Indianapolis, Team Vibes and Players to Target and Avoid

As we race toward August, Footballguys.com will look at one team per day with our quick-hitting Team Vibes and Players to Target and Avoid, where we check out the overall mood of each team's offense and let you know the players we are in on (because they are great values at the cost it takes to acquire them) and who we're out on (because they are too expensive and won't give you a good return on that investment).

Go Deeper: See in-depth projections for every Colts player here >>>

This is a daily series that will stretch through July 31. If you like this and want another, come back tomorrow. Another will be here. And all 32 of them will be free to Insiders. To become an Insider, simply sign up with a free account.

And here are all of the Team Vibes and Players to Target and Avoid articles we've done so far:
Indianapolis | Jacksonville | Kansas City | Las Vegas | LA Chargers | LA Rams | Miami | Minnesota | New England | New Orleans | NY Giants | NY Jets | Philadelphia | Pittsburgh | San Francisco | Seattle | Tampa Bay | Tennessee | Washington

Quick Hits

Want a brief overview? Here it is:

• General Vibes - Neutral
• We're In On at Cost - Anthony Richardson
• We're Out On at Cost - Michael Pittman Jr

Want a longer breakdown of how it's going in Indianapolis? Read on.

Colts, Team Vibes

• Good - 4
• Neutral - 10
• Bad - 0

Staffers with Good Vibes

• Jason Wood: After last year's disaster, they've added an exciting offensive-minded head coach and found their new franchise quarterback.
• Phil Alexander: Unless you're shopping for wide receiver fantasy production.
• Ryan Weisse: After the step back they took in 2022, any semblance of their 2021 running game will be a site for sore eyes.
• Sam Wagman: Shane Steichen could be a godsend for this Colts team in need of direction.

Staffers with Neutral Vibes

• Ben Cummins: Anthony Richardson is going to be so fun as a rookie.
• Dave Kluge: The Colts liked Anthony Richardson enough to pay up in the Draft, but I worry about his ability to support a fantasy-relevant passing offense as a rookie.
• Jeff Tefertiller: Anthony Richardson is going to have his ups and downs, like every rookie.
• Daniel Harms: A new head coach and lots of talent but lots of questions as well.
• Jeff Haseley: The needle is pointing up for this team; however, they will only be as good as Anthony Richardson takes them in his rookie season. I am not overly optimistic.
• Jeff Bell: After years of rotating veteran stop-gap quarterbacks, the team has a potential long-term answer at the position to generate excitment.
• Chad Parsons: Expect Anthony Richardson to make the run game hum. The passing game? That's another story.
• Andy Hicks: Are we seriously expecting Anthony Richardson to start immediately and be a star? It takes time.
• Craig Lakins: There's reason for cautious optimism under new coach Shane Steichen and polarizing new quarterback Anthony Richardson.
• Hutchinson Brown: There are not many I’d want to work with Richardson more than Shane Steichen. But Richardson could be great himself for fantasy and ruin a lot of other pieces in the Colts offense.

Staffers with Bad Vibes

• None.

Players We Are Targeting

• Anthony Richardson - 10
• Jonathan Taylor - 3
• Alec Pierce - 1

Reasons to be In on Anthony Richardson

• Ben Cummins: Richardson’s rushing upside is extremely high, making him a high-potential fantasy quarterback.
• Jason Wood: Given his generational athleticism, he doesn't have to be a good passer as a rookie to be a fantasy asset. We know Shane Steichen will utilize Richardson's mobility.
• Dave Kluge: He should see plenty of rushing output in Shane Steichen's offense, setting up a high floor and ceiling.
• Jeff Tefertiller: For fantasy, Richardson's rushing ability should allow him to be a fantasy starter from day one.
• Daniel Harms: The history Steichen has with Hurts makes the rushing upside In Richardson’s rookie year tantalizing.
• Jeff Haseley: Dual-threat quarterbacks are a prized possession, especially once they figure out the intangibles of being an NFL quarterback. It may take time, but Richardson can still produce decent numbers in the meantime.
• Phil Alexander: More rushing upside than any other quarterback, and you can still get him in Round 8. For now.
• Sam Wagman: Anthony Richardson is nearly impossible not to like this year. He has the potential to contribute heavily on the ground as Steichen's Colts' version of Jalen Hurts.
• Craig Lakins: His rushing upside is sky-high. If he's merely competent as a passer, he's going to far outperform his current ADP.
• Hutchinson Brown: He’s going outside the top twelve in most redraft leagues. He may not start immediately, but he could be an elite fantasy asset the moment he steps onto the field due to his athleticism.

Reasons to be In on Jonathan Taylor

• Chad Parsons: A mobile quarterback aids the efficiency of the running back. Taylor is coming off an injury plus has house-call potential on every touch.
• Andy Hicks: Jonathan Taylor seemed bulletproof, but 2022 put doubt into our heads. A new coaching staff should use him heavily while the pieces around him develop chemistry
• Ryan Weisse: He might not be as good as he was in 2021, but he won't be as bad as he was last year. Take the draft discount while you still can.

Reasons to be In on Alec Pierce

• Jeff Bell: With Michael Pittman missing time in camp, Pierce has gained ample opportunity to showcase his skillset. A WR69 ADP and an ability to work downfield vertically off of play action create an appetizing combination.

Players We Are Avoiding

• Michael Pittman Jr - 9
• Jonathan Taylor - 2
• Any WR - 2
• Anthony Richardson - 1

Reasons to be Out on Michael Pittman Jr

• Ben Cummins: Michael Pittman is a tough click due to a Colts-led Anthony Richardson offense projecting to be run-heavy.
• Jason Wood: Pittman needs high volume, and that's not the tenor of this year's offensive system.
• Dave Kluge: Gone are the days of 125-plus targets. He goes from a steady target hog to a touchdown-dependent receiver in what projects to be a run-first offense.
• Jeff Tefertiller: Pittman is a very good player, but Richardson's rawness will lead to several disappointing fantasy weeks for Pittman.
• Jeff Bell: Buying in at bargain basement on this passing attack is one thing. Buying at the top is something else.
• Chad Parsons: In the Courtland Sutton mold of productive but without much of a ceiling early in his career, Pittman will struggle to finish in the top 24 of the position with Anthony Richardson under center.
• Ryan Weisse: If Richardson is the starter, expect sub-500 pass attempts, and we'll be lucky to get 100 targets from Pittman. He is a volume play with no volume.
• Sam Wagman: Pittman makes me nervous. He is at his best as a volume receiver, and I'm just not sure we'll get that in Richardson's rookie year
• Hutchinson Brown: Rookie quarterbacks tend to kill their fantasy wide receivers. While I want to love Richardson, he may have the worst rookie passing season we’ve seen in a while. Don’t trust Michael Pittman.

Reasons to be Out on Jonathan Taylor

• Jeff Haseley: An ankle injury shelved him last year, and while healed, he may not ever be the same. The addition of Anthony Richardson stealing goal-line touches will also hurt Taylor's touchdown production.
• Craig Lakins: Taylor should have a good season, but I'd rather have Nick Chubb later on in the draft.

Reasons to be Out on Any WR

• Daniel Harms: Richardson has a lot of growing to do as a passer, and their offense could take time to take hold.
• Phil Alexander: This team would rather run on third-and-long.

Reasons to be Out on Anthony Richardson

• Andy Hicks: Anthony Richardson may have Hall of Fame upside, but the downside happens too. When will he play? Does he need to develop? Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts took a year or two before fantasy stardom.