Dynasty Capsule: Indianapolis Colts
Every year we give our premium content members a team-by-team, player-by-player look at the NFL season that was. The coverage will be in-depth, but because the Dynasty Capsule series begins immediately after the regular season, we won’t use it to discuss free agency or the draft. Come see us in early May once Mr. Irrelevant is off the board for another 32-article series giving you the same detailed discussion you’ll see below.
Buckle up dynasty fans, because you’re about to be reminded why our motto is, “There is no off-season.”
The season didn’t turn out like most thought it would, as the Indianapolis Colts were predicted by many to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. It turned to ruins when injured Andrew Luck could not make his return from injury, and the elder veterans couldn’t keep the ship afloat.
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Quarterbacks
It was a mystifying year for the signal caller. When most of everyone felt he was going to have a terrific season, he ended up having his worst season as a pro. His first three games were more of a performance of inadequacy than brilliance that made him the first overall picks in many leagues. He completed 65 passes in 116 attempts (56 percent completion rate) for 753 yards (251 yards per game average) and a 5:7 touchdown to interception ratio. By the start of the following week, we found out Andrew Luck was injured, and he would miss the next two games.
Luck came back healthy to face the New England Patriots. In his stiffest competition, Andrew Luck probably had his best game in 2015. He connected on 30-of-50 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. The Colts would go on to lose, but many finally felt that the Luck was finally back. Unfortunately, the Colts struggled in the first half of their next game against the Saints which saw New Orleans up 20-0. The second half was just the opposite as Luck led Indianapolis to three touchdowns and finished with 333 yards, but also had two interceptions to go along with the 27-21 defeat.
His next two games were solid against the top two defenses in the NFL. He was 23-for-47 with 231 yards and a 2:3 touchdown to interception ratio in the overtime loss to the Panthers. Luck did win the following week against the Denver Broncos. He completed 21 passes on 36 attempts for 252 yards and two touchdowns. Luck played his last 2015 game as he suffered from a lacerated kidney and partial abdominal tear. With the injuries and the Colts season spiraling downward, there was no reason to rush Luck back into the fold.
After watching him this season, he never looked healthy to me. His passes floated, and he struggled with his accuracy. He remains in the DLF rankings as the number one fantasy quarterback and at this point; there is no reason to disagree.
Finished his 2015 campaign having completed 162-of-293 pass attempts for 15 touchdowns and 1,881 yards to go along with 12 interceptions in seven games.
After a successful 2014 season in which he threw for 40 touchdowns and a 61.7 completion percentage has one year remaining on his current contract with the Colts, worth around $16 million.
Nobody expected Matt Hasselbeck to be any on-field influence for the Colts. Luck has been as “Ford Tough” as he has not missed a game in his three seasons for Indianapolis. When week four rolled around, he was named the starter and commanded the next two games. He was a refreshing sight as he played better than Luck and led the Colts to wins in their next two games. Hasselbeck was able to throw for 495 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions against both Jacksonville and Houston.
After Luck had gone down for the season, Hasselbeck took over in week 11 against Atlanta. The Colts at the time were in need of a win as they had a 4-5 record and a win against the Falcons could start a momentum of wins. He did come out victorious as he completed 71.9 percent of his passes for 213 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The veteran quarterback had another solid game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as he threw two touchdowns and 315 yards completing 61.9 percent of his passes and the Colts were over .500 record for the first time. The season for Hasselbeck and the Colts would not get any better. Indianapolis was destroyed by Pittsburgh and Jacksonville the following weeks and Indianapolis could only manage one touchdown total. Hasselbeck completed 34 of 61 passes for 421 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Hasselbeck’s final two games of the season were not much better. They would go on to lose to Houston in a must win game (17/30, 147 yards, 1:1), and was injured in the Miami Dolphins contest (8/15, 99 yards, 0:0). He would not play in the season finale, and completed the 2015 season with 1,690 yards and nine touchdowns with five interceptions. At this time, Hasselbeck is mulling over retirement.
Whitehurst made an appearance in four games (Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, Houston, Miami). He only tallied 32 attempts completing 16 for 150 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. No word yet if the Colts will be interested in keeping him on for the 2016 season.
When the Colts lost both Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Whitehurst for the season, they needed to go to the streets and find someone to be their signal caller for week 17. Due to time restraints, the Colts decided that Josh Freeman would lead the team between the 20’s, and Ryan Lindley would take over for red zone purposes. Freeman finished the game with 15-for-28 passing for 149 yards and a 1:1 ratio. Lindley finished with 6-of-10 passing 58 yards and one touchdown. No word for either player being retained for 2016.
Running Backs
Gore came to the Colts after his long tenure with the 49ers. I was excited by this move because Indianapolis had a someone that could be a factor since Joseph Addai retired in 2011. Gore was everything the Colts needed him to be as he rushed for 967 yards on 260 attempts for 3.7 yards per carry average and six touchdowns. He also caught 34 passes for 267 yards and one touchdown.
Even though Gore failed to reach the 1,000-yard barrier for the only second time in his career, he gave life to the Colts running game. Gore will never be a full-time running back again, and 260 attempts are probably his ceiling. He doesn’t have much long-term value but has two more years on his existing contract. The Colts will most likely use a draft selection on a running back to help ease Frank Gore’s load as he wore down at the end of the season.
