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Dynasty Buy, Sell, Stash After Colts Pay Alec Pierce, Ship Pittman to Pittsburgh
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| By Dustin Ludke | 3/11/26 | Follow @theDunit13 |
![]() Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. has been traded from the Indianapolis Colts to the Pittsburgh Steelers, just moments after the Colts signed Alec Pierce to a four-year, $114 million deal to kick off free agency. Pittman gives the Steelers a strong number two option opposite DK Metcalf, though Pittsburgh still has to solve its quarterback situation. The move also reshapes the target distribution for both offenses and creates some interesting dynasty opportunities. Buy: WR Alec Pierce, INDI was skeptical that Alec Pierce would land a massive contract heading into free agency, and I was even more surprised when he actually did. Five years from now we may look back and wonder what the Colts were thinking, but Pierce is still a dynasty buy right now -- even if his price is nearing its peak. Pierce is still just 25 years old and now has back-to-back seasons with at least five touchdowns despite not seeing more than 85 targets in either year. With Pittman now in Pittsburgh, additional targets should open up for Pierce. He has a similar size profile to Pittman and can fill a comparable role in the offense. Daniel Jones is expected to return as the Colts' quarterback at some point this season. If Pierce can push into the 120-target range, his fantasy production should rise enough to justify the current acquisition cost. Right now, you'll likely need to pay at least a second-round rookie pick to acquire Pierce. Given how shallow this draft class looks, that's a reasonable price. His value could climb even higher once the season begins. Pierce is productive enough for contenders to want him and young enough for rebuilding teams to view him as a long-term piece. He has a chance to move into that second tier of fantasy wide receivers, similar to where Pittman has lived over the past few seasons. Sell: TE Pat Freiermuth, PITI like Pat Freiermuth as a player, but Pittman's arrival significantly impacts his outlook. Freiermuth saw just 54 targets last season. Yes, the Steelers cut Jonnu Smith and allowed Calvin Austin to leave in free agency, which does create some vacated opportunities. However, Pittman is likely to absorb the majority of those targets. That puts Freiermuth in a tough spot, as his dynasty value was already hovering between a fringe starting tight end and a roster clogger. The biggest issue is how similar Pittman and Freiermuth are in terms of where they operate on the field. Both players tend to command targets over the middle and rely heavily on intermediate routes inside the hash marks. Their efficiency profiles are similar as well, with Pittman averaging 7.6 yards per target and Freiermuth around 9. Freiermuth's value is already modest -- roughly equivalent to a fourth-round rookie pick in many leagues. With Pittman now competing for the same areas of the field and the Steelers' quarterback situation still uncertain, it makes sense to move on before his value drops further. Deep Stash: 2nd- and 3rd-Round Rookie PicksThe Pittman trade to Pittsburgh and the Pierce extension in Indianapolis both increase the odds that these teams look to the draft for additional wide receiver help. The Colts currently do not have a first-round pick, while the Steelers still hold all of their selections along with two extra third-round picks. This year's draft class is particularly deep in the third- and fourth-tier wide receiver range. Players like Chris Bell, Eric McCalister, and Ja'Kobi Lane could be candidates to land with one of these teams as they look to round out their depth charts. In Pittsburgh, both Metcalf and Pittman are already 28 years old. In Indianapolis, Pierce and Josh Downs are younger, but the roster could still benefit from another receiving option. Acquiring extra second- and third-round rookie picks now could give you multiple shots at players who develop into useful role players. Those picks remain relatively inexpensive because the overall perception of this draft class is lukewarm. While this class may lack elite, game-changing prospects, there will still be value once players land in the right situations. Role players with clear paths to targets can become valuable fantasy assets quickly -- especially when the competition for volume is limited. |
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