Roughly three quarters of the way through the regular season and Pro Football Focus has made it official in their eyes: Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is a second-year breakout player.
Entering the 2021 campaign, there were hopes that Pittman Jr. could take over as the offense’s alpha WR1. It wasn’t totally clear what that would look like but through 11 games, Pittman Jr.’s production is nearing that level.
Here’s what Pro Football Focus had to say about the second-year breakout:
The Colts needed a No. 1 target to go with Carson Wentz, and Pittman has been that guy. He’s already bested all of his rookie totals with 55 catches, 729 yards and five scores in 10 games. The former second-rounder only has one drop all season as well. It’s no fluke either, as Pittman has one of the highest charted win rates against man coverage of any receiver in the league.
With Carson Wentz at the helm, the pair has connected in a big way. Whether it’s Pittman Jr. bullying cornerbacks on slant routes or using his alpha physique to box out a defender on a jump ball downfield, Wentz and Pittman Jr. have something special.
It’s likely the Colts will be entering the offseason with a need for a complement, but Pittman Jr. has shown in 2021 that he’s capable of being a true alpha WR1.
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