​Jared Dubin of CBS Sports recently published his list of the top wide receiver duos entering the 2026 NFL season, and two Colts receivers narrowly missed the top tier, landing just outside the main group. In Dubin’s ranking, he highlighted the eight best wide receiver pairings and also included a number of duos in an “Honorable(-ish) Mentions” category. Alec Pierce and Josh Downs were included in that latter group.
Pierce is coming off his most productive pro season to date, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career. He also led the NFL in yards per catch for the second consecutive year, averaging 21.3 yards per reception and catching six touchdowns. Yet Pierce has proven to be more than a one-trick deep threat. Since arriving in Indianapolis, his route-running has sharpened considerably, opening the door to more versatile usage and the ability to attack defenses at multiple levels of the field in a variety of ways. For the Colts to maximize his impact, the offense will need to continue expanding how they deploy him, helping him grow into the unequivocal No. 1 option in the passing game that the team envisions.
Downs, in contrast, had a quieter 2025 from a production standpoint, particularly with the arrival of Tyler Warren on the roster. Nevertheless, he remained a dependable target for Daniel Jones in crucial moments, showing the consistency that coaches and teammates have come to rely on. With last year’s departure of Michael Pittman, Downs is positioned to see an uptick in opportunities this season. Pittman’s exit in Pittsburgh leaves a substantial portion of last season’s target share unclaimed, with roughly 110 targets becoming available for the taking. Replacing Pittman’s production will require a collective effort from the passing game, but Downs is poised to play a significant role in filling that void.
This analysis and a broader discussion of the Colts’ receiver group reflect the ongoing assessment of where Pierce and Downs stand among the league’s top wide receiver duos for 2026. The focus remains on how Indianapolis can continue to maximize their development and integrate them into a more prolific and balanced aerial attack. The story originated on Colts Wire, which documented why Pierce and Downs are on the fringe of the top WR duo rankings for 2026, signaling their potential to crack the upper echelon with continued improvement and the right schematic usage.