Team Talk: Indianapolis Colts

By Adam Filadelfo (@Frostt24)

It's time to take a look at the defending AFC South champions, the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts had quite a few fantasy relevant players in 2013 and took a big step forward in providing fantasy owners with players to look for in fantasy drafts. Fantasy owners are hoping for more of the same from the Colts in 2014.

Andrew Luck- Fantasy owners knew from the moment he was drafted that Andrew Luck would be a successful fantasy quarterback sooner rather than later. Luck took another step forward in 2013 and gained the trust of fantasy owners everywhere in the process. Luck averaged over 21 fantasy points per game and proved to owners that he could be a starting fantasy quarterback every week. With Hakeem Nicks in the fold for 2014, owners can expect another step forward from Luck this year.

Ahmad Bradshaw- Bradshaw's first season in Indianapolis was not what fantasy owners were expecting. An injury cut his season short as he appeared in only three games in 2013. Fantasy owners can take solace in knowing that in those three games Bradshaw did appear in, he averaged over 11 fantasy points per contest. If healthy in 2014, Bradshaw should provide value to fantasy owners in the mid to late rounds of drafts.

Vick Ballard- Ballard appeared in only one game in 2013 and needs to prove to fantasy owners he's worth drafting or even looking at on the waiver wire. The backfield is rather crowded in Indianapolis this season and Ballard will have to differentiate himself from the rest of the pack. Where Ballard may hold value is if Trent Richardson has another bust of a season and Ahmad Bradshaw goes down to another injury. Other than that, Ballard doesn't hold much value heading into the season.

Trent Richardson- Trent Richardson was as pedestrian as running backs come in 2013. The trade has worked out better for the Browns than it has for the Colts up until this point. Trent Richardson needs to prove himself to fantasy owners this season in order to be considered a top back in fantasy circles again. His seven fantasy points per game was enough for some fantasy owners to stay a away from him in 2014.

TY Hilton- Hilton was one of the more maddening fantasy players in 2013. His inconsistency made it difficult for owners to start him on a weekly basis. One week he'd show signs of him becoming a fantasy stud, while the next week he would have fantasy owners shaking their heads in disbelief. If Hilton could become more consistent this season, he could be in store for a monster 2014. He seems to have all the tools to be a successful fantasy wideout but the inconsistency is holding him back. He did have a productive 2013 catching 82 balls for over 1,000 yards and scoring five touchdowns so owners know the talent is there.

Reggie Wayne- Wayne was well on his way to having another good fantasy season when a knee injury cut that short. Before Wayne went down to the injury, he played in seven games and averaged nine fantasy points per game. If healthy in 2014, there's no reason to write Wayne off as he should provide fantasy owners with another stellar season.

Hakeem Nicks- Coming over from the Giants last season, Nicks had a very disappointing 2013 not finding the end zone even once. Most fantasy owners are expecting a better season for Nicks being that he's getting a fresh start in Indianapolis and is playing with a better quarterback in Andrew Luck in a pass heavy offense.  Owners should temper expectations a bit early on as Nicks is playing in a new offense for the first time in his professional career. Nicks is a better receiver than he showed in 2013 and a bounce back season should be in the books for Hakeem Nicks in 2014.

Da'Rick Rogers- Rogers came out of nowhere last season and in the four games he played in, averaged just under eight fantasy points per game. Rogers is buried on the Colts depth chart and won't provide much fantasy value unless an injury causes receivers ahead of him to miss time.

Coby Fleener- Fleener is another of those inconsistent fantasy players. Just when owners thought it was safe to cut bait with him, Fleener would have a good game. Then owners would put him in their lineup and he'd have a dud of a game. Fleener did manage to finished the season with 52 catches for over 600 yards and four scores. He averaged just over five fantasy points per game and still doesn't look like he could be a starting fantasy tight end on a weekly basis. Maybe 2014 is the breakout season fantasy owners have been waiting for but the inconsistencies are too much to trust Fleener each week.

Dwayne Allen- When Allen was drafted along with Fleener, some fantasy owners thought both could be the next Gronk/Hernandez. So far, Allen has been a bigger disappointment than Coby Fleener. Appearing in only one game in 2013, Dwayne Allen provides no fantasy value whatsoever heading into 2014.