Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard said that wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) will not require surgery for the fractured back that he played through late in the 2024 season. "One tough dude. Example of what you want," Ballard said. It's a testament to Pittman's toughness that he missed just one game due to his back injury. But the 27-year-old's back issues and inconsistent play from the quarterback position in Indianapolis in 2024 led to Pittman posting only 808 receiving yards -- his fewest since his rookie season in 2020 -- to go with 69 receptions (also his lowest mark since 2020) and only three touchdowns in 16 games. Better health will give him a chance to rebound in 2025, but his overall upside might be dependent on quarterback Anthony Richardson's health and his ability to improve as a passer.
Jan 10, 2025 12:10 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) admitted that he's been playing through a small fracture in his back. Pittman first noticed it during a joint practice with the Arizona Cardinals in training camp, and a scan showed the extent of the injury. He decided to play through his back injury and had a follow-up scan in Week 3. The 27-year-old will have another scan on Monday to determine if he'll require offseason surgery. Surprisingly, Pittman only missed one game in 2024, although his back injury certainly played a part in what was a down season for his standards. He finished with 69 receptions on 111 targets for 808 yards -- his lowest total since his rookie season in 2020 -- and only three touchdowns in 16 games. Second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson's own injuries and inaccuracy didn't help Pittman's cause in 2024.
Jan 6, 2025 12:04 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. caught six of 10 targets for 72 yards and no touchdowns in Sunday's 26-23 overtime win against the Jaguars. The 27-year-old recorded five or more receptions in six of his last seven games of the season, but it was a year mostly filled with inconsistency at the quarterback position. The reception (69), yardage (808), and touchdown totals (3) were all the lowest outputs since his rookie season in 2020. After setting career highs in receptions and yardage in 2023, this season surely did not meet expectations, especially for fantasy managers who drafted him. With Anthony Richardson under center in 2025, Pittman's outlook doesn't look much better unless the QB can fix his accuracy issues after posting a miserable 47.7% completion rate in 2024. If the Colts get him on track, then Pittman could end up being a value in next year's fantasy drafts assuming his price will be fairly depressed.
Jan 5, 2025 7:57 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. set season-highs in receptions and targets last week with Joe Flacco back at the helm, catching nine of 10 passes for 109 yards and a score. With a week full of practice, the 27-year-old should not be limited in any way again this week, taking on a Jaguars defense that ranks eighth-worst in allowing production to wide receivers. Jacksonville has been even worse against the run, so the Colts may be more inclined to ride Jonathan Taylor's hot hand, although, with both teams out of playoff contention, we could see a few more backups get some playing time in this one. Additionally, with an expected total on the low side (43.5), the teams probably won't combine for 71 points as they did when they played each other earlier this season. In that contest, the former second-round draft pick had five catches for 37 yards and a TD. As it stands, view Pittman Jr. as a WR3 with some upside if the game remains competitive throughout.
Jan 4, 2025 10:33 AM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. set season highs in targets and receptions in Sunday's 45-33 loss to the Giants, hauling in nine of 10 targets for 109 yards and a score. With the Colts playing from behind all day, it was the intermediate-to-long-range pass catchers who benefitted from the unexpected game script as Indy tried to play catch-up. It was the fifth time in the last six games that the 27-year-old recorded at least seven targets and five receptions, but only the second time he's gone over 100 yards receiving all season, the other instance coming back in Week 4. With as poorly as this passing attack has looked, there are surely managers who saw this production on their bench, but for those who had the foresight to play the former second-round draft pick, he surely helped teams to fantasy championships. For anyone still playing next week or thinking about DFS options, the Colts get a favorable home matchup against the Jaguars, but monitor to see who is under center for the Colts as Joe Flacco will make the receivers better plays than if it is Anthony Richardson (back, foot).
Dec 29, 2024 7:02 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is coming off of a quiet showing in Week 16, catching just two of three targets for 19 yards, however, outside of teammate Josh Downs, all Colts pass catchers suffered in last week's matchup as Anthony Richardson completed just seven passes on the day with Jonathan Taylor doing all of the heavy lifting for the offense. Prior to that game, Pittman Jr. had no less than seven targets or five receptions in four consecutive contests heading into Week 16. This Sunday, the Colts are eight-point favorites against the Giants who have been tough against wide receivers, allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to WRs on the season, but have been bottom third in the league in yielding production to RBs, so look for the offense to run through Taylor again. There is also uncertainty as to who will be under center for the Colts as Anthony Richardson (back, foot) missed practice all week, so it could be veteran Joe Flacco in his stead. With Flacco at QB earlier this season, the numbers indicate Downs was the 39-year-old's preferred target. As such, regardless of who is throwing the ball, Pittman Jr. projects as a risky Flex play this week with fantasy championships on the line.
