The Indianapolis Colts are one of the most interesting teams in the NFL. Each year their rosters seem like they are loaded with talent, but they just can't escape ending the season with a record near .500.
Since the NFL added an extra regular season game in 2021, the Colts have finished either one game above or below .500 in three out of four seasons.
They have the personnel to compete for the postseason and the Lombardi trophy at almost every position, but they just can't seem to nail down their quarterback of the future.
Indianapolis has been able to construct one of the better groups of wide receivers in the league in Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, and Adonai Mitchell.
Although Downs and Mitchell are still extremely young, they've shown glimpses of greatness.
But unfortunately, the inconsistent quarterback play has stunted their development, and chances are the same could be true for next season.
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
The Colts drafted Anthony Richardson with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and he was expected to be the signal caller of the future.
He was an extremely raw prospect coming out of Florida, but if his game developed the right way, he would easily transform into one of the game's best quarterbacks.
The problem is that he hasn't progressed very much at all, he's arguably regressed. And he is dragging the rest of the offense down with him.
After a very promising rookie season that lasted just four games before a season-ending shoulder injury, Richardson threw just eight touchdowns to 12 interceptions in 11 games in 2024.
Those numbers are bad enough, but the more concerning issue is that he completed less than 50% of his passes which is unheard of in the NFL.
Because of this concerning play, the passing game has obviously suffered as a result.
Pittman Jr. looked like a breakout candidate just a few seasons ago and Downs looked like a budding star when Joe Flacco stepped in for relief at different points throughout the season.
Mike Clay of ESPN recently wrote an article about 40 of his fantasy football observations, and on the list was the Colts receivers, especially Pittman Jr.
He echoed some of the same points about Richardson's inefficiency and the uptick in production when Flacco was running the offense.
Downs was one of the best WR2 or FLEX options in fantasy last year whenever the former Florida standout was on the bench, so it's no surprise that there is pessimism surrounding this receiving group again.
One of the worst things about being a wide receiver is that you need a competent quarterback to get you the ball, or else you look incompetent yourself.
If Richardson doesn't improve, or if newly signed quarterback Daniel Jones wins the job and struggles, make sure to stay far away from any receivers from Indianapolis in you fantasy drafts.
Related: Colts Named Ideal Landing Spot for Elite Linebacker in Free Agency
Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published March 31, 2025 at 8:29 AM.