Indianapolis Colts leading WR Michael Pittman Jr. suffered a concussion in the first half of their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which has put his status for Week 16’s game against the Atlanta Falcons in jeopardy.
Can you trust that Pittman will be available for your fantasy football team heading into this critical week? Let’s dive into the latest news and information.
Latest Injury Update on Michael Pittman
Editor’s note:Â According to Adam Schefter, Pittman displayed symptoms on Saturday and has been downgraded to OUT for Week 16.
The NFL concussion protocol has multiple stages in order to return to the football field, which has made playing the next game after suffering a concussion far from a guarantee.
So, it was a bit of a surprise when Pittman was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice, according to the team’s injury report.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen didn’t really have anything additional to add about Pittman’s status, saying, “He’s doing well, and I’ll refer to the injury report with him as well, but he’s doing good,” while speaking with the media on Wednesday.
Will Pittman Play This Week?
Despite Pittman’s participation in practice being an incredibly encouraging sign, he has still not cleared concussion protocol yet. The talented WR will need to advance through all of the steps in order to be eligible to suit up for the team on Sunday.
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Fantasy managers will need to closely monitor his work throughout the week in order to confirm he is able to clear protocol, but he is certainly trending in the right direction toward being available in Week 16.
What Does This Mean for Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, and D.J. Montgomery’s Fantasy Ranking?
Prior to his injury-shortened appearance in Week 14, Pittman had been the model of consistency by finishing with fewer than 10 fantasy points on just one occasion.
His overwhelming target share has been the driving force behind his very high fantasy floor in 2023. Pittman trails only Los Angeles Chargers WR Keenan Allen in the targets department this season with an average of 10.2 targets per game.
If the Colts’ WR1 is unable to go in Week 14, then his vacated double-digit targets per game will undoubtedly inflate the fantasy value of other Colts pass catchers against the Falcons.
The player who seems like a leading candidate to see an expanded role would be rookie WR Josh Downs, who has produced some big fantasy performances with QB Gardner Minshew. His formation versatility, playmaking ability after the catch, and vertical skill set all make him a viable candidate to lead the team in targets if Pittman is out.
Another player who could see an expanded role would be Alec Pierce, who has a great athletic profile for an outside receiver. Yet, he has done very little with his team-leading 900 offensive snaps this year, with just 28 receptions for 426 yards and one score to show for it through 14 games.
One last name worth considering would be D.J. Montgomery, who saw his first four targets of the season against the Steelers and managed to produce 48 yards and a touchdown on two receptions. It is worth mentioning that Montgomery dropped a touchdown, which means he could’ve had an even bigger fantasy outing.
If Pittman is able to practice over the next few days, then he will have a real shot at playing on Sunday. If he does take the field, Pittman is still a low-end WR1 heading into Week 16. If not, then Downs enters the WR2 conversation for fantasy managers in the semifinals.
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