I would love it if Bradshaw could stay healthy. This guy has broken every bone in his body it seems like, and his season was over after breaking his wrist against Tampa Bay. After arriving back to Indianapolis in week six against New England, due to the ineffective and injured rookie Josh Robinson, who was released and later signed to practice squad. Bradshaw does everything well, unfortunately doing things like blocking and being a backup doesn’t translate well fantasy football. He will most likely not be in a Colts uniform unless they have a desperate need for his return. Bradshaw finished with 85 yards on 31 attempts and caught ten passes for 64 yards and three touchdowns.
Dan Herron/Josh Robinson/Zurlon Tipton
Dan Herron and Zurlon Tipton both came to the Colts after being released in the offseason. Herron finished with 79 yards on 25 carries while Tipton finished with 20 yards on five carries. Indianapolis put a lot of faith in rookie Josh Robinson as he was their sixth-round draft choice. He eventually faltered and was released after rushing for 39 yards on 17 carries. He has the most long-term value of the three, but will need to break through the practice squad to become legitimate.
Wide Receivers
T.Y. Hilton, like Andrew Luck, was supposed to have a tremendous season in both the NFL and fantasy wise. Like Luck, his season collapsed. Hilton didn’t score until game six against New England and then scored twice against New Orleans, but couldn’t punch it home against the Panthers in week eight. His first half of the season looked as bad as can be totaling 38 receptions for 621 yards and three touchdowns. He had broken the 38 reception barrier after week six of last season.
The second half of the season wasn’t much better. More of this had to do with the noodle arm of Matt Hasselbeck than his performance on the playing field. He did catch two touchdowns against the Buccaneers, but could not score in the next five games. Hilton finished the season with 69 receptions for 1124 and five touchdowns. Hilton has never been a touchdown performer, but his receptions were clearly missing from the team. He had 82 catches the prior two years for the Colts.
DLF has him ranked 18th among receivers which a strong spot for him. His youth and performance tied in with Luck support his value; his inconsistency decreases it.
Coming off a strong rookie season, Moncrief made more of his opportunities. He was the third wide receiver on the depth chart, but by the end of the season, he had taken over the number two role from Andre Johnson. Moncrief was straight dope the first three games of the season. He caught 17 balls for 200 yards and scored in each game. He then stumbled catching only 19 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns. Moncrief’s first half numbers: 36 receptions for 399 yards and five touchdowns. It doesn’t sound like much statistically but don’t forget he was battling both T.Y. Hilton and Andre Johnson for targets. Like the rest of the team, he saw a decrease in value in the second half. In the final eight games, Moncrief caught 28 passes for 334 yards and just one touchdown. He should continue to progress, but he surely didn’t have his second season go as he or the Colts planned on it would.
DLF has him ranked at 35, which to me is a little low. He should be more explosive next season, and I can see him finishing anywhere between 20-30 by the end of the 2016 season.
The Colts signed Andre Johnson to replace the loss of Reggie Wayne and hoped he could increase the statistical void that Wayne left in his last season in Indianapolis (64-779-2). Johnson finished with 41 receptions for 503 yards and four touchdowns. It appears as though Johnson is more of a forgotten signee than someone brought to help the team. He still has two seasons left on his contract, and at this point, there is not much he can offer a fantasy team. He barely even makes the DLF top 100 wide receiver list as he is at 92.
Phillip Dorsett was the Colts first round draft choice; many thoughts was a negligent draft choice due to the Colts other needs. By the end of the season, he didn’t prove anyone that he was a smart choice. He missed five games due to injury and finished with just 18 receptions for 225 yards and one touchdown. His biggest performance was week 17 as he caught four passes for 28 yards. He tallied the most yards in week one with 45. Dorsett will be in an interesting position next season as he has a high ceiling with a limited floor. His production will rely on targets and Luck. Keep an eye on him during the preseason to see how the Colts use him.
DLF has him ranked as the 50th-ranked receiver.
The receiver with just enough ability to hang on somewhere on the team. His role is usually that of a returner but has gotten opportunities due to injuries of other receivers. He shouldn’t be rostered, but given the right situation could be a late injury replacement in deep leagues. He finished the season with 26 catches for 205 yards and one touchdown.
Tight Ends
Fleener has been an up and down type player.Every time he looks as though he is going to burst out he ends up laying an egg. He hasn’t been able to establish the tight end position even with Dwayne Allen injured. Fleener does find a way to make things happen on the field and with Luck on his side he makes a player worth owning in all leagues. He hit his ceiling last season in touchdowns with eight, and he typically catches around 50 passes for 500 yards. I see a similar outcome as long as he continues to be with Indianapolis as his contract expired at the end of this season.
DLF has him ranked as the 24th tight end
Allen seems to be a better NFL product than a fantasy one. He helps in a lot of blocking packages and in-line for the Colts, so his numbers never really tell the whole story. Fantasy football owners need those numbers, and if he can’t bring them, we will find someone who can. He finished the season with 16 receptions for 109 yards and one touchdown. Allen’s stats was a significant drop from last season as he caught 29 balls for 395 yards and eight touchdowns. He is now a free agent, and it appears unlikely he resigns with the Colts. He will most likely be in a better situation with another team that doesn’t count on him to block as much.
DLF has him ranked as the 21st tight end
Jack Doyle could fill in if either Dwayne Allen or Coby Fleener departs Indianapolis. He will be entering his fourth season and has good receiving skills. He caught 12 passes for 72 yards and a touchdown. He is a restricted free agent in which I assume Indianapolis will bring back.
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