Fantasy Football 2012: Breaking Down the Indianapolis Colts

What can the Indianapolis Colts do for you this fantasy season? Check out Athlon Sports' team report as we break down the rookies, veteran players to watch and avoid, fantasy playoff schedule and more to help you get ready for the 2012 season.

Inside the Locker Room
with Phil Wilson, Indianapolis Star

Will Andrew Luck top Peyton Manning’s rookie numbers of 3,739 yards, 26 touchdowns and 28 interceptions?
The hunch is Luck won’t surpass Manning’s numbers, but he could eclipse the win total of three. Luck is so unselfish, he won’t be about putting up big numbers, and the Colts will want to run the ball more and play ball control as much as possible to protect an overhauled and learning-on-the-go defense.

How will the new coaching staff decide to use tailbacks Delone Carter, Donald Brown and Vick Ballard?
Expect Carter and Brown to be the tandem for now. Ballard gets a shot if he shows something in camp and one of the other two guys struggles. Brown has never been much of a blocker, so perhaps that opens the door for Ballard to get a few reps eventually.
Is Reggie Wayne’s fantasy career over, or can he bounce back after failing to reach 1,000 yards for the first time since 2003?
Wayne might never get back to the levels taken for granted in past years. Expect decent numbers, but it’s doubtful Luck will throw to him so much that the old statistical levels will come into play. This team must spread the ball around.

Which tight end will get the most targets, Coby Fleener or Dwayne Allen?
The guess will be Fleener because that’s who Luck knows. But seriously, flip a coin on them. Allen could be that guy. You never know which guy will stay healthier, who picks up the offense more quickly, which style will consistently get open more often, etc.

Athlon's Best Bets

Sleeper: Coby Fleener, TE
Deep-Sleeper: Dwayne Allen, TE
Overvalued: None
Top Rookie: Andrew Luck, QB
Bounce-Back: Reggie Wayne, WR
Top IDP: Pat Angerer, LB

2012 Draft Class

Fantasy Impact: The Colts surrounded No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck with plenty of help, including tight ends Coby Fleener (also a Stanford alum) and Dwayne Allen. Both will be valuable safety nets for the rookie quarterback. T.Y. Hilton is a dangerous all-around threat and will slide into the No. 3 receiver role in 2012.

Fantasy Playoff Run: Weeks 14-16 (TEN, at HOU, at KC)

Rookies pepper the Colts’ roster at quarterback, receiver and tight end. Those rookies likely will be producing for a bad team and adjusting to the final games in the longer pro season. This is not a good fantasy situation, but there should be enough garbage points to make a few on this roster worthy of starts come fantasy postseason.

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