A lot of uncertainty figuring out the fantasy prospects for many of the Colts skill position players heading into 2014, but there is little doubt Andrew Luck is one of the most desirable quarterbacks to own in dynasty formats. Photo: Icon Sportswire

Data as of July 11 | Current Cheatsheets | Current Projections

NR = Not ranked

QB Andrew Luck

While Luck had a solid rookie season in 2012 by setting an NFL rookie record with 4,374 passing yards and throwing for 23 touchdowns passes, he was even more impressive last season. Despite playing behind a porous offensive line and missing Reggie Wayne and Dwayne Allen for the majority of the season, he increased his completion percentage from 54.1% to 60.3% and his interceptions dropped from 18 to nine while once again throwing 23 touchdown passes. Unfortunately, his PPG average dropped from 22.9 to 21.6. Look for that trend to be reversed in 2014. Both Wayne and Allen return from injury and Hakeem Nicks was signed in free agency with hopes that he will re-establish himself as one of the league’s leading receivers. The offensive line remains a question mark but could feature three new starters. Playing in his second season in offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton’s west coast based offense, Luck rates as a mid-tier QB1 with upside and, of course, one of the most desirable quarterbacks to own in dynasty formats.

RB Trent Richardson

After living up to his draft day billing as a rookie in 2012 by amassing 950 rushing yards, 367 receiving yards and scoring 12 touchdowns despite playing much of the season with rib and knee injuries, Trent Richardson imploded in 2013. First, the new Cleveland Browns regime (since replaced) unloaded him to the Colts after just two games, and then Richardson went on to struggle mightily in Indianapolis, finishing the year averaging just 3.0 yards per carry and failing to post a single 100 yard rushing performance. In fact, his best rushing performance came in a Week 15 win against the lowly Texans and he posted ten games with 40 rushing yards or less. While the Colts organization has offered up plenty of excuses for his lack of production (from improper use to lack of knowledge of the playbook due to his joining the team at midseason), it is worth noting that they have plenty of egg on their faces after they gave up a 1st round pick in this year’s NFL Draft to acquire him. This season, Richardson will enter training camp atop the depth chart with a pair of injured players behind him in Vick Ballard and Ahmad Bradshaw. That pretty much guarantees him a solid opportunity in 2014 but the Colts figure to throw the ball more in 2014 with improved health at the receiving positions (both Reggie Wayne and Dwayne Allen missed significant time due to injuries last season) as well as the addition of Hakeem Nicks. With the Colts on the verge of emerging as an elite offensive team (they averaged 28.8 PPG during their last six games last season counting the playoffs), Richardson is definitely worth adding to your fantasy roster. However, you don’t want to reach for him. Consider him an upper tier RB3 and hope for the best.

RB Vick Ballard

After posting 814 rushing yards as a rookie 5th round pick in 2013 despite not getting major touches until Week 7, Ballard missed all but one game last season due to a torn ACL. Not exactly a speedster or elusive playmaker before the injury, it remains to be seen if he can continue to be effective in the Colts rushing attack. Unfortunately for Ballard, the Colts traded for Trent Richardson after his injury and he figures to get the first crack at the starting position. Ahmad Bradshaw was also re-signed, making Indianapolis three deep at the running back position. Despite these negatives, we like Ballard as a decent slot pull this season. Richardson was completely ineffective last season and Bradshaw is no longer capable of handling a large role given his injury history. It wouldn’t rate as a shocking surprise if Ballard earns some starts in 2014.

RB Ahmad Bradshaw

In what was considered a bit of a surprise, the Colts chose to re-sign Ahmad Bradshaw despite the fact the injury prone running back missed 13 games last season due to a neck injury. Although Bradshaw is just 28 years of age, he has the wear and tear of a player several years older and has been forced to play nicked up for much of his career, often due to chronic issues with his foot. Even though he signed on at a bargain basement salary, we can’t endorse his signing or his fantasy prospects in 2014 even if he did accumulate 228 yards and a pair of scores on 48 touches in three games last season. With Bradshaw not yet cleared for contact in late June, he may not even be ready for the opening of training camp. And even if he somehow ends up starting, it will almost certainly be in a platoon.

WR Reggie Wayne

Wayne has put together a stellar career after 13 seasons in the league but he faces a major hurdle in 2014 as he attempts to return to his normal self after suffering a torn ACL during Week 7 of last season. At 35 years of age, time isn’t on Wayne’s side and together with the injury recovery makes it unlikely that he will post a 1,000 yard season, a feat he accomplished in eight of nine seasons prior to last year. Playing in a Colts offense that is committed to establishing a reasonable run-pass balance and that features three solid wide receivers and two above average pass catching tight ends, Wayne isn’t going to approach the 145.8 targets he averaged from 2004-2012. Unless the preseason proves otherwise, Wayne shapes up as a low end WR4 at best in 2014.

