead of the team's Week 9 road matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. If the team does turn to Flacco, it'd be an instant boost for the outlooks of Indy's pass-catchers. Stay tuned.Source: Arye Pulli
Per Arye Pulli of the NFL, Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen would not commit to Michael Pittman Jr. Held To One Catch In Week 8
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) was able to corral just one of his six targets in Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Texans, gaining a measly 16 yards in the contest. Fellow wide receiverread more...
Josh Downs Goes Over 100 Yards, Finds End Zone In Loss
Josh Downs led his team's receiving corps in catches and yards in Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Texans, reeling in four for 109 yards and a score. Downs was the only Colt to amass more than one reception in the contest with quarterback Anthony Richardson completing just 10 of 32 passes, and he nearly scored another touchdown but was down just shy of the end zone. The 23-year-old was also credited with 13 rush yards. Despite the solid effort, the former third-round draft pick will be volatile with such poor quarterback play and hard to trust on a weekly basis. In Week 9, the Colts will face the Vikings who have had seven wideouts record 78 or more receiving yards through seven games, so there's a chance he could have some Flex appeal, especially if Joe Flacco happened to be under center instead of Richardson.Source: ESPN
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Jonathan Taylor Goes Over 100 Yards Rushing, Scores In Return
Jonathan Taylor (ankle) looked like his old self on Sunday, rushing 20 times for 105 yards (5.3 YPC) and a score while adding one catch for 12 yards in the 23-20 loss to the Texans. Neither Tyler Goodson nor Trey Sermon received a single carry in the contest as Taylor monopolized the rushing duties. The 25-year-old now has five touchdowns in five games played and has gone over 100 total yards rushing and receiving in four straight games he's participated in. The former second-round draft pick will probably be an RB1 again in Week 9, although Minnesota has limited backs to just three rushing touchdowns (two through the air as well) thus far.Source: ESPN
After missing three weeks due to injury, Indianapolis Colts running back Anthony Richardson With Another Poor Showing In Loss
Anthony Richardson, completing just 10 of 32 passes for 175 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a 23-20 loss to the Texans. The 22-year-old also fumbled twice, losing one of them, and was sacked five times, while 69 of his total passing yards came on a single play to Josh Downs. If not for that one play and Richardson gaining 45 yards on the ground, it would have been an even more forgettable performance. The former first-round draft pick also left the game briefly, which seemed concerning at the time, but after the game he said he just "needed a break." Now with a 44.4% completion rate on the year with a 4:7 TD:INT, it is hard to imagine things will get better in Week 9 on the road versus a Vikings defense that is top three in the league in interceptions and sacks.Source: ESPN
It was another rough afternoon for Indianapolis Colts quarterback Alec Pierce A Boom/Bust WR5 In Week 8
Alec Pierce has had some big plays this season, however, they've come on few catches. The 24-year-old owns a superb 25.5 yards per reception average thus far but has just 15 total catches in seven games. One of those catches was a 60-yard touchdown back in Week 1 versus the Texans, which is his opponent in Week 8. It was Anthony Richardson who threw him that ball and it will be Richardson under center again this week, while Houston has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. Whether or not that translates to fantasy points for Pierce again seems like more of a roll of the dice with the second-year QB's poor completion rate (48.5%), so view the former second-round draft pick as a boom/bust candidate in the rematch versus the Texans as a WR5.Source: ESPN
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver DeForest Buckner Activated, Evan Hull Waived
Evan Hull. Buckner has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury during the second week of the season. In the season opener, Buckner had a productive afternoon as he tallied six tackles (five solo) with 1.5 sacks. Last season, the lineman posted a career-high 81 tackles with seven pass deflections and eight sacks. Buckner should expected to return to his typical starting role on Sunday afternoon facing the Houston Texans.Source: Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (ankle) was activated off the injured reserve and will return to action on Sunday. In a corresponding move the Colts waived running back Anthony Richardson A Low-End QB2 In Week 8
Anthony Richardson completed less than 50% of his passes again in his return to the starting role last week, completing 10 of 24 passes for a miserly 129 yards and no touchdowns. On the bright side, he did not throw an interception and contributed 56 yards on the ground on 14 carries, but he did not find the end zone there either. In the four full games Richardson has played, the 22-year-old has a 47.4% completion rate and is averaging a meager 178 yards passing per game along with a 3:6 TD:INT. Despite these uninspiring numbers, the second-year pro will face the Texans in Week 8, a team allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks so far this season and one who Richardson tallied three touchdowns (two pass, one rush) against back in Week 1. Still, the former first-round draft pick is a low-end QB2 this week and there are probably higher-floor streaming options for those in need.Source: ESPN
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Josh Downs Healthy But QB Play A Limiting Factor In Week 8
After missing practice Wednesday, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (toe) practiced in full Thursday and Friday, carrying no injury designation heading into the weekend. Still, with Anthony Richardsonread more...
Jonathan Taylor, No Designation For Week 8
Jonathan Taylor (ankle) is officially off the team's injury report ahead of their Week 8 matchup. The Wisconsin product returned to practice on Wednesday in a limited fashion and was able to upgrade his participation to full on Thursday and Friday. It's excellent news for the Colts, as Taylor -- who has been out since Week 5 -- should resume handling RB1 duties for the team in their road outing against the Houston Texans. While it will be hard to bench him, fantasy managers will want to temper expectations for the fifth-year RB coming off a high-ankle sprain in a difficult matchup. The 25-year-old rushed for 48 yards and a score on 16 carries back in Week 1 against their division rivals.Source: Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts running back Michael Pittman Jr. Not Practicing On Friday
Michael Pittman Jr. (back) was not practicing on Friday according to Jake Arthur of Sports Illustrated. This is surprising as Pittman was a full participant during Thursday's practice after sitting out on Wednesday. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the 27-year-old's status throughout the weekend as he may carry an injury designation if he faced a setback. Pittman has been dealing with a lingering back injury over the past few weeks but has been able to play in every game. If he is able to suit up once again, fantasy managers should view him as a low-end WR2 facing the Houston Texans who have allowed the 21st-most PPR points to opposing wideouts this season.Source: Jake Arthur
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Jonathan Taylor Tracking Well For Sunday
Jonathan Taylor (ankle) is "tracking very well" to play on Sunday according to Jake Arthur of Sports Illustrated. This is a great sign for the 25-year-old as he has been sidelined since suffering a high-ankle sprain during Week 4. Taylor also logged a full practice on Thursday after being limited on Wednesday. Fantasy managers should expect Taylor to return to action on Sunday against the Houston Texans. Taylor should be viewed as a high-end RB1 on Sunday as he averaged an impressive 18.1 PPR points per game during the first four weeks of the campaign.Source: Jake Arthur
Indianapolis Colts running back DeForest Buckner Logs Full Practice Thursday
Source: Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (ankle) upgraded to a full participant in practice on Thursday. The veteran defender was designated to return from injured reserve on Wednesday and remains eligible to practice without being activated until November 13. Of course, the Colts could opt to activate him prior to that deadline, perhaps as early as this week versus the Houston Texans. If activated, he would give the Colts' defense a major boost ahead of their key divisional battle.