DeionBurks

News: 3 days agoColts coach Shane Steichen said Wednesday that Burks and Anthony Gould will step into larger roles after the team traded Keenan Allen and Josh Downs, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports.

Spin: A rookie seventh-round pick with 4.30 speed, Burks has caught six of nine targets for 60 yards across 49 routes (18.3 percent target rate, 1.22 yards per route). He won't necessarily see a lot of targets in an offense that runs through the RBs and TEs, but Burks should at least get far more playing time in the second half of the season, if only because the Colts' other wideouts are veterans with minimal history of production. Laquon Treadwell and Ashton Dulin are the other favorites for regular playing time, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is also on the roster.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Burks was selected by the Colts in the seventh round of April's draft. Burks is a small receiver who has experience as both a primary perimeter receiver (under 25% slot in 2023 and 2025) and a primary slot (over 80% slot in 2022 and 2024). He had productive seasons at both Purdue and Oklahoma, though his overall efficiency is fairly poor across the board. That includes an ugly 6.4 YPT and 1.37 YPRR, both of which rank near the basement of this rookie WR class. He showed very well athletically at the combine, including a 4.30 40-yard dash and class-best marks in the vertical (42.5) and bench press (26 reps). Burks is a longshot for 2026 fantasy value.