Michael Pittman Jr. fantasy football preview 2025: Stats, season outlook, predictions
Michael Pittman Jr. 2025 Fantasy Preview
2024: Pittman became the 1B option to Josh Downs' 1A in 2024. It wasn't all bad though. Pittman went for 69 grabs and 808 yards along with three scores in the run-heavy Indy offense, functioning as a decent WR3 in fantasy. With Downs in the mix, Pittman saw his per-route efficiency drop dramatically in 2024.
What's changed: The Colts signed QB Daniel Jones this offseason. He's expected to be the team's Week 1 starter with Anthony Richardson recovering from his second shoulder surgery in two years.
Outlook: Pittman should see a bump in pass volume this season if Jones seizes the Colts' starting QB job. Richardson finding his way into the starting gig would be a big blow for Pittman. Jones has been among the league's most accurate intermediate passers over the past three seasons. That could work out well for Pittman, who feasts on targets in the intermediate areas of the field.
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**Projections from Spotlight Sports Group
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From 10,000 feet, Colts coach Shane Steichen's decision seems simple. The Colts are heavily invested in quarterback Anthony Richardson. The franchise used the No. 4 pick, its highest draft selection in more than a decade, to take Richardson, potentially tying Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard's belief in Richardson to their futures in Indianapolis. From that perspective, the Colts should stick with Richardson as long as possible, hoping upon hope that he finally realizes his otherworldly potential. But Steichen is not making his decision from 10,000 feet. The Colts head coach is closer to this quarterback decision than anybody. He needs to win games. Indianapolis ownership, from late owner Jim Irsay to primary owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon, has made it clear they can feel the frustration of a fan base that has now gone four seasons without a playoff berth and a decade without an AFC South title. 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Richardson was benched for two games last season because of his preparation and attention to detail, and there have been other signs that he's still learning. For example, the offensive line came to Richardson at Grand Park a couple of weeks ago and asked him to work on his cadence, an overlooked but critical piece of a quarterback's repertoire. A great cadence can trick defenses into penalties; an inconsistent cadence can lead to false starts and other issues for the offense. Richardson was knocked out of the preseason opener with a dislocated pinkie because he failed to recognize a blitzer coming off his right side, a 'hot' read the young passer should have recognized. All of those pieces of the puzzle can be difficult for fans, media and even members of the front office to identify in the moment. They will be a critical piece of Steichen's decision. 'It's everything, right?' Steichen said on Saturday night. "The operation, the communication in the huddle, the checks, getting guys on the same page. The consistency of all that, obviously, is going to play a big factor in this.' Jones, a six-year veteran, arrived with an advantage in the hidden areas and a disadvantage in a key quality that is easy to see, the ability to produce explosive plays. Richardson's best moments in the NFL have often come off-script and explosive down the field; Jones has struggled to produce big plays. But he has been more accurate than Richardson in training camp, another key issue that led to the Colts searching for competition this offseason. Richardson completed 47.7% of his throws in 2024, the lowest mark for any NFL quarterback with more than 200 attempts since Tim Tebow in 2011. The lack of accuracy neutralized his big-play ability; Richardson averaged just 6.9 yards per attempt despite averaging 12 intended air yards per throw, the highest number ever posted by an NFL quarterback in the seven years the statistic has been tracked by Next Gen Stats. Richardson completed a few highlight-reel throws down the field — the 60-yard bomb he tossed against Houston in the season opener is hard to forget — but posted a minus-20.5 DVOA on deep throws, the third-worst mark in the league, according to For The Numbers. Jones has completed 64.1% of his career throws, and he's been above the 67% mark twice in the last three seasons. The disparity played out in training camp. By unofficial count, Richardson completed 59.1% of his throws through three weeks of practices; Jones 68.8%. Richardson also did not make as many plays down the field, further complicating Steichen's decision. 'I've always been able to make the big play,' Richardson said. 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