Indianapolis Colts 2021 Fantasy Football

Indianapolis Colts 2021 Fantasy Football Analysis Featuring Billy Whitt

Intro 00:05
You’re listening to the good old boys fantasy football podcast. Now here’s your host, Kevin, Derek and Alex.

Derek 00:11
Alrighty welcome in ladies and gentlemen to another episode of the good old boys fantasy football Podcast. I am Derek and I am joined as always by your co host, Kevin and Alex. Guys, we’ve got a fantastic show for you tonight we’re gonna hit up the Indianapolis Colts for 2021 fantasy football. We are joined by Billy wit from the fantasy first rounders alive, great guest and always a pleasure to have him on in chat with us. If you guys haven’t done so already, make sure you’re clicking the subscribe button, the follow buttons. You can find us on youtube the good old boys fantasy football podcast YouTube channel, please head over there. Give us a subscribe But guys, let’s go ahead and move on to the Indianapolis Colts. And we’ll start where we always do that’s in the running back room. Jonathan Taylor finished as running back six on the year 232 rush attempts, 1169 yards 11 touchdowns, 36 receptions on 40 targets for 299 and one through the air guys your thoughts on Jonathan Taylor

Billy Whitt 01:15
really hired Jonathan Taylor coming in this year. He’s my RB for for redraft purposes and a little bit higher and dynasty I just really liked the talent really liked the position behind that o line so I really didn’t get to see him cut loose until week 11 against Green Bay 22 carries for 90 yards for receptions on four targets you know a nice 15 point fantasy day miss the next game and then the remainder of the season he just went on a tear room RB one score 230 Fantasy points 26 Fantasy points for game 650 yards on 97 carries averaging 6.7 yards per carry second only to Derrick Henry down the stretch in rushing yards he just always goes on a tear in late December so I like what I see like you said RV six and we really didn’t get cut loose until like the last you know the latter mid back half of the season so gotta like that upside I’m not real concerned about anybody cutting into the workload he showed he can catch balls. He is the clear cut one a RB one in Indianapolis and as a dynasty back It doesn’t get any sweeter than a guy of this caliber.

Kevin 02:26
I agree with that completely. I love me some Johnson Taylor’s Well, I think that another year of growth with Pittman to buy Hilton coming back, Fisher coming over as a free agent to help solidify that offensive line yet again. And Carson Wentz being under Center and the ability to use the deep ball that they didn’t have last year. All these things help Jonathan Taylor. It I would agree he’s in the top five now. I think four is probably about right. I could see him as high as two. I could see him as low as you know, six if something just doesn’t quite go right. But the Indianapolis defense is for real. I like this Indy team as a whole a lot. I think that they should be competing for an AFC Championship spot. I think them Buffalo and Kansas City are the clear top three in the AFC and it’s just going to be probably who has home field advantage like it can Indianapolis, come back and and redeem their playoff demon and beat buffalo where they lost to him last year. Or is Kansas City going to keep running it. So there’s there’s a lot of things that Taylor showed he does very well he runs behind his pads very well. He did this at Wisconsin, he can receive the ball. He worked on this a lot at Wisconsin getting ready for the NFL and it showed last year that he is able to catch balls out of the backfield. He is elusive, he is not a burner per se but he does have that next gear that if he gets into the secondary, he is a problem to try and bring down. So all these things on top of the fact that Indianapolis is good enough, they’re going to be leading a lot in the fourth quarter guys. And the best way to maintain a lead in the fourth quarter is you turn around and it’s handed off student body left student body right student body up the middle, whatever the hell you want to call it, but it’s all volume for Jonathan Taylor. What this means is fantasy production. And that is why at least for me and Billy we’ll see what Alex has to say. He’s a clear top five fantasy back this season.

Alex 04:54
So I’m still bitter against Jonathan Taylor because I thought I was being sneaky. And I picked up a ton of shares of Marlin Mac. And that did not work out. So I’m very bitter against Jonathan Taylor. And the reason for that bitterness is because it dude exploded onto the scene. And he is he’s definitely Yeah. I really,

Kevin 05:18
really slow up though.

Alex 05:22
Well, yes, that that also that also hurt that that also was not ideal. But I was I was I there were two guys on this nd team that I was super high on and it didn’t work out at all because of injuries. And then, I mean, really, you know, if Marlin Mac comes back and there isn’t a Jonathan Taylor, then you’d have to think that Marlin Mac would would have been the dude, because that was an offense that was gonna be geared for running the football right? It was Philip Rivers who is a gunslinger. But, you know, he relies on the run, game to run, he’s smart enough to check into place to get you know, to get running plays when the passing plays and going to work out. You know, he was smart enough to do that. I also had Marlin Mac when they didn’t have a quarterback. And that would that just didn’t work out for me. But Jonathan Taylor, top five back and yeah, I’m right there with you. I think that with, with everything else that they’ve done this this year, another year, Frank Reich, I think Frank Reich is one of the best offensive minds in the game, and maybe one of the most underrated which is crazy to say. But you know, he’s in he’s in Indianapolis, he was just the, you know, the OC, in Philly. But really, I mean, I think we’re seeing how important he was to that Super Bowl run. Because after he left, you know, Philly went downhill, Carson Wentz wasn’t the same player. So I’m excited to see Carson reunite with him. But but but more than that, you know, they showed that year that they did make the Super Bowl run in Philly, they showed the importance of the run game, and they brought in, you know, good power running backs. But they were also able to utilize those guys in different areas as well. So I think they’re really smart about how they go about things. And I think that that just means, you know, fantasy success for Jonathan Taylor.

Derek 07:14
So before, like, don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of Jonathan Taylor. So much. So to the point, I was drafting him in redrafts, probably earlier than I should have, especially going into the season with the situation that he had. So that’s kind of my disclaimer on to then go into this next point, that’s going to lead us down a little bit of a rabbit hole here. But I think the discussions worth having. So when you look at it, right, Jonathan Taylor, for the most part through the season was very frustrating to have on your fantasy roster. So much so that a another running back that was very frustrating to have on your roster. And we’re going to do a little bit of a blind comparison to this guy from Jonathan Taylor, who we know the stats would just read it off all that kind of stuff. But another guy that was a little bit frustrating there, but the narrative even before free agency started in some of that change the situation this year, the narrative was completely different going into these two players on how it looked. So we have Jonathan Taylor right, Player B, had 273 rush attempts for 1065 yards, 12 touchdowns, 33, receptions for 45 targets for 238 through the air, and looking at it going into as soon as the season ended. One everybody or most folks were very high on Jonathan Taylor, most folks were very down on Player B, even though output wise was very similar. And when you look at it from a, you know, output production, Jonathan Taylor had three, top six finishes. Player B had three and top 12 finishes, Jonathan Taylor had five, Player B had six, so you were getting even more, you know, winnable type of weeks from that player. But just kind of curious as to your guys’s thoughts on how that narrative changes there. And if you want to play your bees name, I will give it to you before you give your opinion.

Alex 09:16
Is it clyde edwards? Oh, where? No.

Derek 09:19
Oh yeah. Billy, you got it. You got an idea who it is.

Billy Whitt 09:27
I was thinking Nick Chubb, Josh Jacobs.

Derek 09:32
It is Josh Jacobs. Okay. So like you look at it right both of them finished one finish at six. One finished at eight. Production wise was very similar to it. Josh Jacobs actually had more opportunity there. And even before Kenyan Drake signed with the Raiders this offseason through free agency, if you were listening to kind of the community out there and where people saw them. They were way down on Josh Jacobs and way up on Jonathan Taylor. And I add that’s one of those that I guess the question that I’m ultimately trying to ask is, is it that finish that brings everybody to it and really rattling off? You know, a an amazing finish to the to the year to the point where he won some people some championships down the stretch for Josh Jacobs, who had a similar output and production with even more weeks inside the top 12. But did it more sporadically throughout the season? That’s kind of the

Billy Whitt 10:30
question that I leave. I definitely think if that finished over those last five games, Jonathan Taylor‘s worst game was like 19.4 Fantasy points. I think there was a 30 and a 40 burger sprinkled in there as well, right at the end of the year. So I think a lot of people might be riding high on that finish period to the playoff run, especially it’s kind of you know, if you had the win, to get in kind of thing, and you had Jonathan Taylor, he had a 33 point week. Gotcha in the playoffs, randomize that wider. That’s a running back one through the playoffs, I can see people being attached. However, when I look at Josh Jacobs, all I heard last offseason was how he was going to have all this progression in the passing game that just didn’t happen. And it was really kind of dependent on if if he did just what he did, running the ball, match that and got the 50 receptions that everybody was talking about him getting Gruden included, that would have put them up there right in that top five range with that PPR upside however, we just didn’t see it happen. And it looks like the Raiders don’t believe he’s that guy bringing Kenyan Drake and the guys had 250 plus reception seasons already. To his credit. So it seems like that just isn’t there for Josh Jacobs. And I do feel like Jonathan Taylor might actually be the better receiver. When everything is said and done. I just feel like JT t Johnson. Taylor touched on my boy might be a different color back to Josh Jacobs, and with a hell of a lot better situation.

Alex 11:53
So to two things to this, right. We all knew this last year going into last year with rookies right without the with with the the lack of otas and the lack of summer work, and the lack of a preseason that it was going to be tough for rookies to adjust to the league. And for the most part that night. Yeah, that played out. Right. And so that’s why Jonathan Taylor was so frustrating at the start, and the dude was learning how to play in the NFL, when the games mattered. He didn’t have a beneficiary

Billy Whitt 12:22
of the leaven carries a game, you know, right.

