NFL Experience: 3 Years

Drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in Round 3

College: Florida International

Best Performance

Week 9 vs. Houston: 7 receptions, 121 receiving yards, three touchdowns

Prior to Week 9, Hilton had only one other week that he put up substantial numbers. His performances leading up the Colts bye week in Week 8 had been pretty forgetful. Perhaps Hilton started taking his daily Flintstone tablets during his bye week, because the guy playing football in Week 9 in a win over Houston was on fire.

Hilton’s three touchdown scores in one game had his fantasy owners, who hopefully played him, jumping out of their seats with excitement. If you had a premonition to start Hilton that week, he earned you 30.10 fantasy points.

Best Four-Game Stretch

Weeks 5-9: 19 receptions, 331 total yards, five touchdowns

Hilton’s best four-game stretch of time was two off-the-chart weeks with a couple sluggish weeks sandwiched in between. The Colts put up three of four wins boldly beating Seattle of all teams, then Denver and Houston. Hilton’s superb fantasy numbers from Week 5, where he went off on Seattle, and then again in Week 9 awarded fantasy owners with over 56 points.

Fortunately the big weeks during that time offset the weeks in between where it was like Hilton fell off the planet, scoring only seven total fantasy points.

Lowest Statistical Standpoint

Week 14 vs. Cincinnati: two receptions, seven yards, zero touchdowns

If it weren’t for two measly catches during a loss to the Bengals, I would have thought Hilton suited up in a different uniform and played with another team that week. To only gain seven yards on two catches in a game is an ego-bruiser for sure, not to mention, Hilton’s lack of production probably tanked fantasy teams nation-wide as well that week.

2013 Season at a Glance

Hilton did break the 1,000 yard receiving mark, which is always a standout statistic alone for wide receivers. But he was the victim of low touchdown scores as he only scored five total, and those came in just two games. Overall, it was an extremely inconsistent season for Hilton and fantasy owners were truly in a state of quandary as to whether he was an ideal start most weeks.

With receiving yards ranging from seven to 140, one could never really tell which week Hilton would have a star game or a dud game. Even when Reggie Wayne exited the team early with a season-ending injury, that didn’t really spark any more significant targets from Andrew Luck to Hilton. For the most part, Hilton didn’t live up to the expectations of those who drafted him in earlier draft rounds in 2013.

2014 Outlook

At only 5’-9”, Hilton has explosive moments and can really tear up a field on random weeks. Post season, he had quite a spectacular game in the Wildcard match against the Kansas City Chiefs, with over 200 receiving yards and two touchdowns, so he cannot be discounted as a powerful threat in opportune times.

When it comes to his 2014 outlook, it will likely be another inconsistent year for Hilton with an incredible showing one week, then a nearly non-existent performance the next.

The Colts have an extensive wide receiver roster, entering into 2014, including the veteran Wayne who will return, and the newly signed Hakeem Nicks, just to name a couple. Mix in some other younger wide receivers and two tight ends and it will be hard for Luck to get anyone one of these guys a significant number of targets to make one of them a fantasy football standout. Hilton should be drafted in 2014 as a flex position only, because of his high risk/high reward potential.

Next Up: No. 89, Terrelle Pryor, Quarterback, Oakland Raiders