It’s always tough to follow in your dad’s footsteps. Just ask Michael Pittman Jr. about it. His dad was a running back who played eleven years in the NFL and the pressure to surpass his father’s success has to linger in his mind.
We’ve seen this trend more often in football than other sports, where a boom of second-generation players have come into the league just like Michael Pittman Jr. The pressure is amplified because they’re competing not only against their peers, but their father’s legacy.
Most sons are unable to outperform their legendary fathers, especially when they’re as good as Michael Pittman Sr. was. He won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and served as a solid running back for over a decade. But he never reached the Pro Bowl like his son, Michael Pittman Jr, did last season.
Can Michael Pittman Jr. be even better in 2024?
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Ever since coming out of USC in 2020, Michael Pittman Jr. has served as the top pass catcher for the Indianapolis Colts. He was taken in the 2nd round and started for the team immediately.
Michael Pittman Jr’s long frame and sure hands have led to two 1,000-yard receiving seasons, including last year where he had 109 catches for 1,152 yards. Those numbers were good enough to get him selected to the Pro Bowl as an alternate.
This season Michael Pittman Jr. gets back a healthy Anthony Richardson who seemed locked in on finding his number-one receiver at the start of last season. After Richardson got hurt, Gardner Minshew took over but that didn’t stop Michael Pittman Jr. from continuing to ball out of control.
Gardner left the team to compete for the starting job in Las Vegas, but if Richardson gets hurt again this season, no worries! The Colts signed ageless wonder Joe Flacco to serve as a solid backup option who will undoubtedly target Michael Pittman Jr. if he is thrown into action.
Where to draft Michael Pittman Jr. in 2024
The big question is when to draft him. Right now he’s going in the 3rd round in most drafts, so if you want Michael Pittman Jr., you’re gonna have to invest a high-value pick. But if you think he’s destined to exceed last season’s stats then it’s a small price to pay for a fantasy football stud.
Just look at the other receivers going around him in most drafts. They all have issues limiting their appeal, while Michael Pittman Jr. offers an extremely solid floor to go with his untapped upside.
Brandon Aiyuck is demanding a trade because the 49ers have left him in contract limbo. Mike Evans is another year older and has had lots of hamstring problems in his career. Malik Nabers is an explosive player but he’s an unknown rookie who has to catch passes from Daniel Jones. Not to mention DK Metcalf, who has to compete with Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba for targets and has battled nagging injuries over the course of his career.
Michael Pittman Jr. is the focal point of the Colts passing game. He’s going to get targets on targets throughout the season, making him a valuable fantasy football asset. Don’t make the mistake of taking a bigger name like Evans or Metcalf over the 26-year-old Colts wide receiver.
Final Thoughts
Michael Pittman Jr. has improved every year and now the Colts are counting on him to hit another level of success with an excellent quarterback situation. His career is trending upward so I’m all for targeting him early in drafts. He’s going to be a rock-solid Wide Receiver 1 who will be a PPR machine. Grab him and don’t think twice because Pittman will hopefully lead your team to a title this season.
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