Never Too Early: Indianapolis Colts Fantasy Football Preview

Hear that? It's the pitter-patter of fantasy football season approaching. Fantasy FanHouse is here to get you ready by previewing every team from a fantasy perspective.

Meet The ...
Fantasy machine. The Rams had their run, and the Patriots were stellar last year, but there has been no offense as consistently absurd in fantasy football as the Colts for the past decade. As long as Peyton Manning is healthy -- which is always -- you could plug anyone into a prominent role and accrue stats. Case in point, Kenton Keith was a good player in the CFL; not great. Last year in limited duty for the Colts he amassed 522 yards with a 4.4 yards-per-carry average (including 28 carries, 121 yards, 2 TD in week 5). I'm convinced that I could put up five fantasy points if I suited up for the blue and white ... but that's the thing. They don't have dudes with reconstructed knees who don't work out. They have studs. Lots of them.

The Breakout
It's awfully tough to find one, considering the whole team is already established. Well, except for one man. Marvin Harrison is on the downside of his glorious career, and is still a little banged up. Peyton likes to use two outside weapons. Enter Anthony Gonzalez. He's ready to build upon a quasi-productive rookie campaign. Even if Harrison plays, Manning utilizes his third wideout quite well. Remember Brandon Stokley's 2004?

The Bust
Once again this is tough because the team is pretty studly. I'll just continue where I was going and take Harrison here. Don't pay for the name recognition. Sure, if there have been 25 WRs taken and he's still there, you have to pull the trigger. Just don't take him in the top 20. He's not the same guy he once was.

The Depth Chart
QB1 - Peyton Manning
QB2 - Jim Sorgi
RB1 - Joseph Addai
RB2 - Dominic Rhodes
RB3 - Mike Hart
WR1 - Reggie Wayne
WR2 - Marvin Harrison
WR3 - Anthony Gonzalez
WR4 - Devin Aromashodu
TE1 - Dallas Clark
TE2 - Gijon Robinson
K - Adam Vinatieri

The D/ST
You know how people hear things on talk radio and regurgitate them as if it's their own opinion? I live in Indianapolis, and I can hear, "we can't stop the run if Bob Sanders is hurt" at least twenty times a day in the fall. Even from people's pets. It's embarrassing ... but that doesn't hurt the fantasy value. This is a nice unit. They'll pressure the passer with Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, causing sacks and picks. Meanwhile they ballhawk the way Coach Dungy loves it. Easily a top ten squad and weekly must-start.

The Skinny
Hmmm ... let's see. The must-starts: Manning (No. 2 QB), Addai (No. 3 overall pick), Wayne (No. 3 WR ... No. 1 sane WR), Clark (top-10 TE), Vinatieri (top-10 K), and the D/ST (top 10). That's only the elite players. Harrison and Gonzalez will be worth starting in most weeks, while Rhodes is the most valuable backup running back (please realize this doesn't include time-sharing backs) because of what I mentioned earlier with the Colts prolific offense. Rhodes and Addai are interchangeable parts. Just because Addai's a better player doesn't mean Rhodes won't blow up if he gets the chance to play. He will. Finally, I believe Keith has played his last game as a Colt. Hart's your third-stringer here. Again, if he gets a chance to start, he'll blow up. They always do in this offense.

Yes, this is the best all-around fantasy team in the league. Again.