Indianapolis Colts 2026 Fantasy Football Preview: Daniel Jones Bets on Himself, Jonathan Taylor Carries the Load, and the Receiver Room Needs a Hero

The Colts went 8–2 with Daniel Jones as their starter in 2025 before injuries derailed their season. Jones sustained a hairline fibula fracture and later suffered a season-ending Achilles tear, while Anthony Richardson was on injured reserve. Indianapolis brought Philip Rivers out of retirement amid its quarterback shortage.espn+1

Despite the late-season collapse, the Colts retained Jones on a two-year, $88 million contract that can reach $100 million with incentives. Jonathan Taylor led the NFL with 18 rushing touchdowns in 2025. Meanwhile, Alec Pierce enters 2026 after a 1,003-yard, six-touchdown season and is a worthwhile late-round fantasy upside target.

Shane Steichen, Year Four: Still Searching for the Playoffs

Steichen enters his fourth Colts season with a 25–26 record and no playoff appearances. Indianapolis went 8–2 with Daniel Jones as its starter before injuries derailed the 2025 season, and Jones has since been cleared to participate fully in training camp after his Achilles injury. Anthony Richardson remains with the organization, competing for a backup role, while the Colts continue to play their home games at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis

Fantasy football implications: Daniel Jones offers value as a late-round QB2 after producing strong fantasy numbers before his 2025 Achilles injury, though his health and limited rushing outlook make him less certain than the top quarterback tier. Jonathan Taylor remains an elite RB1 and should again dominate Indianapolis’ backfield after leading the NFL with 18 rushing touchdowns in 2025. A healthy Jones could improve the Colts’ overall scoring environment, but Taylor’s first-round ADP already reflects substantial confidence in his workload and touchdown upside

Daniel Jones: The Biggest Comeback Story of 2026

Jones was genuinely special during his first ten games with Indianapolis in 2025. He completed 68% of his passes, averaged 8.1 yards per attempt (third in the NFL), and carried a 57.6% scoring drive rate — by far the highest in the league. He went 8-2 as a starter before a fibula fracture slowed him. Then a torn Achilles ended his season in Week 14. The Colts responded by giving him a two-year, $88 million deal worth up to $100 million with incentives. Jones says he is fully cleared and targeting 11-on-11 drills when training camp opens. Achilles injuries can linger, and there is real risk here. But the 28-year-old enters 2026 with the most supportive situation of his career.

Fantasy verdict: Jones is a high-upside QB2 at his current ADP. His efficiency numbers from 2025 were genuinely elite. Because Achilles recovery affects explosiveness more than arm talent, the passing game should be largely intact. Target him in the middle rounds and monitor camp reports closely for any mobility concerns heading into August.

Jonathan Taylor: The NFL’s Most Underrated RB1

Jones’s return could improve Taylor’s offensive environment, but it does not “change everything”; Taylor already finished as a top fantasy back in 2025. The major concern is workload: he handled 369 touches last season and averaged 3.3 yards per carry over his final seven games.cbssports

Taylor is 27 and is now signed through 2028 after agreeing to a two-year extension with Indianapolis. He has said he wants to be a “Colt for life.”

Fantasy verdict: Taylor is a top-five RB and first-round pick. CBS projects him to approach 2,000 scrimmage yards and score at least 15 touchdowns if he plays all 17 games, but managers should monitor any workload-management reporting during preseason.

The Receiver Room: Alec Pierce Steps Up

Michael Pittman Jr. was traded to Pittsburgh, creating a major opening in Indianapolis’ receiving hierarchy. Alec Pierce, a 2022 second-round pick, enters 2026 after his breakout 2025 season: 47 receptions, 1,003 yards, six touchdowns, and an NFL-leading 21.3 yards per catch.espn+1

Josh Downs is expected to remain the primary slot option, though he dealt with hip and knee injuries late in 2025 and saw his route participation fall to 67% after posting 75% marks in his first two seasons. Tyler Warren profiles as a central part of the passing game after recording 76 catches for 817 yards and four receiving touchdowns as a rookie.

Fantasy verdict: Pierce is a viable WR3 with upside if his 2025 efficiency is paired with more volume. Warren is a TE1 candidate in his second season. Downs is a draftable PPR option, but his 2025 health and role trends create more uncertainty. 

2026 Indianapolis Colts Schedule

The Colts have two primetime games in 2026 — a significant drop from last year’s national attention. They open at home against Baltimore in Week 1 and travel to Kansas City for Sunday Night Football in Week 2. The bye falls in Week 13 — identical to last season.

Fantasy note: the Colts’ bye is Week 13, which can still create a playoff-management issue in leagues whose playoffs begin that week, but it does not remove Taylor, Jones, Pierce, and Warren for the typical Week 14–16 playoff format. Week 4 is also an international game against Washington at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern.

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FAQ

What happened to Anthony Richardson with the Colts?

Richardson remains with the Colts after requesting a trade during the 2026 offseason. Daniel Jones won the starting role in 2025, but Richardson is still under contract and is currently part of Indianapolis’ quarterback room.

What is Daniel Jones’s contract with the Colts?

Jones signed a two-year, $88 million deal worth up to $100 million with incentives in March 2026 — the largest two-year contract in NFL history. He is recovering from a torn Achilles suffered in Week 14 of 2025 and is expected to be fully cleared for training camp.

How did Jonathan Taylor perform in 2025?

Jonathan Taylor delivered an elite 2025 season, finishing with 323 carries for 1,585 yards and an NFL-leading 18 rushing touchdowns. He also posted career highs as a receiver, catching 46 passes for 378 yards and two touchdowns.espn+1

Taylor was the overall PPR RB1 through Week 10, building a sizable lead over the rest of the position. His efficiency fell late in the year—he averaged 3.3 yards per carry over his final seven games after Daniel Jones’s season-ending injury—but he still finished as one of fantasy football’s most valuable running backs.

Who is the Colts’ WR1 in 2026?

Alec Pierce steps into the WR1 role after Michael Pittman Jr. left in free agency. Pierce is a 6’3″ deep threat who has never topped 700 receiving yards in a season but enters 2026 as the clear top option.

What is the Indianapolis Colts’ bye week in 2026?

Week 13 — Not the worst possible timing for fantasy managers since most leagues run playoffs in Weeks 14-16.

How many primetime games do the Colts have in 2026?

Two — Week 2 Sunday Night Football at Kansas City and Week 11 Thursday Night Football at the Houston Texans.

What stadium do the Colts play in?

Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

How long has Commish Kit been making fantasy football draft boards?

Since 2002 — Commish Kit started in Daly City, California, and moved to Austin, Texas in 2012, making 2026 its 24th season in business.