Alex 12:24
Right. They were they were working him in because he was making the jump. I don’t care how good you think the big 10 is, it is not the NFL. Right. Like that’s, that’s what it is. So we knew we knew that rookies, were going to have a slower, you know, kind of build up and and I think maybe only ch was like the one that just kind of burst onto the scene. But he was in a really good situation. They’re in Kansas City. And so but even then, that wasn’t sustained throughout the whole year. And we didn’t really see ch get stronger throughout the course of the season. But we did see that from Jonathan Taylor. We saw him getting better week in and week out. We saw him, you know, progress. And to your point, Billy, he put up some really good performances for guys when they’re the most memorable. And that’s when you need them to win playoff games. I still know who Matt Flynn is because he put up a memorable performance in a meaningful game. Right? We ad nauseum. I’ve talked about that. But those those are the the things recency bias plays into this right. And I think I like Jonathan Taylor more, because he’s in a situation where I trust the head coach a little bit more and I trust the head coach is going to be a little bit more level headed when it comes to personnel decisions. Gruden is a firecracker right, and if you’re on his bad side, which can happen at the drop of a hat you’re not going back in the game for the rest of the game, and how you might not even be on the team come Monday after a Sunday game right like that. That is just the way that it works over there when he is judge jury and executioner. I guess he’s not now that they’ve got Mayock in there but those two guys seem to be lockstep it I like Jonathan Taylor situation a lot better I like the longevity of Jonathan Taylor‘s situation versus Josh Jacobs situation. So those are those are two big reasons why I think that the the community as you put it, Derrick was down on Josh Jacobs was because of those those issues that we saw creeping up and we saw that wasn’t there some off the field stuff with Josh Jacobs too that that happened? Like a DUI he got into an accident Yeah,

Derek 14:40
that was never charged with and yada yada yada,

Alex 14:43
right? But, but all it takes especially for people that are just reading headlines, right? That’s the one that’s gonna stick with you is that Oh, he was charged. Oh, that he’s got off the field issues that like that. That’s gonna stick in your head. Maybe it didn’t happen, whatever it was, but even me like I knew there were some off the field stuff with Josh Jacobs. There were some off the field stuff. It never happened, but I had heard about it right. And so that’s going to affect your opinion on a guy. Nevertheless, we haven’t had to worry about that with with Jonathan Taylor. And, and, again, back to the original point. We knew that rookies, were going to take a little bit more time to get acclimated to the league. And that’s what we saw with Jonathan Taylor. So the fact that Yeah, he might have been frustrating, but you should have been prepared for that frustration, because these rookies did not have all the summer work, the the regular training camp, preseason games to play, you know that those were things that should have been expected going into last season if you weren’t expecting that you weren’t paying attention.

Billy Whitt 15:44
That’s a kind of feel with Josh Jacobs, like still kind of he’s so close to showing you that taking that next step and being that really awesome running back that elite guy because he was drafted in the first round. I feel like with Jonathan Taylor, you watched it for six weeks. You got to see it. You saw him cap the year off with 250 and a couple scores against the Jags in a game where he just looked absolutely incredible. And Josh Jacobs really just kind of left you just just short of a performance quite like those ones that you just when you you look at the score, the box score, you’re getting killed. And by the end of the day, Jonathan Taylor reeled your opponent in on championship we you know, Josh Jacobs hasn’t done that for you just

Derek 16:24
yet. Fair enough. I just thought like I said, it was one of those that it was it was close enough that it was an interesting thought process to go through there. But no, I like I said before we even started this this thought process. I’m a I’m a fan of Jonathan Taylor, I think that he’s going to do amazing, and he’s a guy that if you can put them on your team, you should do it. Yeah, he’s going to be a first round type of pick and you know, depending upon where that falls for you, he could very well be worth the Add there. So any other thoughts on Jonathan Taylor y’all ready to talk about the rest of the running backs over there in the the Indianapolis Alrighty, guys, so Nyheim Hines is the of my computer love it anyway. So the him Hines last year was a very

Alex 17:25
we’re gonna pull out the ledger you don’t have to stall man we know your computer’s gone You don’t have to stall with with words. You’re about to pull out the notebook and be like hold on let me pull up the stats here.

Derek 17:39
Literally was I had him I got the backup ready to go just in case of computer computer drama as it is unfolded for me lately. But no, there we go. The just as I was getting it flipped open. The computer decided to pop up there.

Alex 17:54
But I admire your willingness to stall though. While you’re trying to pull that up.

Derek 17:59
Yeah, I was trying anything to anything for y’all. Already guys. So Nyheim, Hines finished as running back 20 last year, only on 89 rush attempts, 380 yards, three rushing touchdown 63 receptions on 76 targets for 482 and four through the air guys your thoughts on to him Hines.

Kevin 18:21
Nyheim Hines is a is a great value honestly, for where you can get him for how the Colts have used him in years past Nyheim. Hines is a guy that has standalone value. He’s not he’s not a handcuff, per se, but he also is one they’re going to use him all over the field, they’ve lined him up out wide. They use him in between the tackles and short large, short yardage situations at times they’ve used them in the redzone at times, they use him as that scatback just really any use that you can think for a running back Nyheim Hines does fill that role for him that he’s very elusive. He’s got a great first first step and and he’s able to get into that secondary and make guys miss so I, I think 20 might be his ceiling as some of these guys kind of come back. So I don’t see him finishing an RB to territory but I do see him finishing inside the top 36 like he’s an RB three. he’s a he’s a pretty decent flex play depending on how your league construct is and where you’re needing him to be. So Nyheim Hines is a guy that you know, keep an eye on flag him wait a little bit, you can get him a little bit later in draft but where you end up getting him for his fantasy output is a value like you don’t have to spend fifth, sixth seventh round capital on Nyheim Hines. You can wait a couple more rounds and as you filling out your roster, you can get a piece that you can spot start to help you get through some of the thin by weeks or if your team gets dinged up with injuries. He’s a great guy to help fill in because he has a safe floor. He’s going to be catching passes. So you’re never going to get a goose egg from him.

Billy Whitt 20:19
Yeah, similar thoughts to you, Kevin, kind of where you’re getting him he feels like he feels like a really solid pick up later in those drafts just because the talent that he is, if the opportunity were to get a little bit better for him, would be off the charts. So for me, it’s kind of a flex guy, basketball option, and a much higher Ottoman dynasty just because of the age and the talent. I can see him working to do a lot of different roles as Marlon max probably not a colt after this year. He has a really talented guy. Unfortunately, he plays with a guy like GTT doesn’t necessarily need that passing game specialist as a compliment. And I don’t see Hines getting any more of a workload than what he did last year with Marlin Mac missing almost all 2020 so I think you’ve kind of seen what Nyheim Hines is. He didn’t kind of get back to the former as a rookie, where he kept 60 plus balls a second year is kind of a low for him both rushing and receiving but I haven’t projected for 61 carries limited touches other backfield do cap value for me, I think that are between us kind of like that’s kind of a max of what you’re going to get. But really quality players still where you’re drafting to be Rb 20 is pretty, pretty impressive, but I will be keeping an eye on his usage. As I can see him getting some some significant work in the slot if Paris Hilton ends up injured again, or T Y Hilton ends up missing some time Nyheim Hines is a guy that could step up in the passing game and become a more important part or a bigger role in that, in that in that team with Carson Wentz. If someone misses some time, he feels like quality choice. And when you get enlightened he drops like I said, but unfortunately, you know, on a week to week basis, there’s going to be a few booms and a lot of bust weeks, we’re not going to be able to rely on them but like I said if somebody misses time, he’s kind of the next man up and both a run rushing game and the passing game. So definitely an intriguing pick with these Colts moving forward.

Kevin 22:17
So here’s just for context how Billy and I are talking about this. Here’s some of the guys who are going around where Nyheim Hines is going. Kenyan Drake James Connor Jd Mckissic Jeffrey Wilson. Pre injury now that obviously has fallen way off. But AJ Dillon, Devin Singletary, Latavius Murray, Tony Pollard, Gus Edwards Zach Moss, like those are guys going the round before the same round and the round after Nyheim Hines

Billy Whitt 22:51
like Kenyan Drake. There’s a big gap for me with times and most of those guys just talent wise, you know?

Kevin 22:59
Yeah, I would completely agree with that. mckissic another guy who had a very big year last year, catching a ton of balls out of the backfield. We talked about him when we went over the Washington football team. But Devin Singletary or Nyheim Hines like that’s a no brainer and they’re going to picks apart. Nyheim Hines is averaging or four picks apart excuse me Nyheim Hines is going about 95th or excuse me, 92nd. Overall, Devin Singletary is going 95th overall, like that’s a no brainer, guys. Like if that’s what you’re left with. you smash Nyheim Hines for some running back depth for a guy that can help you out and you move on and save the battle for a later day like it, where he’s the tear, if you will, the draft tier that he’s going in. He’s really kind of top of that class as far as the ability to produce and give you a positive outcome in the fantasy football realm. Like he’s just not going to hang you with a one point dog turd week. You know, he’s safer. You know, five to seven points with the upside of 25 points.

Billy Whitt 24:14
Yeah, to Alex’s point, just trusting that coaching staff. I’m pretty confident that Frank Reich’s gonna find something for Nyheim Hines to do or some of these teams like Singletary if I’m sitting in the ninth round, and I’m looking at the running backs available, and the guy right before me picks Devin Singletary, and I get nine pines. I’m really happy about how that round worked out. that’s for damn sure.

