Tyler Warren
Warren enters Year 2 as the Colts' clear top pass-catcher now that Michael Pittman is gone, with a rookie season that already saw heavy volume — 111 targets and top-5 marks in end-zone and goal-line looks at TE. He's a locked-in weekly starter whose production is tied closely to Daniel Jones being on the field, and he's being drafted as a mid-round TE1-tier asset.
Coverage started hot in late August — RotoWire, FantasyPros, and Harmon's Yahoo show all called him the clear focal point of the Colts passing game with Pierce out — then hit a groin-injury speed bump that The Audible flagged as a real target-share risk alongside Downs and Keenan Allen. Once he returned to practice, Fantasy Footballers, Fantasy Focus, and Fantasy Life all leaned back in hard, framing the injury dip as an ADP gift and pushing him as a top-4 TE, with Dynasty Nerds and Harris going further to rank him ahead of or even with Loveland. The lone gap in enthusiasm sits with FFT and Harmon this week — FFT loves his target-per-route rate with Jones, but Harmon's raw target-share and air-yards numbers read more middling in a crowded Colts mix.
The line: Draft him as a locked-in top-5 TE at his discounted price, but know his ceiling depends on Daniel Jones staying healthy.
▲ The Audible: Getting steady short-target usage within the condensed Colts offense. listen ↗
▶ Fantasy Focus Football: 9 catches on 10 targets for 55 yards, no TD, but remains a high-volume weekly play with Alec Pierce on IR. listen ↗
▲ Fantasy Football Today: 10 targets, 29% target share, being used as a real passing-game centerpiece rather than gimmick plays. listen ↗
▲ Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry: Valued as a do-everything player including short-yardage/goal-line work, ranked a top-six tight end play this week. listen ↗
▼ Establish The Run Fantasy Football: Concerningly low aDOT (0.3) and minimal yardage despite scoring twice; hosts worry his role is limited to short dump-offs while Josh Downs/Keenan Allen get the downfield/play-action work. listen ↗
▲ Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast: Flagged as a buy-low target given his elite college/rookie-year yards-after-catch profile, expected to benefit from target consolidation with Alec Pierce out long-term. listen ↗
▲ Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry: Drafted as a top-5 fantasy tight end and viewed as having a better floor now with Pierce sidelined. listen ↗
▶ Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon: Usage has been short-area/limited so far; hosts want to see a more expansive route tree and more downfield targets rather than panic on him. listen ↗
▼ Rotoworld Football Show – Fantasy Football: Usage is maddening — targeted often but with a negative average depth of target in Week 2 vs. Kansas City, ranking 155th in EPA per target due to being used only on short/behind-the-line throws. listen ↗
▼ Fantasy Football Today: Warren has a sub-1-yard average depth of target and isn't running intermediate routes; hosts called his 6-21 line 'gross' despite red zone usage. listen ↗
▶ Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon: Leads in targets among TEs but has a negative aDOT; hosts say his ceiling has been shaved and would rather have Dalton Kincaid right now. listen ↗
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