Xavien Howard signs with the Indianapolis Colts and is immediately penciled in as a Week 1 starter beside Charvarius Ward and Kenny Moore III, forming a revamped secondary that teams up with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s scheme. Howard, who sat out in 2024, cites a strong relationship with Anarumo and has spent the offseason prepping to hit the field with familiarity to his new system. The move plugs a veteran with cornerback pedigree into a Colts unit that will lean on a strong cover trio to bolster a defense trying to find its identity in a quarterback competition-heavy season.

Howard’s return could buoy a pass defense that must keep pace with an offense-hungry league. While the Colts settled QB questions by naming Daniel Jones the starter, the defense will largely determine the ceiling in fantasy terms. If Howard recaptures peak form, Indianapolis could swing several games with takeaway opportunities, while Ward and Moore III provide boundary and slot coverage that helps suppress big plays and lowers opposing passer fantasy upside.

Xavien Howard is headed to Indianapolis on a one-year deal worth up to $5 million, per his agent and NFL Media. After missing 2024 with a Lisfranc injury, the veteran cornerback draws immediate intrigue for fantasy managers due to his proven ball-hawking pedigree (29 career interceptions) and the Colts’ need for reliable cover in a secondary reshaped by injury. Indianapolis’ current projected starters include Charvarius Ward, Jaylon Jones and Kenny Moore II, but Moore II (knee) and Jones (hamstring) have health question marks, which could open early-season snaps for Howard if he’s up to speed. Week 1 pits the Colts against Howard’s former team, the Dolphins, adding a notable narrative edge. Howard’s track record suggests upside if he returns fully, but the short, one-year deal also signals potential for a quick rotation if health or fit lags. For fantasy players, the move raises the profile of Indianapolis’ defensive backfield as a risk-reward play, with Howard lurking as a potential bargain target in best-ball formats should he seize a starter role and post snap counts near those of a true high-volume corner.

Matthew Golden, the Green Bay rook, flashed in two 1-on-1 reps against Charvarius Ward and Alex Johnson in Green Bay’s joint practice with Indianapolis. He released cleanly, bent routes inside and outside with sudden stops, and snagged catches on the run, showing both speed and playmaking shiftiness. The performances underscored Golden’s potential as a big-play, off-the-line threat who could stress defenses if kept clean at the snap.

Golden’s best attribute is his ability to stop and start with ease, making him a nightmare for press or off-the-line coverage. If he can consistently win release, he could push for more snaps behind Green Bay’s top targets, offering dynasty managers and DFS players a tantalizing late-round upside. The Colts reps were telling, but Golden answered with two clear wins that bolster his fantasy-case in varied lineups as camp progresses.

Kenny Moore II’s knee injury during Colts camp is not described as a major setback, ESPN notes, but a firm timeline remains unclear. With Moore out of practice and a string of cornerback injuries (Justin Walley ACL, Jaylon Jones and JuJu Brents hamstrings), Indianapolis faces a reshaped depth chart. Charvarius Ward anchors outside, while Samuel Womack III, Alex Johnson and Johnathan Edwards are in the mix to start opposite Ward. Moore has been a steady presence, logging over 1,000 defensive snaps in four of the last five seasons and posting three interceptions in 2024 while limiting yards per target. In fantasy terms, a Moore absence could push Womack or Edwards into more prominent roles, elevate Ward’s workload if he’s healthy, and test the Colts’ depth with early-season matchups against high-powered passing offenses.

Depth at CB could swing Week 1 projections for Indy, especially given the surrounding injuries. The trio of potential nickel/dime players—Womack, Johnson and Edwards—offer speculative upside in dynasty leagues or as aone-off stream if Moore’s return lags. As the Colts navigate murky timelines, fantasy managers should monitor practice reps and injury reports closely, because even a short spell without Moore could tilt fantasy value toward the next-man-in at nickel and opposite Ward.