Alex 24:39
All right, so I’m going back to the 2017 eagles, which was the last time we saw Carson Wentz. Frank Reich together, right. And those are the it was pretty. It was it was very pretty. It was it was it was remarkably unbalanced football in that They ran the ball a lot when when that happened when those two are together, so they ran the ball was 473 times that season that they they ran the ball. They did throw the ball, you know, quite a bit to 555 times and keep in mind Carson Wentz only played I believe it was like 13 games that year. I think he got hurt in week 13 so 12 games, something like that. But the distribution in terms of running the football was was pretty spread out now. Now what Garrett blunt was obviously the guy that was the bell callback, if you will. He had 100 more attempts than any other player on the roster but then they still had two guys that had over 70 attempts rushing attempts. They had bad Corey clinet they had JJ and then Carson Wentz was the fourth leading rush attempt on that at 64. Now keep in mind Carson Wentz is not a spring chicken anymore, he does have the the knee injury, right. So those numbers will come down those rushing numbers will come down and sure a lot of those were probably past plays not all of those were designed runs but a fair amount of them were in that year. So so the Colts are going to run the football and Jonathan Taylor is not going to run the football 240 times the those those carries are going to get spread out and if they can get back to you know running the football over 400 times throughout the course of the season. You know that balls got to go somewhere it’s got to go in somebody’s stomach. Now the thing that was a little concerning and I thought the numbers were a little bit better and so I went and looked was the receiving work out of the backfield because I thought that maybe Carson Wentz was was spotting these guys a little bit more out of the backfield. But he never really had a great receiving back out of those three. I mean, it was like mcgarrybowen at court with Garrett blunt Cory clinic JJ not dude’s exactly known for their hands out of the backfield. And when you had you know, a Zach Ertz that was, you know, kind of a security blanket for Carson and got the ball a lot plus some bigger some other bigger receivers. He didn’t really have to use backfield that much but again, Carson Wentz has been in the league longer now he understands defenses more now he understands the speed of the game. And so they’re going to do things where they will think get the running backs involved in the passing game. I think that maybe instead of running he’s going to look to dump off to that running back you know, I think that’s that is more likely than it was in 2017. So so basically all of that to say that many mines has value because they’re going to get him involved and if they run the football as much as they want to me and Hines is going to get his fair share carries and he’ll get the passing work because he’s a proven pass catcher out of the backfield. So there is value there it is dependent upon where you get that value. I don’t think you’ll want to reach for it. But if you get him at the right spot, to Kevin’s point he’s not exactly a handcuff, but if Jonathan Taylor does go down Oh boy, I mean if he steps right up into potential RB one territory we can week out because of how much I think they’re going to want to run the football and control the clock to me and I know that we’ll we’ll talk about Carson Wentz in a little bit but when the when the Eagles were really good, and when they were winning games, Carson Wentz was throwing the football 25 times or less. They were running the football a lot more 40 times a game. And so that is going to be I think the recipe that they’re going to try and cook up week in and week out is that they’re gonna try to limit how much Carson Wentz his right arm. How much they have to win on Carson Wentz his right arm, versus how much they can win on the legs of Jonathan Taylor and he minds.

Derek 29:08
Fair enough. I mean that is a team built to run the ball and I think you’ll see Jonathan Taylor up there around that probably 270 to 300 carry Mark when it’s all said and done. You’ll see Marlin Mac they’ll they will roll him out there for for some spelling on that and he’ll probably still see somewhere around maybe 100 touches so there’s there’s a very good chance that they could get to that that 400 mark that you’re talking about Alex I could definitely see that happening. Before we move on over to the wide receiver the room though guys any desire to talk about the Marlin Mac.

Kevin 29:44
I think we have to at least address the elephant in the room and that the Colts have decided to bring Marlin Mac back a one year deal. It’s $2 million. I do think he’s going to spell Jonathan Taylor in some areas. Here’s why I think they really brought him back is part of the part of the reason and the situations that kept Jonathan Taylor off the field early in the season was his past protection wasn’t quite there. It is one of the more difficult things for young running backs to kind of master as they come into the NFL is being able to keep your quarterback upright. Now, while some would argue the fact that the Colts quarterback is not held

Alex 30:38
health resistant

Kevin 30:39
Yes Yes, he’s not injury prone but he is a little health resistant and you need to you put an investment into getting Carson Wentz you have this young receiving core you need to make sure your quarterback is there because now you don’t have Jacoby percent being able to bail anybody out in case of injury. So Marlin Mac is there. I think he’s gonna do a lot of the past blocking guys like I do think you’re gonna see him mixed in on some obvious passing down situations to kind of bring in and help chip that linebacker or chip on that deep end coming off the edge and give maybe one of the tackles a little bit of help if they’re having a rough day. But I think that’s what Marlin max role is going to be as we see him come back from this Achilles injury. But Marlin Mac in his own right does have some standalone value like we’ve seen him play very well for this Colts team. So while I don’t think he’s going to usurp Jonathan Taylor, I do think he’s going to serve a function in this offense. Derek, I think you’re probably right, I think somewhere around 75 to 85 touches is is probably in the realm of possibility for Marlin Mac, but a lot of what he’s going to be doing is going to be predict or excuse me protection based his job is going to make sure Carson Wentz can play 17 football games for the Indianapolis Colts and lead them back into the playoffs and take a run at the Super Bowl this season.

Billy Whitt 32:14
One thing to to Alex’s point when he was playing really well in Philadelphia, they ran the ball a whole lot more, which opened up Carson Wentz to do to run a lot more play action, which just makes it kind of easier when you get guys stepping down the box of Jonathan Taylor is going to make sure that those boxes are loaded all the time to make things easy on Carson Wentz. That’s kind of why we’re starting to get really high on guys like Michael Pittman, who we’ll talk about here in a minute. However, I just I love that opportunity for him to have all these running backs. That can kind of all do a little bit of everything because Marlin Mac he can catch the ball in the backfield as well. We’ve seen him play really well. You know, in time when he’s had a chance he has been a bit banged up miss a lot of time but he’s a talented dude back to back seasons as a low end RB two and he was running back 21 and 12 games in 2018. But he’s coming off that Achilles injury which is really one of the more concerning injuries for a player to get back to be his former self pre injury with the quickness and cutting that those kinds of things can be a concern for a running back and I just think the jttf on different levels of football player but I do have Marlin Mac objective around 400 rushing yards and two or three touchdowns with very limited work in the passing game. I think he just they’re just looking to keep him healthy in case they need him while he gets back in you know maybe works into an opportunity. But also one thing that I think caps the passing game opportunity for Marlin Mac is one the talent the JCT and I, Nyheim Hines are and three, Carson Wentz only throws to the running back 15.8% of the time of his career, which is like 21st or second in the league of the starters that are in the league right now. So, but like you said, I don’t think Marlin Mac’s gonna play that role. I think he’s gonna do a lot of pass blocking situations where they’re blitzing two minute drill stuff where you’ve got the guy with the experience in the brain that won’t make the mistake in the game. And I think he made some big plays in that

Alex 34:09
role. But that that’s the biggest point right there. The experience in the brain and those things are invaluable when it comes to bringing along a young running back is being able to pick the brain of somebody now Sure, the heme Hines is played more games than Marlin Mac, but that’s because Marlin Mac missed an entire season played one game last year, or appeared in one game last year. So that’s that, to me is another reason why you bring a guy like Marlin Mac back is because he can help along and keep continuing to teach, pass blocking, you know, pass pro and all that stuff, even when he’s not at 100% himself. And then, hey, when you do get a guy back to 100%, you’ve got fresh legs because he hasn’t played you know, like, that’s just it’s just a bonus. So I totally understand why they bring him back. For personnel purposes, you know, not every play or not every personnel decision is based on what a guy can do on the field. And, and Marlin Mac that just kind of what this situation kind of screams to me is that he’s a guy that that they want to keep in the locker room a guy that they want to help along in his running back room because he just understands what they’d like to get accomplished.

Derek 35:26
Yeah, no absolutely and I love the question there from real Ryan Hicks nother fantasy first round are tuning into to watch old Billy there. But is is this a viable three RB situation potentially with Jonathan Taylor still being an elite RB one and he thinks it could be and I do agree with that. And I think all of us have ever agreed with that one as well. Just wanted to make sure we mentioned that one. Jeff, something Alex,

Alex 35:54
great, just the word viable is the big the big crutch word there like that’s, that’s the very big word viable? Yes, I think all three running backs are going to contribute and jtt will be a top five top six running back in the lead. But viable is such a broad word that there will be two other guys for sure one other guy I think we’re all in agreement agreement there that Nyheim Hines is going to be he has standalone value but I mean it’s a wait and see situation with Marlin Mac right now.

Derek 36:30
Right? And I like I said, I think you’re gonna see Jonathan Taylor with well over 300 opportunities this year. You’ll see Marlin Mac was right around 100 and you’ll see me him Hines was probably right around 100 to kind of get to where you were you were talking about that magical 400 number there Alex when it comes to these guys and getting their touches, but any other thoughts on the running back room before we head to the wide receivers already guys, let’s go ahead and head on over to the wide receiver room. We’ll start with the with the wily veteran over there who is coming back T Y Hilton finishes wide receiver 40 last year 56 receptions 93 targets for 762 and five through the air guys your thoughts on T Y Hilton.

