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  1. Michael Pittman Trade Update
  2. Michael Pittman Stats
  3. Pittsburgh Steelers Depth Chart
  4. Indianapolis Colts Depth Chart
  5. Michael Pittman Fantasy Football Impact

The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering a new era. Not only is Mike Tomlin gone, but they have also moved on from offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. His unique offense heavily featured two tight end sets, and part of that strategy left them thin at wide receiver. Now they have already made a big move just hours into the legal tampering by trading for Michael Pittman Jr from the Indianapolis Colts.

Let’s take a look at how the trade impacts both teams and the fantasy football landscape. If you’d like all our takes on all the free agent moves, check out the Fantasy Alarm Free Agent Tracker!

Michael Pittman Trade Update

We are still waiting on the details of the transaction. But it is expected to be a late-round pick swap as the move is largely to clear cap space for the Colts. They clear $24M in space needed to pay guys like Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce. And the Steelers get Pittman at that $24M level. The Colts will eat $5M in dead cap.

 

 

 

Michael Pittman Stats

When healthy, Pittman has generally led the Colts in snaps and targets. This year he led the team in receptions with 80, but his 784 yards were a disappointment compared to his career year of 1,152 years ago. He’s generally a short to intermediate range player, and the belief is likely that they can get similar production out of Josh Downs and Tyler Warren in that area. 

Pittsburgh Steelers Depth Chart

The Steelers decided to move on from Arthur Smith as well as his guy, Jonnu Smith, at tight end. Adam Thielen retired, and Calvin Austin is a free agent. That left them with no real WR2 on the depth chart.

With this move, they will have DK Metcalf at split, and Michael Pittman will play flanker and probably play some slot for three WR sets as well. They now just need either a part-time slot guy or a field stretcher to round things out. I expect them to return to move single tight end sets with Pat Friermuth, but they have blocking TE Darnell Washington as well.

Indianapolis Colts Depth Chart

Last year the Colts used Michael Pittman and Alex Pierce on the outside with Josh Downs in the slot and Tyler Warren at tight end. As it stands now, this opens things up for Josh Downs to be more of a slot/flanker and someone else to make an impact as the WR3. I’m not sure guys like Ashton Duhlin or DJ Montgomery are up to that role so they may need to add someone. 

 

 


Michael Pittman Fantasy Football Impact

This is pretty good news for most players here. Pat Freiermuth is the one who takes the biggest hit, but this could actually make life a little easier on DK Metcalf to have another guy drawing coverage. Whoever the QB is will have some weapons - maybe it entices Aaron Rodgers to return.

On the Colts' side, the big winner is Josh Downs as of now. He’s been relegated to a part-time role but could now finally see more snaps in two wide receiver sets. Obviously, it’s good news for Alec Pierce and Tyler Warren as well. Naturally, losing a guy like this is a downgrade for Daniel Jones.Â