We are proud to be among the first, if not the first, to publish full projections for the upcoming season, going live just days after the Super Bowl. Publishing detailed projections in early February comes with trade-offs, not the least of which is a near-total lack of clarity on how free agency, cap transactions, and the NFL draft will reshape rosters.
We've been updating our projections in near real time, including during the recent onslaught of free-agent transactions. This version will remain largely stable until we can layer in the April NFL draft, but stable projections don't mean settled debates.
We have a staff of sharp analysts with sharp takes of their own, so I thought it would be worthwhile to solicit their views on the key coin-toss situations that will shape each team's outlook in the coming months. These are important questions where reasonable, informed people can credibly land in very different places. I asked my colleagues to weigh in with one assumption: they were answering strictly through the lens of a standard 0.5-PPR redraft league.
Indianapolis Colts Coin-Toss Questions
- What Tier Is Jones If He's Healthy for Week 1?
- Will the Colts Add a Running Back Behind Taylor?
- Where Does Warren Rank Among Fantasy Tight Ends?
- Can Pierce Handle a Featured Role with 120-Plus Targets?
- Will the Colts Add a No. 2 Receiver, or Can That Be Downs?
Jonathan Taylor is one of the NFL's few true workhorses, but the running back depth chart leaves much to be desired. Do you expect the Colts to add a veteran No. 2, a rookie No. 2, or stick with DJ Giddens and Ulysses Bentley IV as the backups?
Jeff Haseley: I expect the Colts to add a veteran No. 2 running back. Relying on DJ Giddens and Ulysses Bentley IV as the only insurance for Jonathan Taylor feels like playing with fire.
Maurile Tremblay: I'd lean veteran No. 2. Jonathan Taylor is a true workhorse and should maintain his usual workload, but the Colts don't have much of a backup plan. In the broader team context, this looks like a roster trying to win now with Daniel Jones — not a team that should feel great about lacking an insurance policy behind Taylor. A rookie is possible, but standing pat with Giddens and Bentley would be malpractice.
Andy Hicks: The Colts need to add at least one more option to this backfield. There are still viable choices in free agency if they don't secure a suitable addition in the draft. Giddens, a fifth-round pick last year, did little to justify a larger role based on his rookie season. Durability is also a concern — last season marked just the second time in his six-year career that Taylor played a full slate of games. In the three prior years, he missed a combined 16 games, with at least three absences in each season. Veteran options such as Najee Harris and Joe Mixon remain available. Until the Colts address the position, most likely during the draft, it's reasonable to expect an upgrade behind Taylor.
Jason Wood's Verdict
I expect both rookie and veteran free-agent additions.