Billy Whitt 37:13
I was actually kind of impressed with T Y Hilton coming off the injury the year before we kind of didn’t know what to expect because he really looked like a shell of himself being the you know the speedster kind of aging and kind of the quarterback turnover in that offense but we did see him average 13.6 yards per catch last year which is pretty good for a 31 year old x speed deep threat wide receiver and I was kind of impressed how they kind of changed his game he was running more routes more digs more comebacks you know less deep shots you know really letting T Y Hilton just be a route running number one wide receiver him him and Philip Rivers kind of got to go on a little bit last year 700 plus yards receiving but coming into this year he’s still wide receiver four or five to me I haven’t read him like that mid 40s range just because the upside of the the T Y Hilton that we know and love isn’t there anymore. He doesn’t run it for three anymore. It’s just a different player nowadays, albeit still a very good player but we just see his catch percentage dropped from 66 to 60 I feel like that’s a pretty relevant stat for a guy you know and they just isn’t that guy that average 16 yards for catching we’re like I said but I do think he could be helped out by the Carson Wentz addition and help them return to relevancy. You know health is a concern younger younger guys are concerned as well. I haven’t projected for about 58 catches 800 yards, five touchdown range, which would be a little bit of an improvement from last year with Philip Rivers. I think Carson Wentz does provide that. However, I do think it’s you know, kind of kept there. But I do think Frank Wright could get you know, a little bit creative with T Y Hilton and start running a little more underneath stuff with him. And let him be that guy that gets you know to be the target Hall. It’ll be interesting to see how his role shapes with the new quarterback play as Michael Pittman and Paris Campbell kind of take over as the guy that wants we’ll be targeting downfield more but make no mistake, they want to try holding back they’re very happy to have him and I think he is a bit of veteran leadership in that wide receiver room. That’s going to help kind of keep things running as Marlin Mac we just talked about in the running back room. It’s important to keep the you know, everybody kind of you know on the same page that everybody on the same page and working together. You need those bets especially with the new quarterback at the helm. I think it’d be very important that he’s still there while we see what Michael Pittman and Paris Campbell can be before it’s time to bail on these younger guys that you know I’ve shown flashes but really underwhelmed overall.

Kevin 39:43
I love the value you can get on T Y Hilton right now. He is he is kind of the Forgotten man with some of the injuries even though he’s fought through those. Obviously, all the quarterback changes from injury or excuse me from Andrew Luck to Jacoby perset to Philip Rivers now to Carson Wentz. Like it’s a lot of chemistry that he’s trying to build up and redo and everything else. But I like the value on to why I like the fact that you can get him in like the 10th round, and he is a viable flex play for the wide receiver position. I think he poses a clear wide receiver to upside. Now I say that I’m talking like 2122 23. I’m not talking, you know, up at 15 necessarily or getting ready to crack wide receiver one, but I think that ability is there. Yes, he is going to be kind of that. Like Derek said the wily veteran. He’s the guy who understands the mechanics of an offense and working with Andrew Luck and Philip Rivers has had the opportunity to work with some very good minds that play under center. And he’ll be able to articulate that and build that chemistry with Carson Wentz. They’ll be able to share with each other what they like, what they don’t like what they’re seeing on the field. And I do see that natural combination because of their ability to sit in the film room, and study together and share their thoughts and opinions. I do think that chemistry is going to be there probably a little bit quicker than anybody else in that receiving room. And so for all these reasons, but T wise another guy, I’m gonna flag him I’m gonna keep an eye on him. He’s a nice depth piece he prati from what I’m seeing shows a good bit of upside. He has found ways for even being a smaller guy to make himself useful inside the redzone. Like he’s not just that deep ball guy. He’s he’s kind of evolved, if you will, as his age comes into moving the chains, he’ll he’ll slide in between the linebackers and the safeties and catch the ball and fall down real quick. As you see these wily veterans do as they get older, they don’t take the big hits. T Y Hilton has never been knocked out of a game necessarily. This has been some soft tissue injuries, some freak injuries with you know, of hamstring on one leg a quad on the other. He was fighting an ankle two years ago. So it’s not the same injury that’s been keeping them down. It’s been a couple different ones, which I think is a good thing because you’re not you’re not focused in on one specific body part. You know, guys who have chronic hamstring issues are a big flag to me. But that’s not to say his has been a sprinkle of this, that and everything in between. So I like to why a lot. I like the value that you can get.

Alex 42:50
Yeah, I think t y is a complimentary piece to a fantasy football roster. You know, he’s not a guy that you’re obviously going to build your wide receiver room around. But he is definitely a guy that if you get him on your roster and you get them at the right spot, he he will contribute. Right. You know, he’s not gonna be you know, I don’t think he’s gonna have any of those blow you out of the water performances. But I think it’s safe. He’s a safe play week in and week out. Hopefully, you know, he should be a safe play. You know, we see what happens with with the offseason here but you can kind of depend on what you’re going to get added to help and that’s a good complimentary piece to have in fantasy football. Yeah,

Billy Whitt 43:37
play him twice a year against Pintos. Texans. I promise you it’s worth your time.

Derek 43:42
Absolutely. 100% Absolutely. Um, this was one of this was one of those that too, when you kind of saw t y paired up with Carson I I had a little bit of some some flashbacks to some of the older days when you saw a Carson and Sean Jackson kind of pair it up. Yeah, it kind of brought that same kind of feeling on how that could come to play. And especially like the best ball format, love that type of thing because T y can certainly be a guy that’s going to pop off and give you a wide receiver one week and is a guy that you don’t have to spend much capital on to get those big weeks and so basketball absolutely love that. That type of format there and where he’s being taken even in redraft. I like that simply from the standpoint that Kevin already mentioned it tremendous value there. So not a guy that you have to spend up on a guy that you can easily put on there as your fourth or even fifth wide receiver onto your roster for a little bit of depth and a guy that can be usable week to week if you need to some guys any other thoughts on T Y Hilton. Cool. Let’s go ahead and talk about Yeah, got Ryan Hicks real excited there. With a capital P and exclamation point Pittman, Michael Pittman Jr.last year finishes wide receiver at 140 perception 61 targets 503 and one through the air guys your thoughts on Michael Pittman.

Billy Whitt 45:10
I’m pretty high on Pittman coming into this year. Obviously being a Colts fan. I’m really hopeful. He’s going to take that next step. He’s a wide receiver three for me with that wide receiver, two upside dynasties, a top 15 guy, in my opinion, but he’s actually a guy looking at as 2020 performance he really underwhelmed only having to double digit fantasy point performances, and then came back to back weeks. But I think the potential is definitely there. And I like them a lot more. Thanks to Carson Wentz has arrived what we’ve talked about, with almost everybody, all he did was just lift everybody up to that next tier of potential, but I do think he’s a high risk high reward type player in 2021. And you look back to those 2017 Eagles that Alex alluded to earlier. And there’s no reason to think he won’t play a similar role in this offense to allow Sean Jeffrey did who had a relatively good season 120 targets but only 57 interceptions. I’d like to think that over 50% completion percentage of roll into Pittman is a doable feat, but still 789 yards, nine touchdowns. that’s relatively good, but I really think micropayments upside is a little bit higher as I think he’ll do a better job catching those deep shots that now Sean Jeffrey did off that play action like we talked about earlier. So I think Michael Pittman, it’d be a huge breakout guy this year, if he could somehow working on the targets only 40 receptions last year. That’s not a lot to go off of.

Kevin 46:41
I love me some Michael Pittman. Ryan, if you are still listening, get your get your hallelujah hands working here man. Michael Pittman will finish his wide receiver 17 this season. Michael suffered from being a rookie wide receiver coming in. He got dinged up with it with an injury early in the season. t y went down. Parris Campbell went down. Philip Rivers was an old guy. And they were they were kind of struggling. They were working in three different running backs at the time because Marlin Mac went down. The Colts were floundering at the skill position set like Zach Pascal was the only one with knowledge of the office and, and Pittman. It just took him a little bit he is a a subject a example of why we said pass on the rookie wide receivers. It’s not because the talent isn’t there. Pittman is a he’s an elite talent. He really is guys, he got overshadowed by just a Jefferson. Yes. But playing in this Colts offense, the fact that they’re going to have to stack the box to stop Jonathan Taylor. The fact that you love that. Carson Wentz likes to throw that deep balls, he is that big body guy going down the field, he will have a lot of opportunities there. On top of the fact that he has really good body control, he can go up he high points the ball well, he does a good job locating it. And as you saw in the playoff loss against the bills, they started to move him around a little bit right like he started to get in between as he started to understand defenses a little bit more because that bill secondary was no joke. And Pittman was consistently open in that playoff loss against the bills. I expect big big things out of him. That one touchdown that he got last year. He’s going to blow that out of the way in the first quarter in 2021. And then the sky is gonna be the limit he will finish as a clear cut wide receiver to in 2021.