WR Hakeem Nicks

Despite playing out the last year of his rookie contract in 2013, Nicks failed to display much motivation in his final year as a New York Giant, finishing the season with 56 receptions for 896 yards and failing to score a single touchdown. His career as a Giant was sealed as he sulked his way through the season and ultimately ended up signing a one-year, $3.975-million contract with the Colts. At 26 years of age, Nicks is hoping to parlay a solid season in Indianapolis into the long term contract he hoped to get this past offseason. We’re not sure he will get enough opportunity to make that happen. While Nicks remains capable of establishing himself as a solid number one wide receiver, there just seems to be too much talent among the Colts wide receivers and tight ends for him to earn enough targets to put together a big season. For fantasy purposes, don’t reach for Nicks. He rates as an upper tier WR4 with upside.

WR T.Y. Hilton

The Colts 3rd round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, Hilton, a 5’10’, 180 pound Florida International product, has put two together a pair of solid seasons to open his career. Hilton was a big part of the Colts offense in 2013, as injuries caused both Reggie Wayne and Dwayne Allen to miss the majority of the season. By season’s end, Hilton had accumulated 82 receptions for 1,083 yards and five touchdowns after catching 50 passes for 861 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie. The arrow is pointing up, right? Perhaps but there are some storm clouds in the horizon. While the Colts love Hilton’s big play ability, he probably won’t reach the 138 targets he had last season with both Wayne and Allen back from injury and the addition of Hakeem Nicks to the Colts receiving corps. In addition, Hilton was a boom or bust player last season, accumulating 40.5% of his fantasy points in two games. He also had nine games with 50 receiving yards or less and nine games with less than six fantasy points. While we like Hilton, he will likely struggle to see much improvement from his production last season and there is a decent chance he will take a step back with the improved receiving talent surrounding him. Consider Hilton a low end WR2.

WR Da’Rick Rogers

While the Colts are high on Rogers, who should have been a Day Two draft pick last season if not for his off the field issues, it appears he isn’t in line for a prominent role in 2014. Rogers’ size and speed give him the potential to be a solid pro, and he had a decent rookie season, catching 14 passes for 192 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Unfortunately, Hakeem Nicks was signed in the offseason, meaning Rogers will battle with rookie 3rd round pick Donte Moncrief to be the fourth option at wide receiver in the Colts passing attack.

WR Donte Moncrief

Right place, wrong time. Such is the story of Moncrief’s selection in the 3rd round of this year’s draft by the Colts. Considered one of the highest upside receivers in this year’s draft, Moncrief has the ability to emerge as a number one wide receiver in the NFL. He has solid size at 6’2” and 226 pounds to go along with 4.4-40 speed and better than average elusiveness. Just don’t expect to see much of Moncrief in 2014. He figures to spend the season working on his route running with Reggie Wayne, T.Y. Hilton and Hakeem Nicks hogging the targets at the wide receiver position. Moncrief is a solid dynasty prospect and worthy of an early 2nd round pick in dynasty rookie drafts.

TE Dwayne Allen

After posting surprisingly solid production as a rookie in 2012, catching 45 of his 66 targets for 521 yards and three touchdowns, Allen was lost for the year in Week 1 last season due to a hip injury. In 2014, Allen will battle with fellow third year player Coby Fleener for playing time in Indianapolis’ offense. While Pep Hamilton was expected to use plenty of two tight end sets last season before Allen was hurt, the modus operandi of the Colts offense may have changed with Hakeem Nicks signed in the offseason and Reggie Wayne back from injury. That issue plus the presence of Fleener puts a damper on Allen’s fantasy prospects for this season. He rates as a low end TE1 but isn’t a player we see as having strong potential for a truly breakout season.

TE Coby Fleener

Handed a major opportunity when Dwayne Allen was lost for the season in Week 1 of last season and wide receiver Reggie Wayne suffered a season ending injury in Week 7, Fleener floundered. Despite having a solid rapport with college teammate Andrew Luck, he caught just 52 of his 88 targets even though a large portion of them were of the short to intermediate variety. He finished the year with 608 receiving yards and four touchdowns. In 2014, Fleener will battle with Allen for playing time in an offense that should feature a fairly high percentage of three wide receiver sets. Fleener hasn’t displayed much big play potential as a pro and we aren’t sold on his fantasy prospects in 2014.