The Colts have big plans for Alec Pierce. Adding Pierce to a young and talented receiving core was a top 2022 NFL Draft priority for the franchise.
The move was celebrated on draft day. In particular, Louis Riddick singled out Pierce as an impact player, and under-the-radar OROY candidate.
Riddick loves Pierce so much that I think he might be getting paid off by the Pierce family. The Colts and national media have echoed the praise throughout training camp.
Pierce has been locked in with the first team on offense. Even more importantly, the Colts have not seriously pursued any veteran receivers, demonstrating the front office and coaching staff’s belief in Pierce.
Pierce may be an under-the-radar player coming from Cincinnati, but he’s poised to make waves this upcoming season. Rooted as a starting WR on a high-upside offense, Pierce is in a prime position to deliver fantasy value as a rookie.
DRIPPING IN ATHLETICISM
The Colts like to draft players who are athletic freaks, Pierce is no exception. In fact, the Colts drafted one of the most athletic classes in NFL Draft history — highlighted by Pierce.
Pierce has the ideal size, speed, and leaping ability for a modern NFL WR. At 6′ 3″, 211 lbs, Pierce is a big-bodied receiver similar to Michael Pittman Jr., but also has game-breaking speed (4.41 40-yard dash) and is a jump-ball red-zone threat (40.5 in. vert).
All-in-all, Pierce is Ballard’s wet dream. He’s the love child you get if you combine the possession-receiver prowess of Pittman Jr., the boxout abilities of Mo-Ali Cox, and the field-stretching capabilities of Parris Cambell.
SUMMARY
Long story short, Pierce is a Parris Cambell injury away from being an every-down WR2 on the Colts. The team expects him to contribute immediately and they are testing him via trial by fire by sticking former DPOY Stephon Gilmore on the rookie. Most importantly, his quarterback sees the potential in him.
“He’s a really hard worker,” Ryan said about Pierce. “When you combine that with talent, the good players I’ve been around, they’ve all been that way. More than anything he does on the field, it’s the combination of work ethic, competitiveness, all the intangible stuff combined with the talent. And if you’re going to be a great player in this league, which I think he can be, you’ve got to have it all — you’ve got to have the work ethic, you’ve got to have the confidence, and then you’ve got to have the skill set to do it, too. And the combination of those things is what fires me up about him.”
Going up against a stud like Gilmore while receiving coaching from a legend like Reggie Wayne is the best possible crash course for Pierce’s development. By all accounts, Pierce is a consummate pro, an athletic freak, and likely locked into an everyday down role for the Colts. In other words: Pierce is the perfect late-round, high-upside flier in regular season-long formats and a must-have player in best ball formats.
Pierce checks in at WR70 (+19 vs ECR) on The Wolf’s 2022 Fantasy Rankings.
