Pittman's production didn't match his target share in Week 1, so I wouldn't expect him to be a popular play in Week 2. But give me a target hog against a team that just gave up a combined 203 receiving yards to A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith. Expect 10 targets from Pittman and if he scores a touchdown I expect he'll top 20 PPR Fantasy points.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Four grabs in loss to Houston
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Pittman caught four of eight targets for 31 yards in Sunday's 29-27 loss to the Texans.
The fifth-year wideout led the Colts in catches and targets, but Pittman wasn't able to do much with the volume as his longest reception went for only 13 yards. Anthony Richardson and the Colts' passing game struggled to sustain drives in the team's opener, but Pittman's role is encouraging for his future production. He'll look to do more damage in Week 2 against the Packers.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: WRs to Sit
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In two games against the Texans last year, Pittman got a lot of volume, with not much to show for it. He had 18 targets in two games against Houston and 13 catches, but he combined for just 100 yards and no touchdowns. In PPR, the 13.6 points that he scored in Week 2 isn't horrible, but I would still only start Pittman in three-receiver leagues in this matchup. This secondary, which is led by talented cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., allowed the second-fewest touchdowns to receivers in 2023 with 10, and the pass rush improved with the addition of Danielle Hunter. Pittman could again struggle against the Texans this week.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: One catch in dress rehearsal
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Pittman caught one of two targets for 12 yards in Thursday's 27-14 preseason win over the Bengals.
Pittman's lone catch came on the first drive, but he couldn't get anything else going as Anthony Richardson went cold on the next few drives, and Pittman dropped his only other target. The Colts are likely to be more effective on the ground than through the air given Richardson's rushing ability and the presence of star running back Jonathan Taylor, but Pittman projects to remain the top dog in a receiving corps that also includes rookie second-round pick Adonai Mitchell, Josh Downs (ankle) and Alec Pierce. Pittman will begin the regular season Sunday, Sept. 8 against a Texans team that held him to two of his six lowest single-game yardage totals in 2023.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: In line to see snaps Thursday
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Coach Shane Steichen relayed earlier this week that the Colts plan to play their starters, including Pittman, for about a quarter and a half in Thursday's preseason finale against the Bengals, JJ Stankevitz of the team's official site reports.
The Colts rested key skill players this past Saturday against the Cardinals, but Steichen wants to see regulars like Pittman get some snaps in Thursday before giving way to the team's reserves. As the coming season approaches, Pittman remains the clear-cut top option in Indy's WR corps, a high volume role that yielded him a 109-1,152-4 receiving line in 16 regular-season games in 2023.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Not slated to play Saturday
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Coach Shane Steichen said Thursday that Pittman won't suit up for Saturday's preseason game versus the Cardinals, Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Along with Pittman, the rest of the Colts' starters and No. 2 signal-caller Joe Flacco won't be available for the team's second exhibition. Assuming Josh Downs (ankle) also doesn't play, Indy's available wide receivers figure to be rookie second-rounder Adonai Mitchell, Alec Pierce and Ashton Dulin (hamstring, if available), among others. In four pro seasons to date, Pittman has two 1,000-yard tallies on his resume, and he's posted 14 receiving touchdowns in 49 regular-season contests the last three campaigns.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: One target in preseason opener
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Pittman didn't catch his only target in Sunday's 34-30 preseason loss to the Broncos.
Pittman was the only wide receiver to earn a target from starting quarterback Anthony Richardson, as Richardson's other three passes during his two-drive stint in the game were all directed to tight ends. After racking up 296 catches for 3,159 yards and 14 touchdowns over the past three seasons, Pittman heads into 2024 as the clear No. 1 option in the Colts' passing game. He and the starters could see more action Saturday against the Cardinals in Indianapolis' next preseason game.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Knee issue downplayed
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Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that Pittman (knee) "should be fine" after he left the practice field early Wednesday, Mike Chappell of Fox 59 News Indianapolis reports.
Steichen said Pittman "just bumped knees" during 11-on-11 drills. The Colts have no incentive to rush Pittman -- who's fresh off signing a three-year, $70 million extension -- back on the field, so it's possible he misses more of OTAs. Still, the No. 1 wideout ought to have plenty of opportunities to build chemistry with second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson this offseason, as long as his knee injury is indeed only minor. Pittman managed a 109-1,152-4 receiving line across 16 games last season despite substandard quarterback play, so having a healthy Richardson back under center should raise his fantasy ceiling.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Inking three-year extension
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Pittman has agreed to a three-year deal to remain with the Colts, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The team had previously placed its franchise tag on Pittman, but evidently since then the two sides have been working toward a long-term deal. Per Rapoport, the wideout's looming new contract can reach up to $71.5 million and includes $46 million guaranteed. The 26-year-old is coming off a 2023 regular season in which he posted a career-high 109-1,152-4 line on 156 targets in 16 games. With Pittman staying in the fold in 2024 and beyond, the Colts have secured valuable stability at the wide receiver position, a context that no doubt will benefit the development of young franchise QB Anthony Richardson (shoulder).
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Leads team with five catches
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Pittman corralled five of six targets for 44 yards in Saturday's 23-19 loss to the Texans.