Alex 48:46
I cosign with that. Pittman, you know, Carson Wentz likes to throw to to these bigger bodied guys you know and and to your point Billy, you know, our Sean, Jeffery type, right? And if our Sean Jeffrey wouldn’t have dropped 60% of those frickin balls thrown his way he would have had a you know, borderline MVP season that year. That’s completely if you’re not a quarterback you’re not winning the MVP but it would have been a really really good season so that if if Michael Pittman last I checked does not have bricks for hands so I assume that that those catch you know the balls that’ll be thrown his way he’ll he’ll be okay with with catching those. So yeah, Kevin, I’m with you there. You know, I’m comfortable saying that he’s he’s comfortably in wide receiver to territory. I think it was it was tough last year as a rookie trying to figure out Philip Rivers, who was clearly you know, there to with one goal in mind. And that was I’m gonna extend my career. I’m gonna make a run at it because it didn’t work in San Diego slash LA. We’re just Gonna try to make a run for it and they ran into the buzzsaw. That was the bills before they ran into the buzzsaw, that was the chiefs. So I just think that you get the benefit of these otas. We’ve already seen, you know, some of these these otaa work. We know that that Carson Wentz is going to do everything that he can to bring along these receivers. I saw it firsthand when he brought, I think it was all of the all, if not most, most, if not all, I should say, of the Eagles wide receivers spent a week and a half in northern Minnesota with Carson Wentz on a lake just getting to know each other and trying to you know figure things out and trying to build chemistry off the field. And then they worked out in Fargo a couple times and we got to see that. But that’s what you know, Carson Wentz is going to do and I think that’s just going to benefit a Michael Pittman, a guy who’s still, you know, learning the ropes of the NFL and it’s unfair to judge him off of last season because he did have a few things working against him, he had a veteran quarterback that probably didn’t have time to bring along a rookie wide receiver because he was so focused on we need to win we need to win now. He became the guy when he wasn’t supposed to be the guy because of injuries. And and he was just, you know, it was a rookie, you know, I mean, it was a rookie in a pandemic year. And I think those worked against him leading up to it. So one touchdown is is Yeah, like Kevin said, I wouldn’t be surprised if you catch the first touchdown of the season for the Indianapolis Colts, and you know, it wouldn’t be out of the question to see him with, you know, seven or eight when the season’s done.

Billy Whitt 51:48
And another thing about Philip Rivers is a lot of his most prolific success was with Antonio Gates and Vincent Jackson that offense that so much of that was backyard football, it was just those guys communication and knowing each other so well that it’s really hard to go to Indianapolis, you’ve got T Y Hilton doesn’t really fit the mold of any of those big chargers receivers that he had. He never had a guy like that. Pitman kind of did fit that mold but he’s a he’s a little bit different skill set and a guy that needs to be used a lot different than you know knowing where to be kind of as as Philip Rivers just you know plays break down so that’s just another testament to the lack of the offseason preparation a lack of time with Philip Rivers and really like you said Alex Philip Rivers focus was not let’s make this kid good. It’s how many games can we win right here right now. So Carson Wentz coming in really changed the changes the dynamic of who and what Michael Pittman is in this offense and he’s got to be the focal point of the passing game moving forward. He just has to be that guy. So I think Carson Wentz they will put that time and like you said, you know he likes to get together with his guys and get that stuff ironed out quickly so that the rest of it is just flat out going out and playing football and not having to think about it. I think that a really bode well. A rookie, old quarterback new offense of the no offseason did not help Michael Pittman, but we did get to see a couple flashes of what he could be. And a guy with that kind of size is also a red zone threat as well. And we know Carson Wentz loves big bodies in the red zone. So I mean, if Michael Pittman had double digit touchdowns, I would not be surprised in this offense in the way they’re going to run it.

Derek 53:22
No, absolutely not. I think that Pittman is fantastic. Yeah, Alex, you’re asking your question earlier about, you know, Michael Pittman tans, I think JB Cho knows answers your your deal there with with what he thinks of the hands there. They’re pretty darn good. But when you look at it, too, right? Like we we spent a lot of time earlier in this episode, really just talking about Jonathan Taylor and how great Jonathan Taylor is and all of these things, which he is. But when you look at it to from an organizational perspective, the Colts in 2020, were sitting on the clock early in the second round. And they had the choice between Michael Pittman or Jonathan Taylor and they went Michael Pittman over Jonathan Taylor, that’s something that typically kind of gets forgotten in the wash there is that the Colts drafted Michael Pittman over Jonathan Taylor, sitting there on that, and they took him they took Jonathan Taylor just, uh, you know, seven picks later type of thing. But it was one of those that, you know, they’re sitting on the clock, and they’re not worried about the fact that, hey, if we pass on, on Jonathan Taylor, we, they, they made their choice about about who was going to be very impactful for that. And they spent the draft capital there. And so the team has a lot invested in him. And when you look at it from a standpoint of, you know, trying to put receivers on and trying to add players to your fantasy roster, I want players that the team is very invested in and they prove that last year with some of that draft capital going into it, and I think you’ll see him make a progression and see some good things going forward. Guys, any other thoughts on my Pittman Jr. All righty. Let’s go ahead and head on over to Parris Campbell who? Man I was really, really upset when he went out in that first week with that injury. I know that on this show, we were hyping him up and talking big time to it. And JB Joe knows asked a question on there that are we like in Paris Campbell or Pittman. And this actually leads into a perfect question as well before we really start talking kind of tie in Paris Campbell in there with the rest of these wide receivers on sports. We earlier today posted the question of you know, who do you like more? Who are you drafting? Who are you actively targeting? Who are you going after with their ADP in this Colts wide receiver room? Is it Hilton? Is it Pittman? Is it? Campbell. So guys, give me your thoughts on Paris Campbell and tell me out of those three who you’re drafted.

Billy Whitt 55:53
So Paris, Campbell, the fact that this guy still has some fantasy relevance, there are people that are really, really high. And it was really just kind of a testament to the talent that he was at Ohio State cut 90 balls as a senior. But he’s only played nine games in two seasons since the Colts draft coming out of college in that 431 which is a lot faster than I was expecting, especially for a guy that was averaging under 12 yards a catch. It is kind of an odd skill set. He reminds me of a of a Jarvis Landry kind of type player where he’s going to get a lot of volume catches, but maybe not rack up a whole bunch of yards as he’s, you know, kind of stays close over the middle of the field. But he is extremely talented. I’m liking the role that he’s expected to have in this offense. And the PPR upside is unreal. If he can just somehow stay on the field. But for me, it’s Michael Pittman. I feel like he’s just that guy could be a legitimate wide receiver one. We’re Parris Campbell is always going to be the compliment to Michael Pittman as he develops in my opinion.

Alex 56:59
Yeah, so I am avoiding Parrish Campbell. Because I just I don’t trust him. I just don’t trust him. You know, he’s given me no reason to trust him. He’s got he has only 30 more touches than the four of us combined in the NFL. And the four of us combined have played zero games in the NFL. I think. So dreams count

Billy Whitt 57:34
given.

Alex 57:34
Kevin? Oh, it’s still zero. Okay. And that, that in two years, it just does not bode well. And I know that, you know, after after a while, you have to start to think that maybe this isn’t the exception. And maybe this is the rule. And I’m starting to lean more into that camp of it is the rule and not the exception that he can’t stay healthy and he cannot play a game or you know, not even a half season. You know, like he can’t even play a half of a season. So I am out on Parris Campbell and it would be great if he would prove me wrong. But that’s just not a risk that I’m willing to take.

Kevin 58:23
Paris Campbell is my ultimate sleeper of sleepers this year. I freaking love Paris Campbell. I love that I can pick him up in the 14th or 15th round. I love the fact that everyone’s completely dogging on him because he added mcpl issue how many NFL players have not had an MC l issue? And here’s the deal. I still think he’s better than f1. I’ve said this since they were drafted Parris Campbell is better than Terry Maclaurin Maclaurin has had more opportunities. Sure. Maclaurin has had the benefit of health. Absolutely. But raw talent and athletic ability. I will take Paris Campbell over Terry Maclaurin, I love what this kid can do. The Colts have done absolutely nothing but pumped this kid up from the day they drafted him through the injuries through the Recovery through the other injury through recovery. Again, they’re so excited to see this guy back on the field and you saw it week, one of last year guys. Seven receptions on 11 targets for what was it? 7888 yards, something like that. You saw the vision of what they want to do with Parris Campbell. his knee just got blown out like so now there’s the recovery, but it happened early. So he has basically a full calendar year or at least 10 months to recover from an injury like that. Yeah, he might get off to a bit of a slow start, as he’s knocking some of the rust off of it. But if Paris Campbell can stay healthy, he is a guy that you will pick up in the forest throw around that I do think we’ll finish and wide receiver to territory. Now I know that I’ve repeated myself like that a lot this year or this segment about the wide receivers because that is my bold prediction for 2021. The Indianapolis Colts will have three receivers finish in wide receiver to territory and it’s not necessarily because of the volume of Carson Wentz throwing the football, but it is the efficiency it goes back to the offensive line play. It goes back to the all the attention that Jonathan Taylor that that he demands, right? You have to keep safeties close in you can’t just play back the whole game otherwise Taylor will eat you up. And it comes from lots and lots of time from the O line. It is I still think it’s the best offensive line in football. It’s definitely top three, and is by far the best offensive line that Carson Wentz has ever seen in his life. So Parris Campbell, I love it. I love the fact that they’re gonna play him in the slot then him and try we’ll switch it up a little bit. Parris Campbell go outside t y will play in the slot. So he’ll get his deep chances to as safety slide over because Pittman beat them or if safeties are cheating up because Jonathan Taylor‘s burned him. I love Paris gamble, guys, I can’t scream about this enough, he is my dog. And I am more than happy to take him in the 14th round in any draft to go ahead and stash him. And about week three or four when everyone goes, Oh, hey, come pick this guy up off your waiver wire because he’s the real deal. Now. I’m just gonna sit there and say, not too late, already had him and he’s actually beat you the last two weeks, I’m going to continue to stomp your ass in the mud for the rest of the season.

