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Indianapolis Colts Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Shark Bites are the latest fantasy football news & NFL updates. Draft Sharks has been in business since 1999. And when we started, redraft was the dominant form of fantasy football. Check out what we've learned about this most basic form of fantasy football along the way.

Colts rookie WR Josh Downs drew a team-high 9 targets in Sunday's loss to the Falcons, 24.3% of the team total. WR Michael Pittman's absence obviously helped. Downs caught six (team high) but managed just 39 yards (6.5 per catch). That makes seven straight games of 43 yards or less for Downs. He's not especially attractive for a Week 17 date with the Raiders, whether Pittman's back or not.

Colts RB Jonathan Taylor took over the rushing in his return Sunday against the Falcons, claiming 18 of 21 Indianapolis RB carries (85.7%). He managed just 43 yards (2.4 per rush). Taylor also ran just 14 routes in a game that saw QB Gardner Minshew attempt 37 passes and take 6 sacks. RB Tyler Goodson beat Taylor 2-1 in targets and logged the team's only RB catch. It seems goofy from here that Taylor wouldn't garner more of the receiving work. That has been a lighter area for him most of the season. But for that to continue even when No. 2 RB Zack Moss is out seems odd. Perhaps it was related to Taylor coming off thumb surgery. We'll watch for any indication Taylor's receiving usage will improve for Week 17. He also gets a weaker run D in the Raiders (22nd in rush DVOA compared with Atlanta at No. 10).

Colts WR Michael Pittman has been downgraded to out for Sunday's game vs. the Falcons. Pittman cleared concussion protocol on Friday but was experiencing symptoms again when the team arrived in Atlanta, according to ESPN's Stephen Holder. We'll track Pittman's status this coming week and see if he can make it back for next Sunday's game vs. the Raiders. His absence leaves Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, and D.J. Montgomery as Indianapolis' top three WRs against the Falcons.

Colts WR Michael Pittman (concussion, shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Falcons. He’s cleared concussion protocol but had a shoulder added to the injury report on Friday and was limited in practice. We’ll look for additonal updates on that situation and get Indianapolis’ inactives around 11:30 am ET on Sunday.

Colts K Matt Gay (hip) is not listed on the final injury report for this weekend’s game vs. the Falcons. He was a full-go on Friday and is safe to use in Week 16 fantasy lineups.

Colts RB Jonathan Taylor (thumb) put in a full week of practice and isn’t listed on the final injury report for Sunday’s game vs. the Falcons. Considering he’s coming back from a thumb injury, Taylor should be ready for a full workload – barring any kind of ball-security issues during the game. That’s especially true with RB Zack Moss (forearm) having missed practice all week. He’s listed as questionable.

Colts WR Michael Pittman cleared concussion protocol and will play vs. the Falcons this weekend, HC Shane Steichen said Friday. Pittman will be ready for his usual high-volume role. He's averaged 11.5 targets, 8.0 catches, 86 yards, and 0.4 TDs over his last eight healthy games with QB Gardner Minshew.

Colts WR Michael Pittman (concussion) progressed to a full practice on Thursday. He's now on track to be cleared for Sunday's game vs. the Falcons. Pittman can be penciled into Week 16 fantasy lineups, but check back tomorrow for another update on his status.

Colts RB Jonathan Taylor will test his right thumb in practice on Wednesday before determining whether he can play vs. the Falcons this weekend, according to insider Mike Chappell. Taylor is expected to wear a wrap or brace on the thumb if he does play, Chappell adds. We'll keep you updated on his status. Taylor would carry some added risk but be tough to keep out of Week 16 fantasy lineups if he plays on Sunday.

Colts WR Michael Pittman (concussion) was listed as limited on Wednesday's injury report. So he's made some progress through the protocol and has a chance to be cleared for this weekend's game vs. the Falcons. We'll update his status again tomorrow.

Colts RB Jonathan Taylor (thumb) was listed as a full participant on Wednesday's injury report. The team didn't actually practice, so it's an estimation. But this seemingly puts Taylor on track to return for this weekend's game vs. the Falcons. RB Zack Moss (foreman) did not practice on Wednesday. We'll update this backfield again on Thursday.

Colts K Matt Gay (hip) did not practice on Wednesday. We'll track his status over the next few days, leading up to Sunday's game vs. the Falcons. But fantasy owners hoping to start Gay should be ready to add a replacement.

Colts WR Michael Pittman took a vicious hit to the head in the second quarter of Saturday's game vs. the Steelers. He eventually made it off the field under his own power but went to the locker room for a concussion check. We'll update Pittman's status when we know more.

Update: Pittman has been ruled out with a concussion. This is his second documented concussion. We'll track his progress through the protocol this coming week.

Colts RB Jonathan Taylor (thumb) is out for Saturday's game vs. the Steelers. HC Shane Steichen said earlier this week that Taylor is still expected to play again this season. We'll see if he can make it back for Week 16. Zack Moss gets another game as Indianapolis' feature back this weekend. He's racked up 32 carries and 11 targets over the last two weeks.

Colts RB Jonathan Taylor (thumb) did not practice on Tuesday. HC Shane Steichen said earlier in the day that Taylor is expected to play again this season -- but fantasy owners should not be counting on him in Week 15 fantasy lineups.

Colts HC Shane Steichen said Tuesday that the team is still planning for RB Jonathan Taylor (thumb) to play again this season. He's two weeks removed from a thumb surgery that's expected to keep him out for 3-5 weeks. Indianapolis dropped to 7-6 with the Week 14 loss to the Bengals but is still squarely in the mix for a Wild Card spot. Fantasy owners can't be counting on Taylor for Week 15, but a Week 16 return seems possible.

Browns HC Kevin Stefanski named QB Joe Flacco the starter for the rest of the season after Sunday's win over the Jaguars. No surprise. Flacco has given the Browns their best QB play of the season the past two weeks (and that includes Deshaun Watson). He followed a 254-2-1 passing line last week with 311 yards, three TDs, and one INT in the Week 14 win. Flacco gets doable matchups the next two weeks vs. the Bears and Texans but is really only in play in 2-QB and superflex leagues. Flacco's solid play is good news for Cleveland's skill-position players, though.

The Browns have elevated QB Joe Flacco from the practice squad and waived QB P.J. Walker. We'd guess that points to Flacco starting again, though the team has declined to name Sunday's starter yet. Dorian Thompson-Robinson would be the other option. Cleveland's WRs have to be hoping it won't go that way.

Colts RB Jonathan Taylor (thumb) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Bengals. He remained sidelined in practice all week and is more likely than not to also miss Week 15. RB Zack Moss got workhorse usage with Tayor out last week, racking up 19 carries and three targets on a 94% snap rate. He’s a locked-in RB1 against Cincinnati’s 17th-ranked RB defense.

Colts RB Jonathan Taylor is expected to miss 3-5 weeks after undergoing thumb surgery on Wednesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Dr. Steven Shin used an internal brace to help repair the torn UCL, which will speed up Taylor's recovery. The Colts notably did not place JT on IR, which confirms that there's a chance he misses fewer than four games. It seems likely that he'll miss the next three vs. the Titans, Bengals, and Steelers. We'll see if Taylor can make it back for Week 16 against the Falcons. He's worth keeping stashed on fantasy benches in most cases.

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