On Pro Football Focus’ top 400 PPR fantasy football rankings, they have Colts’ rookie receiver Anthony Gould ranked higher than Alec Pierce.
Now, Gould is the 112th-ranked receiver, and Pierce is No. 121, so it’s not as if PFF is predicting either to make a huge impact on offense. However, I did find it interesting that they have Gould ranked higher, even though the expectation is that Pierce will be higher up on the depth chart.
Pierce was the Colts’ third wide receiver last season, and while it hasn’t been declared that Adonai Mitchell will officially be the starter opposite of Michael Pittman, I would be quite surprised if that doesn’t happen, given that Mitchell brings a different – and needed – element to the passing game.
“You bring in AD and he’s very talented,” said Pittman. “Everything he does is so natural. I think he brings something extra that we didn’t have before. I’m learning stuff from him that I didn’t know before. Just the way he moves and the way he sets up moves. I think he’s elevating everybody.
“He’s all about football. We are always talking about concepts, routes, releases, set up moves. He’s all ball 24/7.”
The Colts played a very heavy dose of 11 personnel last season, utilizing three receivers on 77 percent of their snaps, according to Sumer Sports. Their second-most utilized package was 12 personnel at 18 percent of the time, with two tight ends and two wide receivers.
The point being that, assuming this trend continues, it’s going to be hard for both Pierce and Gould to see steady playing time on offense.
However, even though Gould may be the incoming fifth-round rookie, while Pierce is entering his fourth NFL season, the opportunity for him to carve out a niche role on offense could be greater, given his skill set.
During his career with the Colts, Pierce has primarily been the team’s downfield target, with 30 percent of his targets coming 20-plus yards downfield, which was the 14th-highest rate in 2023, according to PFF.
That is also one of the several different roles that Mitchell can help fill with his 4.34 speed. Pierce’s focus this offseason is to showcase his versatility and that he can impact the game in different ways–something that likely becomes a must if he’s going to see steady playing time.
“I think it’s my job to go into camp and prove that,” said Pierce about his versatility. “So I’ve just got to let my work on the field speak for itself. I’ve got to show in practice and they’ve (the coaches) got to trust me and allow me to get those reps too.”
Gould, meanwhile, with his 4.39-speed and YAC ability, could earn some snaps early on, as a motion man or Shane Steichen dialing up some designed touches for him in space where his playmaking can take over.
The caveat to all of this is that a lot can change once training camp begins, and there is certainly something to be said for Pierce’s experience–that does matter, to a degree.
However, where we sit right now, Gould’s path to contributing on offense appears more clear than Pierce’s, which is what the PFF fantasy rankings reflect.
“I think I’ve solidified that I can play wide receiver at a high level throughout this process,” Gould said. “Obviously, the speed down the field, but the intermediate and short game as well. I ran a full route tree at Oregon State.”
Then, of course, there is Gould’s ability as a return man, which I’m sure factored into PFF’s equation as well.
The Colts wanted more playmaking, not only on offense, but in the return game as well, which is one of the key reasons why they selected Gould, who was an All-American return man at Oregon State in 2022.
For his career, Gould averaged 15.7 yards per punt attempt on 27 returns with two touchdowns.
“It’s just the confidence,” Gould said via the Indy Star after being drafted. “Every time I’m back there, I think I’m going to score. That’s the mentality I have.”
