How do the Indianapolis Colts’ wide receiver, tight end, and running back units compare to the rest of the NFL in 2025?
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell recently set out to rank each skill position unit ahead of the new season. In putting together these rankings, Barnwell focused on a few key factors when it came to making decisions:
Where do the Indianapolis Colts’ skill position units rank?
The Colts would come in right in the middle of Barnwell’s rankings at No. 16, who really likes the group that Indianapolis has put together around either Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones.
Despite inconsistent quarterback play last season, the Colts were the only team in the NFL to have three wide receivers all surpass 800 receiving yards. From a schematic standpoint, Michael Pittman, Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce all bring something different skill set-wise to the offense as well, which can expand the playbook for Shane Steichen.
“Receiver score is useful here, since it attempts to measure what receivers do on a route-by-route basis, even when they’re not thrown the ball,” wrote Barnwell. “It liked what it saw from Indy’s receivers, with Downs finishing 15th in receiver score (and tied for fourth in open score), while Pierce came in at 37th and Pittman at 70th. There’s an underrated trio here.”
What about the Colts’ tight end and running back positions?
This offseason, the Colts also added Tyler Warren at tight end, who brings a do-it-all skill set to the offense. When a tight end can impact both the run and passing games, and is versatile, able to line up across the formation, it adds a level of unpredictability to the offense, with that player able to fill a variety of roles.
Then, of course, in the backfield is Jonathan Taylor, who was mostly healthy last season and totaled the fourth-most rushing yards, while eclipsing the 1,400-yard mark.
“After recovering from the injury, though, he was devastating,” Barnwell wrote of Taylor, “over the final month of the season. In Indy’s last four games, he racked up 117 carries for 627 yards and six scores. Injuries continue to be a concern for Taylor, who hasn’t completed a full season outside of that 2021 campaign, but he remains one of the NFL’s best backs when healthy.”
If the Colts can get even somewhat steady play from under center, the path for them to stack some wins this season certainly exists with the players they have around the quarterback.
“No other group of receivers suffers more because of its situation,” wrote Barnwell. “The Colts dropped back for just 567 passes last season, the fourth-lowest total of any team. Nearly 21% of those passes were off target, the second-highest rate in the league.”
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: ESPN bullish on Indianapolis Colts’ WR, TE, RB units in latest 2025 rankings
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Colts Wire / Colts Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
