The Indianapolis Colts saw some encouraging signs from their young franchise quarterback Anthony Richardson in his rookie season. Head coach Shane Steichen managed to add the dynamic Texas WR Adonai Mitchell in the second round to help give his young quarterback a great vertical weapon in the passing game.
What can dynasty fantasy football managers expect from Mitchell in his rookie year in this Indianapolis offense?
Should You Draft Adonai Mitchell in Dynasty Fantasy Football?
Mitchell entered this draft process with a bit of a polarizing prospect profile. He has the ideal size (6’2”, 205 pounds) and vertical speed (4.34-second 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine) to operate as an outside vertical playmaker. In addition, he flashed exceptional fluidity and creativity as a route runner to consistently create separation at the breakpoint. This fit from a schematic standpoint is outstanding for both Richardson and the Colts’ offense.
Yet, projecting immediate fantasy success becomes a bit more unclear. Michael Pittman Jr. — who just received a contract extension through the 2026 NFL season — ranked inside the top 10 at the receiver position in both targets (156) and receptions (109). Additionally, slot specialist Josh Downs had an encouraging rookie campaign with 68 receptions for 771 yards on 98 targets.
Undoubtedly, Mitchell is an immediate threat — if not a significant upgrade — to Alec Pierce as an outside X receiver. The incumbent produced just 32 receptions for 514 yards on 65 targets despite playing over 90% of the offensive snaps in all but one game in 2023. To give you an idea of how disappointing Pierce’s production was compared to his ample opportunity, he ranked 91st at the WR position with just 0.87 yards per route run last year.
Mitchell made the most of his opportunities during his collegiate year at Texas working alongside Xavier Worthy, Jonathon Brooks, and Ja’Tavion Sanders, which showcases he can be a very productive player without an abundance of targets. I feel confident projecting more production to come Mitchell’s way if he assumes the role we saw from Pierce in this Colts offense last season.
Expect Mitchell to get off to a bit of a slow start during his rookie year. If he stays dialed in with his effort and Richardson can prove to be an effective passer in the NFL, then Mitchell could have a great long-term fantasy outlook as a complementary WR2 alongside Pittman, similar to DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown — who excelled with Steichen as their OC in Philadelphia.
Mitchell warrants a second-round rookie pick in all dynasty formats this offseason.
Who Is Mitchell?
Background
Mitchell spent some of his prep days playing football at Cane Ridge High School in Antioch, Tenn. He was named the 2019 Tennessean Region 5-6A Athlete of the Year after producing 620 total yards and nine total touchdowns.
Before his time at Cane Ridge High, Mitchell played at Ridge Point High School in Missouri City, Texas, where he was deployed as an all-purpose weapon. He was rated as a three-star prospect coming out of high school and committed to the University of Georgia.
College Production
Mitchell’s collegiate career got off to a bit of a slow start as he played on a loaded Georgia roster in his true freshman and sophomore seasons. Mitchell produced 38 receptions for 560 yards and seven TDs in 21 games as a member of the Bulldogs.
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Sure, those numbers may not jump off the page, but Mitchell’s production jumped significantly after transferring to Texas heading into his junior year. He posted career highs across the board in 2023 with 55 receptions for 845 yards and 11 TDs, which helped the Longhorns secure a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Injury History
Mitchell suffered a high ankle sprain during his sophomore season, which resulted in him playing just six games in 2022.
Mitchell’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
- Strong hands with ideal height and length to operate on the outside at the NFL level.
- Very smooth athlete for a receiver his size, with great hip fluidity and foot quickness to help him beat press coverage and seamlessly get in and out of breaks at the top of his route.
- Very deceptive route runner who understands how to attack leverage and create separation with head and shoulder lean before snapping out of breaks to create chasm-size gaps between him and his defender.
- Natural feel for stacking defenders on vertical routes.
- Impressive release package and foot control when beating press coverage for a player his size.
- Route-running nuance showcased on tape at the top of his stem was extensive, including a repertoire of bam steps, rocker steps, and stair steps; able to fire feet, drop his hips, and control his weight distribution to create consistent separation.
- Top-end body control, ball-tracking skills, and spatial awareness all shine when working along the sideline.
- Primarily operated on the outside but did showcase some formation versatility in the slot in 2023.
Weaknesses
- Despite having strong hands and a longer frame, Mitchell could be a bit more dynamic in contested catch situations if he played with more consistent play strength.
- Gets out of his drive phase a bit prematurely on occasion by standing up when trying to bait defenders into surrendering leverage at the breakpoint.
- Some concerns about his yards-after-the-catch production at the next level; didn’t win consistently with twitch, strength, or natural elusiveness as a ball carrier.
- Some excess wasted motion appeared on tape when at the top of his stem.
