In fantasy football, there are certain narratives in the offseason to keep an eye on. Most of it is simply coach speak but when there is a consistent narrative taking place throughout the offseason, it is considered a drumbeat. Paying careful attention to those drumbeats can pay off when the season arrives.
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While it doesn’t always result in a player blowing up in fantasy football, it helps to pay attention. Indianapolis Colts running back Nyheim Hines finds himself in this particular situation.
The drumbeat has been banging loudly all offseason for Hines. Like Jumanji loud.
The reason it has been growing is due to the signing of Philip Rivers, who has made a reputation for targeting the running back position. That alone makes Hines an intriguing player given that he’s the best pass-catcher in the backfield.
But the reason the drumbeat has been growing is how the coaching staff has constantly talked about Hines and his ability to have a big year thanks to the addition of Rivers.
We took a look at how the Colts can use Hines as the Chargers did with Austin Ekeler in 2019. But now, we will take a look at some of the quotes the coaching staff has said throughout the offseason.
10 catches in a game?
When talking about all of the mouths to feed in the offense, head coach Frank Reich discussed what type of impact Hines can have in the passing game. It may have been hyperbole. Reich may have been completely serious. But there is no denying he feels strongly about Hines benefitting from Rivers.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if there is a game this year that Nyheim Hines has 10 catches. You guys know from even just talking to Nick (Sirianni) last week, Philip (Rivers) has an uncanny ability to get the ball to the backs and checkdowns and using him like that. Nyheim will be very much integrated into the game plan on all three downs,” Reich said on May 18. “I wouldn’t anticipate he is going to play as many snaps as Marlon (Mack) and Jonathan (Taylor), but there are still enough snaps for him to be very, very productive this year – very productive.”
Hines to benefit big time from Rivers
Following the draft, Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni talked to reporters on May 11. The first question he was asked was about Hines’ role in the passing game and how he benefits from the addition of Rivers.
“Yeah, where I think Philip (Rivers) is really outstanding, he has this great ability to find the running back out of the backfield whether we’re scheming for that guy or whether it just happens within a protection, where he goes through his progression and finds that back.” Sirianni said. “So I think for sure Nyheim (Hines) will benefit from that. Just like, we had Danny Woodhead when Frank (Reich) and I were together with the Chargers, and I think one year Danny had 80 catches. Yeah, Nyheim is going to benefit big time from playing with Philip Rivers. There’s no question about that.”
When both the head coach and offensive coordinator are talking a player up from almost the same point of view and thought process, it is something to begin considering a little bit more.
The go-to pass guy in the backfield
This one comes from general manager Chris Ballard. The question wasn’t specifically about Hines but about the roles that players will have in a now-crowded backfield thanks to the addition of Jonathan Taylor. What we can take from the following quote is that Hines already has his role carved out. It will be in the passing game and he will be the main one handling the pass-catching duties out of the backfield.
“I think sometimes you do it by committee but everybody has their emphasis,” said Ballard on April 25. “Everybody knows Nyheim (Hines) is kind of our go-to scheme-up pass guy. We do some unique things with Nyheim.”
Conclusion
Sifting through coach speak and offseason hype is incredibly difficult. It’s easy to buy-in to what the coaches are saying. But in the case of Hines, it’s a bit more than that.
It’s one thing to simply have coaches talking up a player. But the data also backs up what the coaches are saying. Rivers has historically targeted the running back position heavily so this isn’t just wishful thinking from the coaching staff.
There is always risk in completely buying into the offseason narratives but with what the coaches are saying and the historical data confirming it to be a trend, this drumbeat might be one to keep an eye on throughout the offseason.
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