Alex 1:01:45
Two things real quick before Derek you get going. One, the 2014 and 2015 North Dakota State buys and would like to have a word about the best offensive line that Carson Wentz has ever seen. And

Kevin 1:01:59
there’s a big difference between what they’re putting out what the NFL has come on now.

Derek 1:02:04
Just a little bit about the big 10 is not the same as the NFL and there’s no

Alex 1:02:10
shame in terms of in terms of level of competition, right? You can only play against who you’ve got, you know, you can only play against who you’re playing against. Second thing, and this is the cliche that I think it bodes true here. Sometimes the best ability is availability. And right now Paris Campbell is not available. And he hasn’t shown that he can be Kenan either.

Derek 1:02:39
He’s not injury prone. He’s just health resistant right now.

Kevin 1:02:42
Right. Keenan Allen was was injury riddled his first couple seasons. And you can’t get enough of Keenan Allen.

Alex 1:02:49
I’m with you there. But for right now and how long did it take for people to get back on the Keenan Allen train? You know, that’s it. That’s all I’m saying

Kevin 1:02:56
about the first season after we blew up. So I’m jumping onto the season earlier than everybody else. I’ll stand on that. I’ll plant that flag and stand on it. I’m cool with that.

Derek 1:03:06
Yep. Actually, Kevin, I I didn’t know you were I knew you were high on Paris Campbell. I didn’t know that you were that high on Paris Campbell. So I dropped the mic FF stopping by saying what’s up, guys Mike. Thanks for stopping by. Always a fun time having your hangout Thanks for checking it out. Kevin actually takes me back to a text message conversation you and I were talking about when we were trying to work a deal and um you know as a Paris Campbell was was kind of put into the mix there. And I told you I just can’t do it. I can’t I can’t give up Parris Campbell in that situation. And I think my exact wording was he I see him like I see Preston Williams last year. Um, for those of you that were watching the show before the season last year, you know how incredibly high on Preston Williams I was going into the season and that was my super deep you know, breakout type of sleeper there and I had him finishing in wide receiver to territory a guy and that’s how I see Paris Campbell again, I don’t know that I’m, I’m I say that I’m probably about that far behind you on the bandwagon with with Parris Campbell but I’m definitely right there with you, Kevin. He’s a guy that I think will blow up I think you will see him have the be able to put it together and see the healthy season. I think that you’re going to see them do a move him around, get him in the mix. And I think that this is going to be the year that I I could very well see him scoring the most fantasy points from the wide receivers in that room. Like there’s, I think Michael Pittman will do some amazing things. I think T Y Hilton will do some amazing things. But I do believe that when the dust is all settled at the end of the season, Parris Campbell will score the most fantasy points of the three of them. So that’s kind of where I’ve got him and he’s going to be right there in the I don’t see him getting all the way up in Wide Receiver one but he’s going to be very high in wide receiver to territory for me when we get those rankings done, I have started working through that just haven’t finished it but that’s that’s about where I’m projecting him going into it, guys any other thoughts on the wide receiver room? And yes, yes JB Cho knows that is a that is a bold take. So, but yeah, Fortune favors the bold so we’ll just be bold I guess. That’s how you win leagues is taken some of those things, but I ended it with a 14 13/14 pick. You can you can be bold all you want. So let’s go ahead and

Kevin 1:05:41
think I made Billy blush with that one for a second. He’s like Dale, I thought I was a Colts fan. I love it.

Derek 1:05:50
Alright guys, let’s go ahead and move on over to the to the tight end room. And Ryan Hicks thinks that Moe alley Cox is sneaky, tight, independent dude this year. I would agree with that. But we’re gonna go ahead and start with the guy that’s most likely going to be ahead on the depth chart there. And that’s Jack Doyle who was Alex’s big sleeper going into last year I didn’t forget. But he finished as tight in 39 last year. You have 20 receptions for 251 and three touchdowns. any real desire to talk about Jack Doyle or is even fantasy relevant for y’all this year.

Kevin 1:06:32
Carson Wentz loves it.

Alex 1:06:34
He loves him some tight ends that sound dirtier than it should have.

Kevin 1:06:40
I am not as high on on Doyle as I am the receivers but Doyle is absolutely going to help them dropped the mic the cup starting tight end will be Zach Ertz he may not be

Alex 1:06:54
wrong come this time tomorrow we might know

Kevin 1:06:57
so well and if it is then yeah, we might have to retake this segment but you know Doyle Doyle was a product of Philip Rivers just being a goofball like like Jack Doyle was there in in the areas that Philip Rivers needed him to rivers It seems this is running a completely different offense like he wasn’t grasping the concepts are what it was but rivers had always been able to lean on a tight end whether it was Antonio Gates or with Hunter Henry and and he even was able to use Virgil Green in a couple different ways when he was with San Diego slash la like Jack Doyle was a natural pick for a tight in solid tight well a breakout candidate or at least a solid tight end year and Philip Rivers just completely forgot he was on the field. Like he was absolutely ridiculous. Um, they used him a little bit more in in run blocking sets for whatever reason because Moe alley Cox is a better run blocker than Jack Doyle. Like I don’t understand how they used him last year but I do think that changes because how Carson Wentz likes the tight end position. So I see a couple more targets being floated his way. He’s still a tight into guys like he’ll finish like Titan 1718, something like that. So I’m not saying that Jack Doyle is the guy that we need to covet and go after. But if you’re playing in a too tight end league that I’m going to tell you there’s worse options. I’m also going to tell you that there’s better options than Jack Doyle, like the intrigue is there because of how Carson Wentz values that position as opposed to throwing to the running backs right where it might hamper Nyheim Hines like what we talked about earlier. He does favor tight ends a little bit it is his security blanket now. It’s also again a better offensive line he’s going to have a chance to move the ball further down the field. Stay on some progressions a little bit longer so better season but not a season good enough that I’m targeting Jack Doyle like he’s my you know, he’s the guy I’m looking at in the 16th round is a late tight end and you got to grab them I’m not going to tell you that guys but I’m going to tell you flag and put them on your watch list because if he gets hot I could see I could see a good hot streak roll for this guy to three weeks at a time and then cool off is as he kind of fades off into the sunset.

Alex 1:09:27
Okay, so I’m not I’m not as high on Jack Doyle this year as I was around this time last year. Which everything Kevin said right like that made perfect sense. Jack Doyle, good pass catching tight end. Philip Rivers loves him a tight end could use Antonio Gates was affected with Hunter Henry. It just all of the stars all of the all of the stuff on paper seemed like Jack Doyle this It’s gonna be a great year for Jack Doyle. And then it just wasn’t. And I’m still trying to figure out why it just wasn’t. In fact, I honestly went and look to see if Jack Doyle got hurt last year because I was trying to figure out why was his stats. Why were his stats so bad because I had a ton of shares a Jack Doyle and then he got thrown into the wasteland of my bench slash off the roster. It just was not working out. So hopefully, with with the amount that Carson Wentz loves to throw out to the tight end, that will be kind of a resurgence of Jack Doyle. And he will have some fantasy relevance because he’s a tight end in a Carson Wentz lead offense and we have no reason to expect that Carson Wentz is going to change how he goes through things, how they run the offense. Think back to that 2017 year and I hate to keep going back to that, but you know, Zach Ertz was prominently featured in that offense. And while Jack Doyle is not Zach Ertz when it comes to pass catching, he’s pretty comparable and serviceable. And that’s going to warrant you know, at least keeping your eye on Jack Doyle and you know, to Kevin’s point, yes, there are guys that will be better than Jack Doyle. But there are definitely options worse than Jack Doyle

Billy Whitt 1:11:26
objectives really talented tight end that we saw him have over 100 targets beat years back and be really productive. I think he’s had three years of seven year more targets. But last year was just like really, really awkward your guys’s point, we Moe alley Cox had more targets and outplayed Jack Doyle, he’s not a better tie that he may be a better run blocker, but he’s not a better fantasy purposes, tight end, in my opinion. Now my only concern is in this tight end room, they did spend a fourth round pick on Kyle and grandson on SMU who’s a really athletic past catching guy, and I think they’re gonna want to use all these guys. Do you guys his point, like we say, you know, Carson Wentz doesn’t throw the running backs a lot really favors his tight end, here’s how much 32.4% of the time he’s thrown to the tight end. There’s only one other guy alive that through the tight end over 25% of the time. That’s Marcus Mariota. Everybody else under 25%. So that’s a significant gap between Carson Wentz and the next guy now, some of that’s a testament to Dallas Goddard and Zach Ertz in their prime, Zach Ertz in his prime with Carson Wentz in that Philadelphia offense. However, some of that is a bit of Carson Wentz tendency. And there’s a reason why they bolster that tight end group as well, because they plan to use them. I wouldn’t be surprised that Zachary doesn’t make his way onto this roster. Before it’s all said and done because of the familiarity. And nobody else really seems to be going after Zack, there’s maybe a buffalo but if he does end up in Indy, I think he puts together a real nice showing as he would be the far superior Titan that feel like you don’t go get his actors to let Jack Doyle have a significant role that’s going to really cut into you know, Earth’s being that clear cut tied in one as far as the offense goes. But you got to be excited about some of these guys, if one of them were to work into a more prolific role or an injury were to happen, whoever that guy might be that ends up getting workers, when to those reps can be really valuable in that like you guys said that tied in to this because I expect more early talks Jack Doyle, and the fourth round rookie pick tied in to get some work as well, how they’re going to use them yet to be seen. But I think a lot of the time, two of them could be on the field a whole bunch this year.

