A third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Downs entered the league as an analytics darling, dominating at North Carolina despite his 5’9″, 171 pound frame with a 34.1% college target share (97th percentile) and a 34.6% College Dominator (70th percentile). That production never seemed to translate at the NFL level, however, as Downs’ highest scoring fantasy football season was 13.1 PPG (WR28) in 2024.
For Downs’ immediate future, the 49ers, Rams, Chiefs, and Packers make sense given the injuries to their receiving corps. Should Downs leave Indianapolis, Laquon Treadwell (13.5% target share), Tyler Warren (22.9% target share), and Keenan Allen (27.2% target share) would be expected to take on larger roles within the Colts’ passing attack.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen earned seven ...
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen spent most of...
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen got thrown ...
Daniel Jones will remain the Colts starting quarterback despite having a massive drop off in production from 2025 to 2026. His yards per attempt has dropped from 8.1 to 5.8 and his epa per play has dropped from 0.17 to -0.11. If a benching were to happen Anthony Richardson or Riley Leonard would be in line to start.
To make matters worse the Colts traded away guard Quentin Nelson this week and there have been trade rumors around Jonathan Taylor and Josh Downs. Jeremy Fowler reported earlier this week that Downs had requested a trade and that multiple teams are interested. If he were to be dealt, the Colts would be left with Keenan Allen, Laquon Treadwell, Deion Burks, and Ashton Dulin at wide receiver with Alec Pierce still out with an ankle injury.
The Indianapolis Colts have officially ruled out TE Tyler Warren for Week 6 after injuring his groin in practice on Friday. He seemed to be trending on the wrong side of Questionable and with the injury occurring on Friday, there just wasn’t enough time for Warren to get healthy enough to play.
While Mo Alie-Cox is the next man up at TE, he is not nearly the threat in the passing game that Warren is. Josh Downs and Keenan Allen will be the primary receiving options for Daniel Jones in this one, but this could very well be a Jonathan Taylor game for the Colts. Laquon Treadwell and rookie Deion Burks should get some run as well. Fantasy football managers will need to monitor the Colts practice reports next week to see if Warren will be able to return in Week 7 vs. the Vikings.
Alec Pierce is out of his cast, but the Colts receiver remains several weeks from game action and is not expected to resume practicing when first eligible next week, according to Tom Pelissero. The heel injury has interrupted a season in which Pierce managed five receptions for 72 yards across two appearances, following a 1,003-yard, six-touchdown campaign in 2025, per PlayerProfiler.
His downfield upside—he averaged 21.3 yards per reception last season— is intriguing, but this is shaping up as a lost season for Pierce. Consider dropping him in shallow redraft leagues, particularly when bye weeks and injuries create an immediate need for usable players. Josh Downs will continue to operate as the Colts’ defacto WR1 with Laquon Treadwell also running featured routes.
Adam Schefter reported that the Colts have downgraded WR Keenan Allen to out for Sunday’s Week 4 game due to his groin injury. Allen was coming off of a strong game against the Texans in Week 3, putting up 6 catches on 9 targets for 63 yards and a score.
Josh Downs and Tyler Warren will be the key pass catchers with Allen out and Alec Pierce on IR. Laquon Treadwell and the recently signed Darius Slayton will also see increased opportunities, while Jonathan Taylor may see increased targets as well. Fantasy football managers will need to keep an eye on next week’s practice reports to see how Allen is trending.
Colts star WR Alec Pierce aggravated the heel injury that he had surgery on, and it may lead to 2026 being a lost season for him. Rapoport also reported it’s likely Pierce will head to IR while rehabbing the heel, but surgery is still possible. The 0-2 Colts will certainly miss Pierce, who was No. 1 in the NFL in Air Yards Share a season ago at 51.8.
Josh Downs, who led the Colts with 7 catches on 9 targets in Week 2, will be one of the primary beneficiaries of Pierce’s absence. Keenan Allen looks like he’s lost a step at 34 years-old and still faces a potential suspension for his DWI and while Tyler Warren has 9 catches through 2 games, those have only led to 34 yards. Fantasy football managers will need to keep an eye on updates from Pierce in his attempt to avoid surgery.
