Indianapolis

Colts

Pittman saw four targets on his first ten pass routes but was invisible for much of the final three quarters in Philip Rivers’ first start of the season, and his first NFL action since 2020. Pittman was tied with Josh Downs — who caught a touchdown — and Ameer Abdullah in targets, trailing only Tyler Warren. The Colts schemed up a few screen passes for Pittman in the first half, before the team’s offense sputtered in the final two quarters. Pittman should be considered a borderline WR3 next week against the 49ers.

Abdullah was very much involved as a pass catcher, though he only ran six pass routes and saw a target on five of those routes. Jonathan Taylor, meanwhile, logged 18 routes and saw four targets from check-down artist Philip Rivers, 44, who made his first start since 2020 on Sunday against Seattle. With short-area pass catchers set to feast with Rivers under center, Abdullah could have some value in deeper formats next week against the 49ers.

Grupe, who was released by the Saints in early December after making just 18 of his 26 field goal tries, came through big time for Indy in their near-upset of the Seahawks. Grupe nailed a 60-yarder to take the lead in the fourth quarter — a kick that would have been good from at least 65 yards. Grupe will be a decent streaming option in Week 16 against the 49ers.

Taylor was predictably the centerpiece of the Colts offense with 44-year-old Philip Rivers under center for the first time since 2020. The Colts had 29 rushing attempts and 27 passes in this one. Rivers peppered the team’s short-area pass catchers with targets: Tyler Warren led the way with six targets, Taylor had four targets, and veteran RB Ameer Abdullah had five targets, leading the Colts with five grabs for 32 yards. That’s a little deceiving considering Abdullah ran a mere six pass routes on the day. Taylor logged 18 routes. Taylor is the one Colts player who might survive the Rivers experience. He gets the 49ers in Week 16.

Pierce was always going to be a loser of the Colts’ Philip Rivers experiment. Pierce generally operates as an intermediate and deep target, and he now has a 44-year-old quarterback who is physically unable to throw it more than 20 yards or so. Pierce’s lone grab in Week 15 came near the sideline; Pierce boxed out his defender and made a nice grab on a floater from the weak-armed Rivers. Pierce isn’t fantasy viable for as long as Rivers is under center.

Downs, a natural short-area target for the weak-armed Philip Rivers — who made his first start since 2020 in Week 15 — saw a bump in playing time against the Seahawks, running 26 routes on 31 Colts drop backs. He caught Rivers’ lone touchdown on the day, getting open in the back of the end zone. If Downs maintains this route participation he could be an interesting deep league option in Week 16 against the a Niners secondary that has been generous to opposing slot receivers all season.

Warren led the Colts in targets while running a route on 28 of the Colts’ 30 drop backs. Philip Rivers, 44, making his first NFL start since 2020, peppered his short-area pass catchers with targets from start to finish. Indy running backs combined for nine targets, and all of Warren’s targets were of the quick-hitting variety. The Colts’ lack of throw volume will affect everyone in this Colts offense, but Warren might be live as a startable tight end in 12-team PPR formats with Rivers likely starting the next couple games. Warren plays the Niners in Week 16.

Rivers acquitted himself quite well in his first NFL action since the end of the 2020 season. Starting in place of Daniel Jones — out of the year with an Achilles injury — Rivers was severely limited by the mobility and diminished arm strength of a 44-year-old making a start five days after signing to a team’s practice squad. Rivers averaged 4.4 yards per attempt and rarely threw the ball beyond five or six yards. One third of Rivers’ passes targeted running backs, with another six going to TE Tyler Warren, a safety valve for the aged Rivers. The Colts had 27 passes to 29 rushing attempts on the day. Rivers showed he can operate Shane Steichen’s offense well enough to keep the Colts afloat, though it will be tough for Indy pass catchers beyond Warren to maintain their fantasy value. The Colts get the 49ers in Week 16.

Rivers will be under center for the first time since 2020 as the Colts desperately try to stay in the postseason race with Daniel Jones (Achilles) done for the season. He’ll go up against an elite Seattle front seven that will pressure him all day. The Colts declared LB Jaylon Carlies, CB Sauce Gardner, RB DJ Giddens, WR Anthony Gould, S Reuben Lowery, TE Will Mallory, and QB Brett Rypien inactive against the Seahawks.

The veteran quarterback was in the midst of a career year before it was halted due to a torn Achilles. The six-to-eight month recovery window gives him the potential to be ready for preseason camp ahead of the 2026 regular season, which is sure to figure into the team’s plans moving forward. That will likely be a point of continuous discussion surrounding the Colts considering Jones was playing the 2025 season on a one-year, “prove-it” deal.