Those deploying Pittman in fantasy were unfortunately charged with a lost fumble on the final play of regulation when the Colts were attempting to return a kickoff using multiple laterals. Indianapolis' top wideout still led the club in catches Saturday, ending his 2023 campaign with a new career high of 109 receptions over 16 games. Pittman also set a new high-water mark in yards this year (1,152), but his four touchdowns fell short of the six he scored in 2021. The USC product picked an excellent time to set new career marks, as he will enter the upcoming offseason as an unrestricted free agent.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: WRs to Start
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Pittman scored 13.6 PPR points at Houston in Week 2 when he caught eight passes for 56 yards on 12 targets. He's now scored at least 12 PPR points in each of his past three games against the Texans, with two touchdowns, and he should do well against them again in Week 18. Since Week 10, a span of eight games, 11 receivers have scored at least 12.4 PPR points against Houston, with five scoring at least 19.7 PPR points, and the Texans have allowed eight touchdowns to receivers over that span.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Team-high five grabs Sunday
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Pittman caught five of seven targets for 46 yards in Sunday's 23-20 win over the Raiders.
The Indy passing attack took a back seat to Jonathan Taylor and the ground game, but Pittman still led the team in catches and targets. The fourth-year wideout set new career highs in receptions (104) and receiving yards (1,108) on the season in the process, and with the Colts locked in a three-way tie atop the AFC South, Pittman may need to come up big in Week 18 against the Texans.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Clears concussion protocol
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Pittman (concussion/shoulder) has cleared the NFL's protocol for head injuries and is in line to play against the Raiders on Sunday, barring any setbacks, Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star reports.
The Colts' final injury report of the week will confirm whether Pittman approaches the contest with a designation or fully cleared to face Las Vegas, but at this stage it appears as though the team's top pass catcher will return to the lineup following a one-game absence.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Logs full practice
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Pittman (concussion/shoulder) was listed as a full practice participant Thursday.
Per James Boyd of The Athletic, Pittman wasn't sporting a non-contact jersey Thursday, which suggests the wideout is progressing well ahead of Sunday's game against the Raiders. The Colts haven't yet indicated that Pittman has been removed from concussion protocol, as the wideout may still need to receive clearance from an independent neurologist before getting the green light to play Sunday. More clarity on Pittman's status should come when head coach Shane Steichen speaks to the media Friday.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Practicing Thursday with contact
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Pittman (concussion/shoulder) was spotted taking part in practice Thursday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Pittman was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's practice estimate, so his continued presence on the field a day later bodes well for his chances of suiting up Sunday against the Raiders. According to Boyd, Pittman wasn't sporting a non-contact jersey Thursday, suggesting that he's taken another step forward in the five-step concussion protocol. The Colts will release their second Week 17 injury report later Thursday, when the extent of Pittman's practice participation will be known.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Limited on estimate Wednesday
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Pittman (concussion/shoulder) was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's practice estimate.
Pittman remains in the NFL's five-step concussion protocol and will likely need to upgrade to full participation either Thursday or Friday in addition to gaining clearance from an independent neurologist to have a chance at playing in Sunday's game against the Raiders. Still, limited participation in Wednesday's walk-through is certainly better than a no-show for the Colts' No. 1 receiver, who passed concussion protocol last Friday but sat out Sunday's loss to the Falcons after his symptoms resurfaced Saturday.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Remains in protocol Wednesday
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Colts head coach Shane Steichen confirmed Wednesday that Pittman (shoulder) remains in concussion protocol, George Bremer of The Anderson Herald Bulletin reports.
Steichen added that Pittman is "progressing well," but the coach had similar sentiments heading into the Colts' previous game before the wideout's symptoms resurfaced Saturday and forced him to sit out a 29-10 Week loss to the Falcons. Pittman will have to clear the five-step protocol to have a chance to play Sunday against the Raiders in a pivotal game for the 8-7 Colts' playoff hopes.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Symptoms return, out Sunday
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Pittman (concussion/shoulder) has been downgraded to out for Sunday's game in Atlanta.
Pittman was on the receiving end of a big hit from Steelers safety Damontae Kazee in the second quarter of last Saturday's game and was unable to return. While he cleared the concussion protocol as of Friday, Pittman still entered the weekend as questionable for Week 16 action. After he reported a recurrence of symptoms Saturday, though, he's back in the protocol for head injuries, which he'll be subject to in order to be able to play again this season.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Questionable with shoulder issue
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Pittman (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Falcons after logging a limited practice Friday.
Per Raven Moore of the Colts' official site, Pittman cleared the NFL's concussion protocol Friday, but the team's top wide receiver is still dealing with a shoulder issue. As a result, his status will need to be verified ahead of Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff. If Pittman ends up sitting out this weekend, added pass-catching opportunities would be available for Josh Downs, Alec Pierce and D.J. Montgomery.
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Colts' Michael Pittman: Exits protocol, will play Sunday
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Colts head coach Shane Steichen confirmed Friday that Pittman has cleared the NFL's concussion protocol and will be available Sunday against the Falcons, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
After being listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's practice estimate, Pittman took part in a full-contact session Thursday. He apparently passed the final step of the protocol -- gaining clearance from an independent neurologist -- before or after Friday's practice, so he's now on track to continue leading the Colts' receiving corps Week 16. The fourth-year wideout has produced a fantasy-friendly 99-1,062-4 receiving line on 143 targets through 14 appearances this season.