Derek 1:13:39
You you all make very sound points. And I like him, but I am. I think I’m about 100% out on Jack Doyle this year. Yeah, I call it the the recency bias that that we talk about all the time, but I had Jack Doyle in enough leads last year and got burned by that one that. Yeah, we all know that. That I typically don’t take tight end and anywhere, you know, in a single digit round. So it’s normally the 11th 12th 13th round type of type of deal. And I’m just he’s the guy that when it gets down there if it’s Jack Doyle or Yeah, option B, I’m probably taking option B on that one. Just Just from the standpoint I don’t know that I’m I’m that big a fan on on what that’s going to look like from the tight end room this year in Indy. Some I’m out on that one, but you guys make very valid points. And he very well could have some some big fantasy, relevancy there. Any desire to talk about any of the other two tight ends that we’ve mentioned there. They’re moily cocksure, the the fourth rounder they just drafted. Now all right, let’s go ahead and move on over to the quarterback room. They got a new one over there. I think Alex is a little excited here. This is his favorite player ever to talk about in Yeah, I’m gonna say ever. I’m gonna go that Bulldog on that one. Carson Wentz coming over from the Eagles finishes quarterback 22 last year 251 completions 437 attempts, 2620 yards, six passing touchdowns 15 anps and he rushed for 52 yards for an additional 276 and five on the ground. Guys your thoughts on the Carson Wentz

Kevin 1:15:29
so I can’t talk about how I think all these wide receivers are going to finish and you know wide receiver to territory la not yourself in a corner. Nice about Carson Wentz. So I will say something nice about Carson Wentz. I think he’s in line for 28 touchdowns. I’m gonna call it 10, not 11 interceptions, and somewhere in the neighborhood of 41 to 4200 yards passing. I do think this Indianapolis team is going to be very balanced, they’re going to be able to lean on the run, but they they will find a lot of efficiency out of the passing game because of all the things that we’ve talked about earlier. So for that reason, I think Carson Wentz finishes somewhere. qb 11, qb 12, like I don’t think he’s running enough anymore to get inside, you know, the top eight, but I do think that he is in QB one territory. I think that that offense that is around Carson Wentz is the most talented that he’s played with in his in his career. I think that the defense that he has on the other side of him is a very, very good defense. I don’t know if it’s the best one because a couple of those Eagles teams that he played on early in the season had really good defenses also. But that only benefits him right, it means that he doesn’t have to push, he doesn’t have to worry about not getting the ball back. He doesn’t always have to make that knee jerk reaction. It’s okay to throw the ball away and live to fight another down. And I think all of this will benefit on top of Frank Reich is his head coach and that’s where the two have had the most success with each other. So put it all together. Carson Wentz. I have them you know, quarterback 11 quarterback 12 he’s coming off the board right now at about quarterback 15 or quarterback 16. So there’s a bit of a value there, which is always a good thing when you’re drafting any position. So all signs are pointing towards. I am going to favor Carson Wentz this year.

Billy Whitt 1:17:42
Yeah, I’m also very high Carson Wentz not just being a sports fan dislike to reunite him with Frank Reich when he played his best football. And there’s something to the fact of getting out of Philadelphia, to Indianapolis to a small market. And this team is really set up for success. Now he was really kind of just the missing piece. Like I said, My cuvier right behind Justin Herbert and Lamar Jackson, maybe not quite the right 30 used to be, but he could still have a redzone rushing touchdown or two. But I love the situation for once the offensive line, the running game, the Titan depth, the Frank Wright connection, and most of all, the defense any mistakes that he that he may make early in the year as the growing pains happen in this offense, that defense is going to get the ball back can kind of mitigate the damage and kind of be able to help Carson Wentz keep his head on a little bit and not get discouraged a little quick because I think that’s what we saw at seven sacks in the last two years. This is a guy that’s been beat down and just you know really wasn’t in his right mind playing quarterback, when when he’s so focused on not getting hit, not getting knocked down and trying to stay healthy coming off some pretty good injuries but and honestly with jtt in this running game and the emphasis they’re going to put on it, he doesn’t have to carry the load like he had to do in Philadelphia. Even the time missed, he still had for come from behind wins the year before last to last year, unlimited action. So a lot of times where it was really kind of bad situational football and Carson Wentz put in bad situations where this pass rush gets a tee off on them. And I really think you know, football just wasn’t fun in Philadelphia anymore, but Philip Rivers was 10th in yards last year, just under 4200 yards. No reason to think that Carson Wentz couldn’t match that or even do a little bit better. So I’m seeing him somewhere in that 43 to 4500 yard range 32 to 35 yards passing and I agree with you guys kind of that 10 to 12 interception rates. I don’t think he’ll get all the way back down to seven because he’s going to be shooting the some guys deep down the field trying to make some big plays and sometimes those are going to get picked off more than Philadelphia a lot of underneath stuff the tight ends a lot safer throws. I think they’re gonna ask them to do things a little bit different in Indy, just with the personnel. But I think ultimately it bodes well. A lot of deep shots all off. Ryan Tannehill in Tennessee I don’t see why the Colts won’t kind of mirror that kind of thing going on with the emphasis on that run game in the play action passing

Alex 1:20:13
my analysis of Carson Wentz cannot be taken seriously so I’ll pass

Derek 1:20:18
Oh come on. This is all offseason when we get tired whenever Do you get to brag on?

Alex 1:20:25
Yes, no, I know. Okay, so

Kevin 1:20:27
please Houston and Jacksonville each. Like if for nothing else.

Alex 1:20:33
Well, but hold on, he also got the plane. He also got to play Washington and the giants and the Cowboys. So it’s not, you know, it wasn’t a juggernaut last year last year. I mean, he got to play, you know, that was the division that nobody wanted to win last year. So, uh, yeah, I mean, obviously for my personal you know, just to take my fandom hat, which there’s a really you know, weird experience being a fan of somebody that’s you know, a nine years my my junior that’s it’s just a different conversation for a different day, but it is. I will obviously over overspend for Carson Wentz because I have been a fan. I mean, I’ve been tracking the guy since he was a senior in college, right, you know, I got to see him I got I was at his pro day, I got to watch him go through the draft process by one degree of separation essentially. And so I I have always had a soft spot for Carson Wentz. And he was a guy that when I picked him up, you know it was one of those weird things where like I usually spend the last pick in our HomeLink draft, all spend it on a guy that I either know personally or I watched, or I have some personal connection to some one way or another. And so I picked him up with the last pick of the draft and then you know, Teddy Bridgewater, his knee explodes. Sam Bradford gets shipped out of town to Minnesota and all of a sudden Carson Wentz is starting his rookie year, even though he wasn’t supposed to. I mean, if you guys remember that, Carson was supposed to sit behind Sam Bradford and through a series of events, he didn’t sit, and he played right away. And so I’ve been a huge fan of his career of him. And I think him getting out of Philadelphia is the best thing that will happen to his career because it was going nowhere after the lightning in a bottle that they caught when they won the Super Bowl. The the front office decisions in Philadelphia, were a head scratcher as best. They tried to invest in an old line but they couldn’t keep an align healthy. They tried to bring in weapons, but they couldn’t keep those weapons healthy. There were there were weeks, in 2019 I believe and maybe even in 2020 where they they were literally signing dudes off the street that were playing on Sunday. You know they were signing them on a Tuesday they were playing on Sunday, Carson Wentz was meeting these guys for the first time having to try and figure out and they still made the playoffs. They still were able to he it was because of Carson Wentz. Now I know that there’s the narrative out there about Carson Wentz in his inability to lead the team. But let’s not forget that the Eagles did him no favors when they could have drafted him help. And they made the investment of him to be the franchise quarterback they gave him the big contract. Then what did they turn around and do draft a quarterback in the second round? I think Aaron Rodgers is a little upset that Carson Wentz was able to get out of that bad situation. And Aaron Rodgers hasn’t been able to do it yet. So I think this situation is good. I know that he has a great personal connection to Frank Reich. I actually got a chance to talk to Frank Reich, two days before the Superbowl when nobody else was talking to Frank Reich and I got the opportunity to ask him about Carson and it was a conversation that I will forever remember because he was he had such good things to say and and nobody was really on to what Frank Reich was doing because Doug Peterson was the the play caller at the time. So when you’re just an OC kind of in Nyheim only. Nobody really pays attention to you. But as it turns out, Frank Craig’s very smart and I said it earlier, he might be one of the most underrated offensive minds in the league right now. Because he was able to take a film Perfect. I mean it was a plug and play last year. Take a Philip Rivers lead offense with no offseason to the playoffs. And I know that Philip Rivers is good, but it takes a team. It’s not just one guy. So I think Carson Wentz has a better year this year, Kevin, you’re you’re at 28 touchdowns i was i was leaning more towards the 3031 touchdown area for Carson. I don’t know that he gets up to 35. Maybe with the extra game, that’s where I was going with 31 3031 with the extra game, I’m still in the 10 to 12 interception range, I don’t think we’re gonna see him turn the ball over as much because he has protection. He has weapons to throw to he has a running game that’s reliable, and not whenever Myles Sanders decides to rip off a 70 yard run. Otherwise, he’s running for two yards each attempt or less. And so if this is only going to help, Carson Wentz and his stock and for all of the people that are down on him, I hope I’m in leagues with you because I I can get him on the cheap. I don’t have to overspend for him, like I’ve been doing the last four or five years. And I can actually get him at the value that he should be instead of the value that I have for him.

