Since being drafted in the second round by Indianapolis in 2020 out of USC, Michael Pittman, Jr. has been plagued with inconsistent QB play from Philip Rivers and Carson Wentz. Enter veteran Matt Ryan, who led Atlanta to a Super Bowl in 2016-17 and immediately stabilizes Indy's passing attack, not to mention its downfield passing prowess. Known for bombing away with Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley previously, Ryan immediately lifts Pittman's outlook to that of a high end WR2 in fantasy leagues.
Last year Pittman caught 88 passes on 129 targets but his yardage total of 1,082 showed that the Colts didn't view him as a deep threat. In fact, he only had one play over 50 yards in 2021. With teams potentially attempting to stack the box to curb Indy's dynamic rushing attack, it's likely the third year pro will see a lot of single coverage. Ryan should look his way early and often, meaning 100+ catches and a double digit touchdown season are surely in play. It's quite possible given his massive upside, that Pittman finishes as a WR1 in 2021. He's a great value in the fourth round and beyond in fantasy drafts.
Is Michael Pittman a fringe WR1 in fantasy drafts? Find out where he ranks in our'2022 Fantasy Football Rankings.
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