In the 14th of a 32-part series, we will feature all National Football League teams with a prediction of where each team will finish within their division, key off-season acquisitions and their top fantasy stars. Today we will look at the Indianapolis Colts.
Key Off Season Acquisitions
The most notable off-season acquisition for the Colts in the off-season came at quarterback as Indianapolis acquired Matt Ryan from the Atlanta Falcons for a third round pick in the 2022 National Football League Draft. Ryan had spent the last 14 seasons in Atlanta and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016. The veteran quarterback replaces Carson Wentz, who Indianapolis traded to Washington for a third round draft pick in 2022 and 2023.
In 2021, Ryan completed 375 passes in 560 attempts for 3968 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also had 40 rushing carries for 82 yards and another touchdown.
On defense, the Colts most significant acquisition was defensive end Yannick Ngakoue of Washington, D.C. Ngakoue had 28 combined tackles, 23 quarterback hits, 10 sacks, eight tackles for a loss, three pass deflections and two forced fumbles.
Fantasy Stars
Jonathan Taylor enters the season as the best player to draft in all of fantasy football. Last season he led the National Football League in rushing yards (1811), rushing touchdowns (18), longest rushing touchdown (83 yards), yards per game (106.5), yards from scrimmage (2171), and rushing and receiving touchdowns (20).
Indianapolis also has the sixth best defense in the NFL heading into the season. Last season the Colts gave up 365 points, the sixth fewest points allowed in the AFC.
Prediction
There is no doubt the Colts and Tennessee Titans are the class of the division in the AFC South. Indianapolis is hoping a change of scenery will benefit Ryan, like the change benefitted Matt Stafford, who went from Detroit to the Los Angeles Rams in last year’s offseason. And we know what happened there, as the Rams went on to win the Super Bowl.
The Colts are definitely a playoff contender. However it might take them for Ryan to gel with his receivers. I am predicting the Colts to finish a comfortable second place.
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