~~The Indianapolis Colts have long been synonymous with offensive success. From Peyton Manning to Marvin Harrison to Edriggen James, the Colts have dominated teams statistically for over a decade.
Gone are two-thirds of the trio that once made this team great, this unit now belongs to Reggie Wayne and a man many think is the next great quarterback: Andrew Luck. With former first-round picks at quarterback and running back, in addition to a plethora of talent on the offense, expectations are high in Indianapolis heading into the 2014 fantasy football season.
Andrew Luck, Quarterback
This is the put up or shut up year for the 2012 first-overall selection out of Stanford. Luck had big shoes to fill when he first came to Indianapolis three springs ago, and consensus remains that Luck will be the man to bring another Lombardi Trophy to Indiana. From a fantasy perspective, Luck has the tools around him to take him to the elite level of passer. Currently being drafted as the fifth quarterback off the board and 51st overall, Luck will be a bargain for whomever drafts this soon to be superstar.
Trent Richardson, Running Back
After being traded to the Colts for a first round pick, Trent Richardson struggled throughout the 2013 season never coming close to his preseason Top 10 ranking. Finishing 24th amongst rushers in fantasy points last season, Richardson only topped 10 points twice, and was only able to find the end zone three times while losing snaps and targets to the now-Charger Donald Brown. While Richardson will surely improve on his sub-par 2013 stat totals, expectations are at an all-time low for this former first-round pick.
T.Y. Hilton, Wide Receiver
Colts’ speedster T.Y. Hilton exemplifies the type of boom or bust receiver that can either take a fantasy team to the next level, or tear it to shreds. Hilton topped 10 fantasy points just five times in 2013, and had only two games with over 15 points. While Hilton was able to score five touchdowns in those two games, he is not a reliable week to week option.
Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver
This ageless wonder missed the majority of 2013 with a torn ACL, but did manage to rack up 38 catches for 503 yards with two scores in his seven games. Wayne will be Luck’s main possession target in 2014 giving him added value in PPR leagues. This Colts’ receiver had at least four grabs in every game he played in 2013, providing optimism for his recovery from his devastating knee injury. While the variety of weapons Luck has to choose from will hurt Wayne’s overall value, his status as the 36th ranked receiver leaves owners with plenty of hope for upside.
Coby Fleener, Tight End
Not many can claim to be closer to Andrew Luck than Coby Fleener. As teammates at Stanford and consecutive picks in the 2013 draft for the Colts, Fleener and Luck have as close a relationship as one can hope for between a quarterback and receiver. Fleener’s sophomore season resulted in 52 grabs for 608 yards and four scores, though much of those catches were without counterpart Dwayne Allen on the field. While the return of Allen will take away some targets from Fleener, expect the former Stanford Cardinal to continue to progress in his third season as a professional.
Biggest Fantasy Surprise: Andrew Luck, Quarterback
The sky is the limit for this third-year passing prodigy. Luck is the face of a franchise, the shining light of hope for a fan base, and now the heart and soul of fantasy teams everywhere. With Allen, Fleener, Wayne, Hilton, and Hakeem Nicks, Luck now has all the tools he needs to join the ranks of the areal elite. Though the Colts will attempt to pound the ball with Richardson as the base of their offense, Luck will be the primary focus and top scorer on a team that should finish in the top 10 in points scored.
Biggest Fantasy Disappointment: Hakeem Nicks, Wide Receiver
At this stage in his career, all Hakeem is doing is dreaming. Having never played a full 16 game slate since being drafted 29th overall in 2009, Nicks has spent more time in his five year career riding the pine than contributing between the hashes. With only two seasons with over 1,000 yards and only one with more than 10 scores, Nicks has plateaued as a career number two receiver. Now in a crowded arsenal of vertical scoring potential, Nicks will fall by the wayside as a third or fourth option in a talented crop of receivers.
How the Schedule Impacts Indianapolis' Fantasy Options
The simple answer here is that when a team has elite level talent at quarterback, it does not matter who they play. Luck has the tools and ability to take his stock into the realm of the great, and will do so playing in a division with a lack of credible defenses. Though the addition of Jadaveon Clowney will impact the Texans’ pass rush tremendously, four games against the Titans and Jaguars should help alleviate the team’s expected struggles against Houston.
Though games with the Bengals, Browns, Steelers, Ravens, and Broncos will prove a tough test for a third-year quarterback and company, slates against the Eagles, Redskins, Giants and Cowboys should help alleviate some of the fantasy pain. The Colts schedule is fairly balanced, and should prove a worthy slate for Andrew Luck’s trip to the next level.