Michael Pittman was cleared from concussion protocol, but had a relapse in symptoms and will miss week 16 against the Falcons.
The Colts Offense will look different this week with Jonathan Taylor returning from Thumb surgery and Michael Pittman and Zack Moss both being ruled out from injuries suffered in last weeks win against the Steelers.
Without Moss, Taylor will return to a featured role in the Colts offense and be leaned on more than usual without Pittman in the passing game. Expectations for Taylor should still be tempered against a Falcons Defense that is yet to allow a rushing touchdown to a running back this season. Taylor will be backed up by Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson, who can be left out of fantasy lineups this week.
Alec Pierce will be the leader in snaps at wide receiver without Pittman, but D.J. Montgomery looks to be the biggest beneficiary after dropping a would-be touchdown early last week before hauling one in later in the game.
The Cincinnati Bengals placed both running back Zack Moss ...
Cincinnati Bengals running backs Zack Moss (foot) and Chase...
Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss signed a two-year...
Jonathan Taylor has been activated from Indy’s PUP list and is ready to play in week 5 after agreeing to a contract extension with the Colts.
Fantasy Managers who took a chance on Jonathan Taylor can now breathe a massive sigh of relief. Not only is Taylor set to play in week 5 after being activated from Indy’s PUP list, but it also appears the drama between him and the Colts will soon become a distant memory with the news of him receiving a massive contract extension that puts him among the highest paid running backs in the NFL. Taylor now slots in as an RB1 you can confidently start the rest of the season.
While some expect Taylor to be eased into action in week 5, it’s worth emphasizing that he should be in your lineups this weekend if he’s on your roster, even in a tough matchup against the Titans. It’s apparent that the Colts have been keeping their cards close to their chest and have immediate plans for Taylor, as the contract extension comes as a surprise to most who have been closely monitoring situation. It should be expected that Taylor immediately returns as a focal point of the Colts offense, as the Colts have made it clear they want their star running back on the field.
For Fantasy Managers who are rostering Zack Moss, this isn’t what you were hoping for. While you can’t drop Moss quite yet, he shouldn’t be in lineups for week 5. It will become clear soon that Moss will be nothing more than a handcuff to Taylor, at which point Moss will be safe to drop.
The Jonathan Taylor situation remains unsettled, even with the star running back expected to return to practice Wednesday.
It looks like the buying window for Jonathan Taylor could be slammed shut before we know it. Taylor is expected to return to practice for the Colts Wednesday, and could return to game action as soon as Sunday’s game versus the Tennessee Titans. While there has been nothing but positive sentiment around the topic conveyed from the Colts, it’s still unclear if Taylor wants to play another down for Indianapolis.
This situation was one of the most intriguing stories of the off-season, and you should keep your popcorn handy for what happens next. If Taylor returns to action, he immediately regains his status as a Fantasy RB1 in a Colts offense that has been a pleasant surprise, ranking middle of the pack in most key offensive metrics in 2023. This would immediately render Zack Moss useless for Fantasy purposes as anything more than a handcuff.
Fantasy Managers with Moss should have a plan for Taylor’s return, but shouldn’t drop him quite yet. There are multiple scenarios (a trade, Taylor continuing to hold out, etc..) that could keep Moss as an RB2 for the foreseeable future. Trey Sermon and any other Colts running back you may be rostering besides Moss is safe to drop at this time.
Anthony Richardson has been ruled out of the Colts week 3 matchup against the Ravens as he recovers from a Concussion.
Anthony Richardson was having a great start to Week 2, rushing for 2 touchdowns in the first half. He exited the game in the 2nd Quarter when he slammed his head on the turf after his 2nd touchdown, and did not return. He hasn’t practiced at all this week and has been ruled out for Week 3.
Enter the return of Minshew-mania. Gardner Minshew will be starting in place of Richardson this Sunday against a somewhat stingy Ravens D that has allowed only 16.5 ppg through the first 2 weeks. Minshew should be left on waivers in most single QB redraft leagues, and is only a desperate streaming option in 2QB Leagues this weekend.
For the other Colts position players, you can expect a slight bump in production for their main Wide Receiver, Michael Pittman, who demonstrated good chemistry with Minshew last week catching 8 passes. While you shouldn’t be in a rush to start any of the other receiving weapons for the Colts this week, you can expect Zack Moss to see increased production as they won’t be able to lean on Richardson to run the ball near the goal line. If you’re a Fantasy Manager who owns Richardson, you’re quickly noticing his style of play may lead to missed time, and you should try to secure an insurance QB that you can rely on as needed throughout the rest of the season.
Zack Moss has returned to practice and is expected to be the lead Running Back for the Colts in Week 2.
If we learned anything from the Colts backfield in Week 1, it’s that you shouldn’t be overly-hyped for tremendous production from Deon Jackson. Jackson handled 71% of the snaps as the lead Running Back, but only rushed for a miserable 14 yards on 13 attempts. Sure, he had 5 catches for 14 yards to go with that, but the 2 lost fumbles he had almost guarantee he will be in the Colts doghouse for Week 2.
To make matters worse, Rookie Evan Hull has a knee injury that has him set to miss at least the next four games on Injured Reserve. The Colts elevated Jake Funk from their practice squad to their active roster in a corresponding move. This leaves Funk, Jackson, and Moss as the three active Running Backs for the Colts going into Sunday.
Moss is back to being a full participant in practice after missing the past few weeks recovering from a fractured forearm. He’s shown flashes of talent throughout his career, rushing for 114 yards in week 18 of last season. He’s expected to take on a bulk of the work in the backfield this Sunday and warrants a start as a flex in deeper leagues. That said, don’t be overly surprised if it’s Anthony Richardson who ends up falling in the endzone for a Touchdown instead of Moss.
Indianapolis Colts RB Zack Moss is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a broken forearm.
The Colts landed the former 3rd Round pick and a conditional 6th in exchange for RB Nyheim Hines at last year’s trade deadline. In 8 games as a Buffalo Bill, Moss helped fill in for Jonathan Taylor to the tune of 3 starts, 76 carries, and 4 receptions for 377 yards and a touchdown.
With Moss out and Jonathan Taylor holding in on the PUP, the Colts will turn to 2021 UDFA Deon Jackson and this year’s 5th-Rounder Evan Hull to work with the 1st Team. This also leaves QB Gardner Minshew as the only player in Colts practices with over 100 carries.
