Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. has been dealing with a back injury since September. Following a Week 5 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, there was speculation that Pittman could land on injured reserve. Yet, he hasn’t missed a game.
With Pittman a constant presence on the weekly practice report, has anything changed that should cause fantasy football managers to worry?
What Happened to Michael Pittman Jr?
Multiple reports, including rumblings that Pittman was an IR candidate, said he would miss multiple weeks due to his back injury.
However, as mentioned, Pittman never missed a game. In Week 6, he played through his injury against the Tennessee Titans and looked good, helping the Colts earn a much-needed win to improve to 3-3.
#Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. has missed five games in five years. He signed a $70 million deal.
He has the respect. He has the money.
So, why still play with a bad back?
“It’s just a commitment to my teammates. … If I can walk, there’s a good chance that I’m gonna play.” pic.twitter.com/MLGRuby0dU
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid)
We are now embarking on the third week since Pittman was possibly going on IR. Now, there seems to be a weekly routine in place to manage his balky back.
Pittman did not practice on Wednesday, which is nothing new. We should expect for him to continue not practicing on Wednesdays for the foreseeable future.
Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs aren’t practicing today, but they are out here watching practice.
They’ve been missing Wednesdays for rest in recent weeks.
— Nate Atkins (@NateAtkins_)
Thus, at this point, there’s nothing to be alarmed about. We haven’t heard anything about a setback.
Last week, Pittman returned to a limited session on Thursday, and we should expect the same routine this week. If he does not practice all, though, then we can start to grow concerned.
Pittman’s Fantasy Outlook
Unfortunately, Pittman’s fantasy football outlook is directly tied to who plays quarterback. And while I wouldn’t go so far as to say he’s cooked, there’s a clear divide between how he performs with Anthony Richardson compared to Joe Flacco.
Michael Pittman Fantasy Points this season:
With Richardson: 7, 5, 8, 9 (Average: 7)
Without Richardson: 17, 15, 13 (Average: 15)
He is cooked the rest of the season. Trade him away before he losses all of his value😬 pic.twitter.com/F8KtiaDRel
— Bryce DeGroat (@NFL_Convo)
Richardson is going to start this week and is not in jeopardy of losing his job. However, he remains an injury risk given his style of play. Of course, we never root for injuries, but they are part of the game, and we must make decisions factoring in their potential to occur.
Pittman is an every-week WR2 whenever Flacco starts, and there’s certainly a chance the veteran QB starts again this season. Until then, though, fantasy managers must temper expectations.
The Houston Texans have been a solid matchup for wide receivers this season, allowing the 10th-most fantasy points to the position. When these teams met back in Week 1, Pittman earned eight targets, yet he only caught four for 31 yards.
Making matters worse, it was a high-scoring game, with both teams combining for 56 points. An offensive-friendly game environment would be a great thing for Pittman’s fantasy potential, but, as always, it will hinge on how well Richardson performs.