Dec 27, 2024 9:07 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. caught 2-of-3 targets for 19 yards and no touchdowns in a 38-30 win over the Titans on Sunday. With Jonathan Taylor running wild on the Tennessee defense, quarterback Anthony Richardson wasn't tasked with airing it out much in this one, completing only seven passes in the game. Josh Downs returned to being the "preferred" receiving option in this one, logging three catches on four targets, but both receivers probably have a similar chance to lead the receiving corps next week. In Week 17, the Colts will take on the Giants, a defense that has been good at limiting fantasy production to receivers but one of the worst against running backs, so look for Taylor and Richardson to carry the load again next Sunday. That likely leaves Pittman Jr. as a dicey WR3/4 option with fantasy championships on the line.
Dec 23, 2024 1:10 AM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was a full participant in practice on Friday. The 27-year-old did not practice on Wednesday, but was back to a full participant the following two sessions to close out the week. The 6-foot-4 wideout has dealt with back issues seemingly all season long, but it has cost him just one week of playing time. The former second-round draft pick has been Anthony Richardson's preferred target in the passing game over the last four weeks since being reinstated as the starting QB, averaging over five catches per contest, albeit for just 60 yards per game. The fifth-year pro hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 6, which happened to be against his Week 16 opponent, the Tennessee Titans. Although he found paydirt in that first meeting, he did so on just three catches for 35 yards. With the Titans allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers and with Richardson completing less than 50% of his passes on the season, expectations for Sunday's divisional showdown should be tempered. While the Colts are 3.5-point favorites in this one, there is a low expected total of 42.5 and Pittman Jr. projects as a WR4 this week, so hopefully fantasy managers have other options.
Dec 20, 2024 10:52 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) was upgraded to a full participant during Thursday's practice. This is a great sign for the wideout as he was a non-participant on Wednesday. Pittman has battled a lingering back injury throughout the season and has only missed one game due to it back in Week 10. Since Week 11, Pittman has averaged 5.5 receptions per game while tallying 60.5 yards per contest. This is a nice improvement compared to the 40.5 yards he averaged per game during the first nine contests of the season. Fantasy managers should monitor his stats on Friday in case he faces a setback, but he is currently on track to be a full-go on Sunday. This weekend, he will face the Tennessee Titans, who have allowed the fifth-fewest PPR points to opposing wide receivers this season.
Dec 19, 2024 5:38 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) is practicing on Thursday after resting his back on Wednesday. Pittman has been managing a back injury of late, but he managed to play 96 percent of the offensive snaps in the Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos and caught six of his nine targets for 58 yards while losing a crucial fumble in the second half. The 27-year-old has at least five receptions and seven targets in each of the last four games, but he hasn't found the end zone since Oct. 13 and only has one 100-yard game in 2024. Pittman's fantasy stock has taken a hit this year in Indy's low-volume passing attack and with young quarterback Anthony Richardson struggling with accuracy and consistency. The good news is that one of Pittman's two TDs on the year came against the division-rival Titans in their first meeting, although they also allow the third-fewest PPR points to receivers.
Dec 19, 2024 12:57 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receivers Michael Pittman Jr. (back) and Ashton Dulin (ankle) both missed the first practice of Week 16 preparation on Wednesday. In addition, Alec Pierce (concussion) also did not practice, so Indy's receiving corps is a bit beat up heading into Sunday's game against the division-rival Tennessee Titans. Pittman has been battling through a back issue of late but hasn't missed a game because of it, and he played 96 percent of the offensive snaps in the Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Our guess is the Colts are just resting the veteran wideout before he returns to practice later this week and plays on Sunday. The 27-year-old former second-rounder has become more of a hard-to-trust WR4/flex in the Colts' low-volume passing attack with young quarterback Anthony Richardson struggling with his accuracy. Pittman does have at least five catches and seven targets in the last four games, though.
Dec 18, 2024 5:21 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. led the team in targets, receptions, and yards in Sunday's 31-13 loss to the Broncos. Unfortunately, with Anthony Richardson under center that hasn't amounted to much this season, as the 27-year-old caught six of his nine targets for 58 yards and no scores. Pittman also lost one of the three fumbles the Colts lost on the day, further diminishing his fantasy output. The 6-foot-4 wideout has become Richardson's preferred option in the passing attack since being renamed starter back in Week 13, but hasn't found the end zone since Week 6 and hasn't topped 100 yards receiving since Week 4. The fifth-year pro gets a more favorable matchup in Week 16 against the Titans, but with the inefficiency of the passing game, Pittman figures to be a low-end WR3 or Flex option next Sunday.
Dec 16, 2024 12:19 AM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. has at least seven targets and five catches in the last three games since Anthony Richardson was reinserted under center for Indy. It's an encouraging trend after a rough stretch of relative underperformance midseason and after missing Week 10's contest due to a back injury. The 27-year-old was a full participant in practice all week and with the issue seemingly behind him, especially after a bye week to rest up, he'll look to keep the momentum going in Week 15. However, that will be a challenge as the Colts take on the Broncos this week in Denver, with the Broncos holding opposing wide receivers to the ninth-fewest fantasy points so far this season. Pittman in particular has some things working against him, as the 6-foot-4 wideout will likely draw shadow coverage from star corner Pat Surtain II and teammate Josh Downs (shoulder) looking like he'll return to action after getting two full practices in to end the week so there will again be more competition for targets. Combined with the fact that Richardson has completed 12 passes or fewer in six of his eight full games played in 2024 with a 7:9 TD:INT, Pittman looks like a risky borderline WR3/4 option.
