Fantasy Football: 5 Breakout Running Backs for 2019
Fantasy Football Breakout RB – Marlon Mack, Indianapolis Colts
On the heels of a near-1,000-yard rushing effort in just 12 games last season, Colts’ RB Marlon Mack is the next young ball-carrier on the list that could burst out of his shell in 2019.
Mack missed four of the team’s first five games in 2018, but was one of the better RBs in fantasy down the stretch of the season. At just 22 years old, the young bruiser was inconsistent at times, but still found way to deliver for owners. From Weeks 6-17, Mack was fantasy’s overall RB10 in PPR formats, averaging 15.8 fantasy points per game while crossing the goal-line 10 times.
Maybe most-impressively, the third-year RB posted these numbers while playing through injury for much of the season. After straining his hamstring in the preseason opener, Mack returned in Week 2 but was put back on shelf after re-irritating the injury.
Although he was back for good in Week 6, Mack suffered a concussion in late November. He missed no time, but this was yet another health problem he was forced to battle through. Now fully healthy, Colts’ HC Frank Reich is ready to give Mack a handsome workload.
As first reported on Rotoworld.com, The Indianapolis Star believes Reich wants Mack to “carry the load” for the backfield this coming season.
For those that are worried about scat-back Nyheim Hines vulturing targets from Mack in the passing game, last year’s numbers show that this shouldn’t be a huge impediment to his fantasy value. If you look at last season’s splits, Mack was the back who actually handled most of the receiving duties when both players were active.
In the four games Mack was sidelined, Hines saw a healthy 8.5 targets per game (41.5 receiving yards per game). However, when Mack was in action, Hines’ targets dropped to just 3.9 targets per game (21.5 rec. YPG).
When Mack was at full health heading into the playoffs, he was in for 58 of the Colts’ offensive snaps compared to Hines’ 9 in the team’s Wild Card win versus the Texans. Snap counts were a little more evenly dispersed (30-23) in Indy’s 31-13 blowout loss to Kansas City in the Divisional Round, but much of that had to do with a pass-heavy approach while playing from behind for a majority of the game.
Admittedly, Mack still has work to do as a pass-catcher, but Reich seems like he’s going to give him ample opportunity to prove himself. If he can improve as a receiver and dominate red-zone touches like he did a season ago (22 rushing attempts inside the 10), he’s got RB1 written all over him this Fall.