Alec Pierce
Alec Pierce is Indianapolis's deep-threat X receiver, but he's currently on injured reserve after re-aggravating the heel he'd previously had surgically repaired. With him out, the coverage consistently points to Darius Slayton and Josh Downs absorbing his role and target share, while multiple shows flag that his absence also shrinks the field for Jonathan Taylor's per-game production.
Two weeks ago Fantasy Focus Football was touting Pierce as a ceiling flex piece, noting he led the team in targets and air yards even on limited snaps. That optimism evaporated fast: he left the Chiefs game with the same heel issue, and Yahoo's Matt Harmon show said they were bracing for bad news, believing he'd returned too soon. By September 23-25 the consensus turned bleak — Establish The Run called it a disastrous outcome for his big new contract, Dynasty Nerds panned the extension itself, and The Audible, Fantasy Footballers, and Fantasy Focus all recommended dropping him in shallower formats, while FantasyPros and Fantasy Football Happy Hour left a sliver of hope for a midseason return via rehab instead of surgery.
The line: Drop him in shallow leagues, stash only in deep dynasty formats, and don't expect fantasy relevance before midseason at earliest.
▶ The Late-Round Fantasy Football Podcast: Placed on IR, opening up target share for other Colts pass catchers. listen ↗
▼ Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry: Injury removes the Colts' deep-threat element; Darius Slayton expected to try to fill that role but isn't a one-for-one replacement. listen ↗
▼ Fantasy Life Show: Placed on IR with heel injury, choosing rehab over surgery. listen ↗
▼ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Re-injured after returning from ankle surgery, adding to concerns about a mismanaged Colts offense that lacks a deep-threat element. listen ↗
▼ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Officially placed on IR; his deep-threat role was propping up Jonathan Taylor's per-game yardage, and his loss shrinks the Colts' field. listen ↗
▼ Harris Fantasy Football Podcast: Placed on IR and may not return anytime soon, or possibly at all this season, after a rough performance on national TV. listen ↗
▼ Fantasy Feast: NFL Fantasy Football Podcast: Placed on IR, his second injury since signing his new contract, and will miss the Texans game. listen ↗
▼ The Audible: Going on IR, out at least four games, opening modest bump potential for Josh Downs, Keenan Allen, and others down the depth chart. listen ↗
▼ Dynasty Nerds Podcast | Dynasty Fantasy Football: Suffered a significant injury shortly after signing a big contract extension; hosts called the deal a poor front-office decision and expect him to be out for many weeks, possibly needing surgery. listen ↗
▼ Fantasy Feast: NFL Fantasy Football Podcast: Will not play in Week 3 against the Texans. listen ↗
▼ Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry: Will rehab a heel injury rather than have surgery and could miss several weeks, possibly returning midseason. listen ↗
▶ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Dealing with a heel injury and prior ankle surgery; expected to miss significant time, opening more opportunity for Downs. listen ↗
▼ The Audible: Host says it's okay to drop him; his heel injury/rehab situation looks like it could turn into a lost season, with surgery still possible. listen ↗
▼ Establish The Run Fantasy Football: Re-aggravated his foot/ankle injury, likely out until midseason; called a disastrous outcome for a $114M contract. listen ↗
▼ Fantasy Feast: NFL Fantasy Football Podcast: Dealing with an injury the team is trying to heal rather than operate on, which could keep him out a while; Colts signed Darius Slayton in response. listen ↗
▼ Fantasy Focus Football: Set to miss several weeks with a heel injury possibly tied to an offseason issue; hosts compare his situation to Chris Godwin's and call him droppable. listen ↗
▼ Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast: Attempting to rehab a heel/ankle injury to avoid surgery; hosts recommend dropping him rather than stashing given long recovery outlook. listen ↗
▼ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Suffered a heel injury, couldn't bear weight, left in a boot/crutches; a lingering concern given his lean frame and prior compensatory injury worries. listen ↗
▼ Rotoworld Football Show – Fantasy Football: Suffered a re-injury and looked dejected; hosts believe he could be out long-term, boosting Josh Downs' outlook. listen ↗
▼ The Audible: Had negative X-rays on a sore foot/heel injury but is seeking a second opinion, raising concern given his history of heel issues and possible Week 3 absence. listen ↗
▼ Fantasy Feast: NFL Fantasy Football Podcast: Left the game with a heel injury, a significant loss for a Colts team that really needs him. listen ↗
▼ Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast: Left on crutches with an ankle/foot injury (surgically repaired area), expected to be out for a while, opening target share for Josh Downs. listen ↗
▼ Harris Fantasy Football Podcast: Left the game with an ankle/heel injury after a non-contact play, was driven to the locker room, and is unlikely to play soon. listen ↗
▲ The Audible: Made one of the best hurdles of the week and is part of a Titans passing attack that's more competitive than expected. listen ↗
▼ The Audible: Re-injured his surgically repaired heel against the Chiefs and was downgraded to out after just one catch; X-rays came back negative but more testing is planned. listen ↗
▼ Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon: Left the Colts-Chiefs game with the same heel he had surgery on, hosts are 'bracing for bad news' and think he rushed back. listen ↗
Follow Alec Pierce
Get every take on him — and the rest of your roster — before waivers on Tuesday and before lineups lock on Sunday. Free through the season.
Sign up free