INDIANAPOLIS — With Andrew Luck returning from shoulder surgery, a handful of new offensive players (including a shiny, new line) and a new, offensive-minded coaching staff, there is plenty to be optimistic about regarding the Indianapolis Colts' offense.
Today, we continue examining the fantasy football profiles of the primary fantasy-relevant Colts players.
Average draft position and positional rankings fromFantasyPros. Projections are based on traditional lineups with PPR scoring.
WR T.Y. Hilton
- Current ADP — 32
- Current Positional Rank — WR13
- Games missed last season (2017) — 0
- 2015 — 16 games, 69 receptions (134 targets), 1,124 receiving yards, 5 receiving touchdowns
- 2016 — 16 games, 91 receptions (155 targets), 1,448 receiving yards, 6 receiving touchdowns
- 2017 — 16 games, 57 receptions (109 targets), 966 receiving yards, 4 receiving touchdowns
- Total — 48 games, 217 receptions (398 targets), 3,538 receiving yards, 15 receiving touchdowns
- Average per game — 4.5 receptions (8.3 targets), 73.7 yards, 0.3 touchdowns
Hilton's statistical totals and averages over the last three years are impressive, but even more so when you consider that 26 of those 48 games were without Andrew Luck at quarterback.
In that time, Hilton played with Luck (22 games), Jacoby Brissett (16), Matt Hasselbeck (8), Scott Tolzien (4), Charlie Whitehurst (4), Josh Freeman (1) and Ryan Lindley (1).
It's tough for a guy to get in a rhythm with that much change at quarterback.
After leading the entire league in receiving yards in 2016, things caught up to Hilton in 2017 as he posted his lowest totals since his rookie year.
The veteran playmaker acknowledges that 2017 was a down year and is working to rectify that by continually perfecting his craft.
Hilton is already ranked relatively high, so I don't have to do much to convince you to pick him up this year. However, keep these thoughts in mind:
- Hilton is expected to have Luck back this year. Not only will that bring stability and more weekly consistency to Hilton's stats, but it means the big plays are back…
- ...Luck-to-Hilton has the fourth-highest passer rating in the league on plays of 20-plus yards during Pro Football Focus’ history. For his career, Hilton averages 15.8 yards per catch and 17.7 catches of 20-plus yards per season.
- In seasons in which Luck has been Hilton's primary quarterback, Hilton's receiving yards, receiving yards per game, receptions of 20-plus yards and first downs have all increased each season. You could consider receptions in there as well, but Hilton had 82 each in 2013 and 2014.
- By the end of last season, Hilton had accumulated 10 career games with at least 150 receiving yards, good for the fifth-most in NFL history within a player's first six years. The only players with more are all Hall-of-Famers — Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Lance Alworth and (future Hall-of-Famer) Julio Jones.
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Other Colts 2018 Fantasy Previews:
