The Indianapolis Colts are hoping to get back to the top of the AFC in 2016, but there are quite a few question marks still surrounding him. After the struggles that they had last season, it is unknown what should be expected from the Colts this year.
One thing that the Colts need to figure out is who will be the playmakers on the offensive side of the ball.
Andrew Luck will be back at full health after struggling with injuries all season long last year. His season ended prematurely when he went down with a lacerated kidney . Many believe that Luck will return to superstar form, but some think it will not be as easy of a return.
That being said, there is plenty of talent around Luck that can help him out. Obviously, veteran running back Frank Gore will be asked to handle a big role and take pressure off of Luck. T.Y. Hilton is a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver option and has proven himself reliable over the years.
“He’s a league-winning type of pick for 2016.”
11 must-own fantasy WRs: https://t.co/uw0loUbB4I (via @NFLfantasy ) pic.twitter.com/iLJ3otFN1d
— NFL (@NFL) July 20, 2016
Andre Johnson was signed by the Colts last offseason in free agency to be the consistent No. 2 target for Luck. That didn’t end up working out, but there is another receiver on the roster who is ready to step up.
Donte Moncrief caught 64 passes for 733 yards and six touchdowns throughout the 2015 NFL season. He played well for the Colts on a consistent basis and did so without the franchise quarterback throwing him the football the majority of the time. There are very few wide receivers with the type of skill-set that Moncrief possesses and it will be entertaining to watch him in a bigger role this year.
Mike added that he expects Donte Moncrief to lead the Colts in receptions this season @NextLevelFF @MikeWellsNFL
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) July 19, 2016
At just 22-years-old, the sky’s the limit for Moncrief, and he hasn’t come close to hitting his full potential.
Standing in at 6-foot-2 and 222 pounds, Moncrief is an incredibly physical wide receiver. He will go get every single ball that is thrown his way. That is not something that every wide receiver comes with.
IND projections done, and the Donte Moncrief breakout is in full swing! 21.6% target share, line of 82-1095-8. Even room to grow on that.
— Justin Howe (@JustinHoweFBG) July 9, 2016
Moncrief has also shown the all-around ability to play either in the slot or on the outside. He is extremely quick and has excellent open field speed. While his speed makes him a deep threat, Moncrief is also adept at crossing routes and screens with his ability to make defenders miss in the open field.
For Andrew Luck’s seven games in 2015, T.Y. Hilton’s receiving line was 31-548-3 on 65 targets. Donte Moncrief’s was 32-351-5 on 54 targets.
— Cory Evans (@CoryEvansNFL) July 21, 2016
Indianapolis will need Moncrief to play a vital role as the No. 2 wide receiver within the offense. Outside of Hilton and Moncrief, the Colts will be relying on second-year receiver Phillip Dorsett and quite a few names that many fans wouldn’t recognize. Dwayne Allen is the starting tight end for the Colts, but they decided to let Coby Fleener walk in free agency.
Even though the Colts won’t have the big name targets for Luck, they are still going to be a pass-heavy offense. Chuck Pagano and Rob Chudzinski are not going to stop Luck from throwing the football around 35-40 times per game.
Season can’t come fast enough, I’m ready to take off ..
— Donte Moncrief (@drm_12) July 20, 2016
It is going to be entertaining to watch Moncrief this season, that is a fact. He will be a massive fantasy impact player and will shock the NFL with his placement on the receiving leaderboards.
Expect to see the former Ole Miss wide receiver leap into stardom during the 2016 season. He has the perfect stage to show off his talents and already has a great chemistry with Luck. Nothing is holding him back from becoming something special and he will seize the opportunity in a big way.
Do you think Donte Moncrief will break out with the Indianapolis Colts into stardom this season? What kind of numbers do you expect to see from him this year? Let us know your thoughts on the comment box below!
[Photo by Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini]