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.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) is no ...
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) is set ...
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) ...
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.
The Colts have signed veteran WR Darius Slayton, reuniting him with starting QB Daniel Jones. Slayton and Jones have established chemistry from their six seasons together in New York, and Slayton with his 102.2 (78th percentile) Speed Score brings a similar skill set to this offense as injured WR Alec Pierce (heel).
Slayton fits seamlessly into Pierce’s vertical field-stretching to open things up underneath for teammates WR Josh Downs and TE Tyler Warren. Slayton isn’t a must-add for fantasy football, as he had 37 receptions for 538 yards and 1 TD in 14 games in 2025 and struggled with drops, but he will have nominal streaming value in favorable matchups as long as Pierce is OUT. ~Jason Diaz
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.
The Colts activated Alec Pierce from the active/PUP list, putting the Indianapolis WR back on the practice field after he missed camp while recovering from offseason ankle surgery. The move means Pierce will not be forced to miss the first four games of the season, but it does not guarantee he will be ready for the opener.
PlayerProfiler highlights Pierce’s 98th-percentile College Yards Per Reception and 94th-percentile Breakout Age, while his 2025 profile was built around elite downfield usage. Pierce is back in the building, but the next two weeks will determine whether his fantasy discount is an opportunity or a trap.
