Fantasy Index

Factoid

Alec Pierce cashes in

Colts could afford to let deep threat walk

On the one hand, it’s weird to see Alec Pierce as the game’s 11th-highest paid wide receiver. But he came up with a lot of clutch catches last year – he’s good.

Ultimately, the Colts decided to re-up with him, giving him a four-year deal worth $114 million, with $60 million guarantee. And with the salary cap exploding, that’s not an outlandish deal. If Romeo Doubs, Wan’Dale Robinson and Rashid Shaheed are getting deals averaging over $17 million, it’s not out of line for Pierce to come in at $28.5.

Watch his highlights from the just-completed season. He’s getting downfield, and he’s coming down with contested grabs. They’ve got Tyler Warren and Josh Downs, who’ll catch plenty of balls, but he’s their big-play weapon.

Two years in a row he’s averaged over 21 yards per catch, and two years in a row he’s done so with a nice catch percentage.

If we look not at yards-per-catch but yards per target (including incompletions) he’s averaged 11.9 yards per play two years in a row. In the last five years, only one wide receiver with at least 50 targets has averaged more yards per target in a season. (That would be 2023 Brandon Aiyuk, who’s looking to bounce back with a new team after a couple of down seasons.)

In the last five years, only 39 wide receivers with at least 50 targets have averaged at least 10 yards per target. Pierce coming in almost 2 yards above that level.

AVERAGING 10 YARDS PER TARGET
YearPlayerTgtNoYardsAvgTDYPT
2023Brandon Aiyuk, S.F.105751,34217.9712.8
2024Alec Pierce, Ind.693782422.3711.9
2025Alec Pierce, Ind.84471,00321.3611.9
2023Nico Collins, Hou.109801,29716.2811.9
2024Christian Watson, G.B.532962021.4211.7
2021Deebo Samuel, S.F.121771,40518.3611.6
2022Jaylen Waddle, Mia.117751,35618.1811.6
2021Kendrick Bourne, N.E.705580014.6511.4
2024Jayden Reed, G.B.755585715.6611.4
2021Ja'Marr Chase, Cin.128811,45518.01311.4
2024A.J. Brown, Phil.97671,07916.1711.1
2025Christian Watson, G.B.553561117.5611.1
2024Jameson Williams, Det.91581,00117.3711.0
2025Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sea.1631191,79315.11011.0
2021Tyler Lockett, Sea.107731,17516.1811.0
2025Jameson Williams, Det.102651,11717.2711.0
2025Luther Burden, Chi.604765213.9210.9
2023George Pickens, Pitt.106631,14018.1510.8
2023Justin Jefferson, Min.100681,07415.8510.7
2023Tyreek Hill, Mia.1711191,79915.11310.5
2024Rashod Bateman, Balt.724575616.8910.5
2021Quez Watkins, Phil.624364715.1110.4
2025George Pickens, Dall.137931,42915.4910.4
2025Kendrick Bourne, S.F.533755114.9010.4
2025Puka Nacua, LAR1661291,71513.31010.3
2022A.J. Brown, Phil.145881,49617.01110.3
2023Noah Brown, Hou.553356717.2210.3
2021Donovan Peoples-Jones, Cle.583459717.6310.3
2025Zay Flowers, Balt.118861,21114.1510.3
2024Ladd McConkey, LAC112821,14914.0710.3
2022Darius Slayton, NYG714672415.7210.2
2021Cooper Kupp, LAR1911451,94713.41610.2
2024Nico Collins, Hou.99681,00614.8710.2
2022Tyreek Hill, Mia.1701191,71014.4710.1
2023DJ Moore, Chi.136961,36414.2810.0
2023Deebo Samuel, S.F.896089214.9710.0
2023Dontayvion Wicks, G.B.583958114.9410.0
2025Ricky Pearsall, S.F.533652814.7010.0
2024Justin Jefferson, Min.1541031,53314.91010.0

—Ian Allan

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