Tyler

Warren

Warren led the team with 112 targets last season, joining former Colts WR Marvin Harrison (118) as the only rookies to lead the team in receiving in franchise history. Chappell notes that the Colts will need more from all of their pass catchers, with former No. 1 WR Michael Pittman Jr. now a Steeler, but he chose to build the article around Warren’s 2026 outlook, which says something. Warren has focused on exploding out of his breaks this offseason, in an effort to create more space from defenders as a route runner. If he can refine this aspect of his game, he should continue to generate explosive gains regularly this season. Warren is a TE1 in fantasy drafts, whose stock should increase as QB Daniel Jones (Achilles) continues making progress in his rehab.

He also projects some of Pittman’s targets to head to Josh Downs, perhaps elevating Downs to the fantasy WR4 line. Warren tapered off down the stretch as the Colts struggled with injured Daniel Jones and without Really Injured Daniel Jones. It does make sense that he’d take a second-year leap and be the preferred possession receiver in Pittman’s absence.

The standard pre- and post-Daniel Jones splits for Colts skill players hit Warren. He averaged five receptions and 61.7 yards per game over Indy’s first 10 games. From Weeks 11-17, with Jones injured and later lost for the season, Warren averaged 3.5 catches for 29 yards a game, scoring just once. He remains a plausible TE1, and will have top-five upside cases entering the offseason as the Colts could lose Alec Pierce in free agency and move on from Michael Pittman Jr. Warren isn’t a special mover, but he’s a stellar technician with more tackle-breaking power than you’d expect based on his pure size.

It was his first time over 40 yards since Week 12. Warren managed a bunch of short-area contested catches, but wasn’t targeted in the red zone. It’s been a disappointing second half of the season for Warren, who has 171 yards in six games since returning to American soil after the win in Germany. He’ll be a TE2 play against the Texans in Week 18 if the Colts want to keep playing him.

Warren tied for the team lead with nine targets, his second consecutive game leading the team in targets with Philip Rivers under center. That could change for the final two weeks of the regular season with the Colts now eliminate from the playoffs, potentially turning back to rookie Riley Leonard to finish out the season. Either way, Warren remains one of the more intriguing young tight ends in the league and appears primed to return significant value for dynasty managers moving forward.

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.

Warren took a red zone rush and was just short of the end zone on it for two yards on a short-yardage play. The passing volume has seemingly dwindled as Alec Pierce has established himself higher in the order. Warren will be a low-end TE1 in Week 15 against a fierce Seahawks defense, with a bit of a downgrade from Riley Leonard taking over as the starting quarterback.

He was left almost wide open on his touchdown catch, with backup S Myles Bryant pursuing a red-zone play-action fake. Other than that, his most eventful play was fumbling away an attempted TE sneak on fourth-and-1 in the red zone. Warren will remain on the TE1 line against the Jaguars in Week 14, but like Michael Pittman, his floor has taken a hit in recent weeks. He’s crossed 60 yards just once in his last five games.

As expected, he’ll be up against the Texans despite popping up on the injury report on Saturday with an illness. Inactive for the Colts are CB Jonathan Edwards, RB DJ Giddens, DT Eric Johnson II, S Reuben Lowry, TE Will Mallory and T Luke Tenuta. All of those players are healthy scratches.

Per Pelissero, Warren is battling a stomach virus. He was added to the injury report over the weekend, being listed as questionable for today’s game. Players tend to play through illnesses, but the late addition puts Warren at risk of missing Week 13. For now, fantasy managers can likely plan on him playing. They should, however, have a contingency plan just in case Warren is a surprise inactive 90 minutes before kickoff.