By Chet Gresham – @ChetGresham
Follow @walterfootball for updates.
Each offseason brings change to NFL rosters, and those changes often have fantasy implications. Below, I lay out the changes at the skill positions and how those moves impact the fantasy status of the new roster.
2017
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QB: Jacoby Brissett
RB: Frank Gore, Marlon Mack, Robert Turbin, Josh Ferguson
WR: T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief, Chester Rogers, Kamar Aiken
TE: Jack Doyle
2018
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QB: Andrew Luck, Jacoby Brissett
RB: Marlon Mack, Robert Turbin, Nyheim Hines, Jordan Wilkins, Josh Ferguson
WR: T.Y. Hilton, Ryan Grant, Chester Rogers, Daurice Fountain, Deon Cain, Krishawn Hogan
TE: Jack Doyle, Eric Ebron
Pre-Draft Offseason:
The most anticipated and helpful move would be getting Andrew Luck back as the starting quarterback. That has yet to happen, but supposedly that is going to at some point. As long as Luck is playing, we can feel much better about targeting Indianapolis offensive skill players like T.Y. Hilton and even some guys not named Hilton, but I’m not going to do that until I’m sure Luck is back.
The Colts let Frank Gore go, which makes sense. He wasn’t done completely, but his speed and agility have taken too big a hit at this point. That leaves the door open for Marlon Mack to be a big contributor this season if they don’t bring in a top back via the 2018 NFL Draft.
Donte Moncrief moved on to Jacksonville, and even though I still would like to see a healthy season out of him and Luck at the same time, it was just not meant to be. That should elevate Chester Rogers and place him clearly into the sleeper section of fantasy as long as Luck is healthy.
Jack Doyle was one of the few consistent players for the Colts last season, and they rewarded him by bringing in Eric Ebron! The plan is likely to use 2-TE sets, which Luck is very used to, but it’s not the best for either tight end to reach their upside. It can be done though, and if Indianapolis can’t get production out of Rogers and/or Ryan Grant, both tight ends will need to take on bigger roles. As it is however, I believe we’ll need to see one tight end take over before he is a fantasy commodity.
Post-Draft Update
The Colts did upgrade their offensive line and defense with their first five picks. Their No. 1 pick of Quenton Nelson out of Notre Dame should go a long way to beefing up their line and protecting Andrew Luck, if he can ever play again.
Indianapolis’ first skill player was running back Nyheim Hines from N.C. State, who was picked in Round 4. This team is a great spot for him, especially with the recent news that Marlon Mack will miss OTAs after shoulder surgery. Hines has the ability to beat Mack out and a similar but better skill set, as he has great burst and receiving ability. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Hines were to win the lead-back job, but there is a caveat here. Frank Reich, the Colts’ new head coach, is a fan of spreading the wealth at running back, as you saw last season in Philadelphia, and the Colts also drafted Jordan Wilkins out of Ole Miss in the Round 5. Wilkins is a strong receiver and pass blocker, and he could earn snaps this year as well. Then, you have to add in Mack, who will be back despite the surgery, and Robert Turbin, who coaches like as a veteran presence.
With a dearth of wide receivers after T.Y. Hilton, the Colts took a couple of high-upside guys with Daurice Fountain and Deon Cain. Cain has the most upside of the two and has a clear path to snaps if he can beat out Chester Rogers. And as long as Luck is back to his old self, these rookie receivers have a chance, especially long term, to be fantasy assets.
2018 Fantasy Outlook:
Stud: T.Y. Hilton
Solid: Andrew Luck
Sleeper: Nyheim Hines, Deon Cain
For more recommendations, check out WalterFootball.com’s Fantasy Football Rankings.
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Fantasy Football Rankings
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 8/21 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 8/21 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 8/21 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 5/18 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 9/1 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/30 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/27 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/23 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/22 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/16 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/9 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/2 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/1 (Chet)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 7/26 (Walt)
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2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 PPR - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 2-QB - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Touchdown League - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football: Dynasty Rankings - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 9/5 (Walt)
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2018 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Busts - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Mid-Round Values - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 NFL Preseason Game Recaps - 8/31 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Preseason Games - 8/31 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Notes - 8/31 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Quarterback Preseason Targets Tracker - 8/30 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football D/ST Drafting - 8/28 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football ADP Values: Running Backs - 8/16 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy Guide - 8/15 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football ADP Values: Quarterbacks - 8/15 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Tight Ends to Target - 8/9 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football - PPR Draft Strategy: Rounds 1 and 2 - 7/27 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Doug Baldwin's Value - 7/25 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Chris Hogan's Value - 7/18 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Alvin Kamara's Value - 7/16 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Tight Ends - 7/11 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Wide Receivers - 7/6 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Running Backs - 7/5 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Quarterbacks - 7/4 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Tight Ends Better Than ADP - 6/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Wide Receivers Better Than ADP - 6/28 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Target Shares - 6/22 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Points Per Game - 6/13 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator - 6/2
2018 Fantasy Football Value Players - 5/25 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Quarterback Look-Back - 1/28 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football: Running Backs with the Most Carries - 1/28 (Walt)
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2025 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 13
NFL Power Rankings - Nov. 12
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