Dec 13, 2024 8:40 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. led the team in targets, catches, and receiving yards on Sunday, but with quarterback Anthony Richardson completing just 12 passes, it didn't amount to much. The 27-year-old caught five of seven targets for 42 scoreless yards, although the Colts were able to pull off a 25-24 victory anyway thanks to the legs of Jonathan Taylor and the aforementioned Richardson. Since Richardson was reinserted as the starting quarterback, Pittman Jr. has seemingly taken over as the preferred option in the passing game, although he had less competition on Sunday with Josh Downs out with an injury. The former second-round draft pick has at least seven targets and five catches in the last three games, however, it will be hard to exceed that output when the Colts come out of their by in Week 15 as they will face a stout Denver pass defense on the road.
Dec 2, 2024 12:12 AM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. has had 15 targets and 11 catches over the last two weeks with Anthony Richardson under center, which is particularly impressive given Richardson's 53.4% completion rate during that time. Josh Downs had been the clear leader at the receiver position until two weeks ago, but now has eight catches on 12 targets over the last two weeks. Downs was injured last week and will not play Sunday, so Pittman will have even less competition for looks. The 27-year-old, who practiced in full all week, will face a Patriots pass defense that has yielded three 100-yard receivers in the last two games and has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to the WR position this season. Despite the setup, with Richardson not throwing many TD passes (five through seven full games) and winds that will make it feel close to freezing in Foxboro, the fifth-year pro looks like a WR3 on Sunday.
Nov 29, 2024 7:33 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. led the Indy receiving corps in Sunday's 24-6 loss to the Lions, tying Josh Downs with a team-high seven targets and turning it into six receptions for 96 yards. No other Colt receiver had more than three catches or 39 yards. It was an encouraging performance on a day where Anthony Richardson completed just 11 passes on 28 attempts. It was the second consecutive week in which the 27-year-old recorded at least seven targets and five catches with Richardson under center. The Colts will take on the Patriots in Week 13 who just allowed Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill to total 192 yards receiving on 13 catches, so Pittman Jr. has a chance to keep the momentum going so long as Richardson keeps feeding him targets.
Nov 24, 2024 8:22 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is having a quiet season thus far, but Week 11 gave us hope that he could still manufacture some worthwhile fantasy production with Anthony Richardson under center, garnering a team-high eight targets and turning it into five catches for 46 yards. Week 12 brings a matchup against the Lions in a game that boasts an over/under of 50 points, so there should be a decent amount of scoring on both sides. The Lions have been tough against the run this year but can be beaten through the air, having given up the sixth-most passing yards per game and seventh-most fantasy points to WRs. If this game goes to script, the Colts will be playing catch-up with the Lions throughout, which should mean plenty of targets for the receiving corps. Even though the 6-foot-4 wideout showed up on the injury report this week as he continues to battle through a back issue, he was listed as a full participant all week and has been cleared to play. All of this combined with the fact that six teams are on bye this week make the 27-year-old a low-end WR3 this week.
Nov 22, 2024 7:41 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. returned to action after a one-week absence and led his team in targets on Sunday with eight, hauling in five of them for 46 yards in a 28-27 nailbiter win over the Jets in Week 11. It was only the third time this season in 10 games played that the fifth-year pro eclipsed the 40-yard plateau and only the third time he's caught five or more passes. Still, with Anthony Richardson looking like a competent quarterback on Sunday, there may be better days ahead for the 27-year-old. Look for the 6-foot-4 wideout to be a fringe WR3 in Week 12, especially with six teams on bye.
Nov 17, 2024 9:58 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) will play in Week 11 on Sunday against the New York Jets after missing the Week 10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Pittman has been dealing with a back injury for a while now, but it finally caused him to miss a game last week. The writing was on the wall for him to return this weekend, though, after he returned to a full practice on Wednesday. It's good news for the Colts' offense, but the 27-year-old pass-catcher will still be a shaky fantasy play with quarterback Anthony Richardson and his accuracy issues returning to the starting job. Additionally, the Jets defense has allowed the fewest half-PPR points per game to opposing receivers in 2024. Pittman has been outside the top-50 receivers in terms of average PPR points scored per game this season.
Nov 15, 2024 1:27 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) was back on the practice field for the second straight day on Thursday. Pittman has been dealing with a back injury for a while now and missed the Week 10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. However, he was listed as a full practice participant on Wednesday, signaling that he could return this Sunday to face the New York Jets, as long as he doesn't suffer a setback. It's good news for the Colts, but fantasy managers will justifiably have some reservations about starting the 27-year-old wideout this weekend, especially with struggling second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson getting his starting job back against a formidable defense. Pittman is Indy's WR1 when healthy, but it's led to only a 30-366-2 line through nine games in 2024. If he's active against the Jets, Pittman should be viewed as more of a touchdown-dependent WR3/flex.
Nov 14, 2024 12:50 PM EST
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