4-EYED TEAM PREVIEW: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (2021)
Today we are continuing our 4-EYED TEAM PREVIEW SERIES and we are covering the Indianapolis Colts of the AFC South! This morning we’re talking offense and later today we’ll be releasing our IDP outlook, so stay tuned!
The Indianapolis Colts finished the 2020 regular season at 11-5 and took one of the wild card spots into the playoffs. Long-time veteran quarterback Philip Rivers retired and Jacoby Brissett signed down in Miami. The Colts traded for former Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz and are giving him a chance to revitalize his career. Star running back Jonathan Taylor is looking to build on a stellar rookie season and the Colts are expecting to be playoff-bound again in 2021.
So, who are the players from the Colts offense that can help you win a fantasy championship in 2021?
Find out below in our 2021 Colts Offensive 4-EYED Team Preview!
Quarterback
Carson Wentz
If Comeback Player of the Year was available for players who were terrible one year and then relevant the next, Wentz would be at the top of that award’s watch list. Wentz had a season to forget in Philadelphia last season with career lows in completion percentage (57.4%), passing yards (2,620), touchdowns (16), and a career-high in interceptions (15). Those with faith in Carson Wentz are hoping for positive regression and they have a good reason to believe it can happen, solely from a protection standpoint. Wentz’s line in Philly last season was graded by PFF as the 16th best team for pass blocking and the 17th for run blocking. Wentz’s new offensive line in Indy was graded as the seventh-best pass blocking line and the third-best for run blocking. He has the surrounding cast to make it happen, so look for Wentz to finish higher than last season. For me, though, Wentz is still going to hopefully be my backup quarterback option to start the season and not my QB1 in Week 1.
***Update***
With Carson Wentz missing up to 12 weeks due to his recent foot surgery, he’s definitely a fade in fantasy drafts this season, but might be someone to poach off of the waiver wire midway through the season.
Running Backs
Jonathan Taylor
Taylor’s rookie season consisted of 15 games played, 232 rushing attempts for 1,169 yards, and 11 touchdowns which landed him as the RB6 in fantasy. Taylor also showed that he was a reliable threat in the receiving game bringing in 36 of 38 targets for an additional 299 yards. Looping back in the Colts’ third-ranked run-blocking offensive line, Taylor can be expected to have another season with high volume.
Nyheim Hines
The RB20 in fantasy last season, Hines was a great complement to Taylor and found his footing in the Colts’ passing attack. Hines had the third most targets and receptions among running backs for 482 yards and four touchdowns. He even had more receiving touchdowns (4) than he did rushing touchdowns (3), which shows that he does have a role in the offense. Hines is a worthy mid-to-late round pick with elevated value in any form of PPR leagues.
Marlon Mack?
Mack missed the 2020 season with a torn Achilles injury suffered in Week 1. He figures to be the odd man out to start the season in Indy, but the Colts did choose to bring Mack back as he was a free agent. I don’t think Mack has any draft capital other than a late-round dart throw, but if Taylor goes down he could be the starter.
Wide Receivers
T.Y. Hilton
From Weeks 1 to 11 last season, Hilton was looking like he was done. Not necessarily with football in general, but certainly was done with fantasy relevance as he was the WR89 over that time. Then, in Weeks 12-14 Hilton was the WR3 and showed that he could still perform at a WR1 level. Now, going into 2021, Hilton will be hoping that Wentz improves that completion percentage and if he does, Hilton could be a fringe WR2 if he can stay healthy and consistent. Otherwise, he will be a weekly flex appeal.
Michael Pittman Jr., Zach Pascal, or Parris Campbell?
The motto of the Colts receivers in 2020 had to be that nobody could be on at the same time. Pittman Jr. had his best two games in Weeks 10 and 11, while Pascal had his best in Weeks 15 and 16. Campbell is coming off of an early season-ending injury and is a prime breakout candidate as each of these receivers has the latent, but they all have lacked consistency. If one of these receivers can develop the rapport with Wentz early and remain consistent, one of them could become the team’s WR1 and could greatly outperform their ADP in your drafts. For me, I currently have them ranked Pittman Jr., Campbell, and Pascal, but keep an eye on training camp and the preseason to see if one of them can get the upper hand.
Tight Ends
Mo Alie-Cox or Jack Doyle?
Tight ends had 130 targets for the Colts last year and Trey Burton is still a free agent and no longer on the team. Theoretically, that word is very key here, one of these two tight ends should be able to become fantasy relevant. My vote is Mo Alie-Cox and we have seen that when Wentz is at his best, he was utilizing his tight end. If that happens, look for Cox to be fantasy-relevant. Both of these players will probably be on waivers to start the year, but Cox may be a sneaky final-round flier.
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