Derek 1:26:21
Yeah. I love it. Alex and I are actually co managing a team that that Billy and Kevin are in and picked right

Alex 1:26:31
in front of Billy Yeah,

Derek 1:26:33
yeah, we were we were right in there. And it was funny cuz Alex and I are looking at it and we’ve it’s a super flex we’ve already got Dak on the roster, we know that we’re gonna have to pick up a second quarterback. And the fact that I’m I’m co managing with Alex I know that that second quarterback is going to be Carson Wentz. So it’s one of those that we’ve got to temper and judge on where we think we’re gonna have to take him and we kind of got down there into the very tail end of the fifth round we were sitting on the turn at the fifth and Alex and I remember that we’re having the conversation back and forth. We’re like we need the quarterback and I was like how do you my dude I’m like Alright, let’s let’s do it like all the trigger man. Let’s trigger Let’s go. Because I do see a big bounce back coming for him and I think that this is going to be the year that you see this thing turned around.

Alex 1:27:20
It can’t be as bad as last year. Right? It can’t be as bad. There’s no way.

Billy Whitt 1:27:27
Carson Wentz got 50 times in Philadelphia. This does last season on the on the field and Philip Rivers a guy that took a lot of sacks in San Diego and an LA know up in the 30 range almost every year only 19 sacks last year. Now take into consideration Philip Rivers can’t move. Carson Wentz is an athlete so I don’t see Carson Wentz getting sacked much at all mostly because there’s going to be a lot of guys blocking the ball is going to come out quick and I think as Carson Wentz gets going one thing you don’t want is it hot Carson Wentz and I think he’s got the guys around him to get hot at Carson Wentz gets hot, we wouldn’t be MVP conversation with a guy like Carson Wentz. He has that kind of talent, and then this offense and the way it’s gonna be built, I think things are gonna be really really easy on him to look really really smooth.

Derek 1:28:16
This is a show of bold takes apparently,

Alex 1:28:19
I count all that bold of a tick he was in the MVP conversation before his knee gave out in 17. Right like he was he was

Kevin 1:28:27
Patrick Mahomes entered the

Alex 1:28:29
NFL i agree i agree it’s gonna be it’s gonna be tough to unseat the the reigning champ but that that it’s it’s not impossible. It’s plausible. It very much is plausible.

Billy Whitt 1:28:43
If the Colts go 12 and 413 and three, Carson Wentz His Nyheim is gonna get thrown around a little bit.

Alex 1:28:49
Throw one more number on each of those sites Don’t forget are 17 now

Billy Whitt 1:28:53
Oh, yes, yes, yes. Yeah.

Derek 1:28:56
Now you’re you’re right. But it was funny I bring up that draft that we were talking about simply from the standpoint that I it was one of those Alex that I thought that we might have been reaching there a little bit when we were doing it and we knew that we were kind of going to it but we wanted to get get the Carson and and get that experience there because we saw a bounce back coming. And it was amazing because literally almost a second that we hit the draft button and we saw Carson’s Nyheim pop up off the board, you had about four other for the guys that, you know I was taking them this round kind of thing. And I said well, maybe maybe the you know, maybe we didn’t reach on that one near as much as we thought and as these things start kind of drawing in and we start seeing some of these things play through and get dropped the mic FF was also in that league set. It was a little bit of a reach but not too bad. But it’s it’s just interesting to see how some of that has changed because you’re going into last year in all of these things. Carson Wentz taken him I think he was 11th or 12th quarterback. I was counted up in that one would have been a reach going into last year. And now it’s one of those that people are, were a little upset that he didn’t fall just a little bit further there to him and that they would have spent up even more so on that to get him on his roster because of everything that you guys just said there and and to kind of bring that point home I think you do see a bounce back, I’m gonna go a little bit more so than not not quite as bold as Billy saying that he might have an MVP type of year. But I could very easily see him finishing probably quarterback eight, nine when it’s all said and done this year. I’ve seen him over 4000 yards, probably up there around 33, touchdown somewhere kind of in that neighborhood there just doesn’t have the rushing upside, like Kevin mentioned to get up there inside top eight.

Alex 1:30:44
I will say a word of caution though, because this is the the if they the way that cars even going back to college, but the way when he has been most successful when the team has been most successful, he hasn’t thrown the football a ton. They run the football effectively, he throws it efficiently, but he doesn’t throw it a ton. So that is the word of caution that I would put out there because I think that that is a very, but it could be realistic that they they maybe only throw the football 25 times a game because they want to focus excuse me, they want to focus on that run game. And now while he may throw it 25 times a game or maybe even 30 times a game, you know, he’s only gonna have 20 to 23 completions. But that’s still that’s very efficient throwing, but it’s not a ton of volume. So we just have to see how things start to play out but I still think even even if it is a limited number it’s still gonna be efficient enough that it will rack up stats, yards points.

Billy Whitt 1:31:54
What have you. Yeah, I agree. I was definitely kind of pissed when you guys took Carson Wentz there here’s what Tom blast goes on the opposite side of me and I knew that it wasn’t gonna he that went wasn’t gonna make a buy Tom two more rounds and get back to me so I thought I was being sneaky queuing up Carson Wentz in that fifth round when you guys took him I about shit myself I cannot believe I’m like you’ve got to be kidding me cuz I was trying to make Tom you know come on blew this or blow my phone up and you guys pull the trigger on him anyway. So this kind of shows you know the potentials there and as we started diving a little bit deeper into this Carson Wentz is pretty attractive in that spot.

Alex 1:32:35
I know I don’t think it was for that pic. I think it was for the Kellen Mond pic but Pinto said the yeah I’ve ever seen. Yep, yeah, I have no, I’ve never seen it before, but it is a panda slap on the table. Is the loneliest gift I’ve ever seen. Yeah. Oh my gosh.

Derek 1:32:54
And then JB chose say that when splays lights out every other year this year is an odd year. Kind of relating that back to a Matt Ryan type of type of deer. Goodyear that Yeah, good. You’re bad. You’re good. You’re bad your type of thing are good. You’re not so good. You’re in some cases but Oh, absolutely. Guys, any other thoughts on these Indianapolis Colts for 2021 already?

Billy Whitt 1:33:19
Well,

Derek 1:33:21
any final thoughts for the listeners?

Billy Whitt 1:33:24
Thanks for having me guys. I appreciate it. This is a great time hanging out.

Derek 1:33:28
Absolutely bill if you want to make sure to tag your socials and tell them where they can find you.

Billy Whitt 1:33:33
Yeah happy with two four on Twitter. Hit me up that’s about the one place on my hitting the sports me a little bit here and there. That I need to get more active on there. But yeah, follow me on Twitter. Let’s talk football. tocsin Jubal let’s get you in.

Derek 1:33:47
And that is B wit two four with two T’s I made that mistake. Earlier today. My apologies Billy but I I caught I’ve corrected that in the comments on that. Kevin Alex, any final thoughts for the listeners?

Kevin 1:34:01
Now we’re inching closer we’re in the dog days of summer as we get ready for training camp otas have pretty much all finished up here now. So no news is good news as players do the right thing and remain professionals on and off the field and can maintain their validity on our fantasy rosters for those of us who have nothing better to do and draft far too early before the beginning of the season.

Alex 1:34:30
I hope the next time we speak the Broncos have a new quarterback

Kevin 1:34:38
tomorrow

Alex 1:34:39
I hope I’m I am tempering expectations as I said

Derek 1:34:46
I just hope I get a wake up and that’s the first thing that I wake up to that would be Oh, boy isn’t that be anyway might not latch

Kevin 1:34:55
on now. You can’t say that you wouldn’t enjoy watching Rogers My homes go against each other twice twice a season like that.

Billy Whitt 1:35:04
With all that talent, oh my god, Denver that would be such a fun OFF button. Jesus.

Derek 1:35:14
And then JB Cho saying that, Drew No, we saw that you’re fine

Alex 1:35:20
with Well, we don’t need to see it again.

Billy Whitt 1:35:24
You guys call him to work tomorrow. A rod becomes a bronco overnight here. Maybe?

Alex 1:35:30
I can’t know with all

Kevin 1:35:31
the problems I have. Right now I can’t had to cut my vacation a day short because I had so many problems I had to start fixing I can’t afford to call in.

Alex 1:35:46
But there will be there will be a few celebratory beverages I’m sure. Yeah, yes.

Derek 1:35:54
Yes, very much so. So guys, I very much think that’s gonna do it for us. But Billy, we very much appreciate you coming on. And taking the time. We know it’s a little bit late there. But you know, you’re welcome anytime. And it’s always a pleasure to talk football with you guys. If you haven’t done so already. Get over there. Give him a follow, bwhitt24 that’s BWHI tt two four. Don’t forget the two T’s like I did earlier. But give them a follow. Great follow over there. They’ve got some amazing things going on with the fantasy first rounders live in the St. Jude’s bowl. If you haven’t done that, get there sign up. It’s it’s a lot of fun. Like we already said earlier the boys are playing in that thing. And so give it a shot. See what you can do see if you can can best either. You know Billy, any of the other fantasy first rounders or the good old boys playing in that thing. One of the big events we look forward to every year but guys I do believe that that’s going to wrap up yet another episode of the good old boys fantasy football podcast. Make sure you’re hitting us up on our socials we got the Twitter the Instagram the Facebook the twitch at GoodOldBoysFF we’ve got the website for you. GoodOldBoysFF.com the YouTube channel, the good old boys fantasy football podcast YouTube channel, make sure that you click the subscribe button there. For Kevin and Alex. I’m Derek. Have a good one. Be safe.