Week 8 vs. Denver Broncos
Marlon Mack had only 56 total yards from scrimmage last week against the Texans, but he caught three passes and carried the ball 18 times. His workload makes him a solid starter in any given week, although it’d be nice to see him find the end zone more. He has only two touchdowns this season, despite averaging 21.5 total touches per game.
This week, Mack faces a Denver defense that has been fantastic against the pass but ranks only 17th in aFPA to opposing running backs this year. Expect the Colts to lean on him once again as they try to dictate the game by emphasizing the run, making him a solid RB2 option in all league formats. Mack is a little more appealing in standard leagues, as he’s only caught 10 passes all year, but he should put up numbers in any format.
Week 7 vs. Houston Texans
Despite rumors of injury, Marlon Mack got a full workload against the Chiefs before the bye last week, rushing for 132 yards on 29 carries. Mack has been a workhorse for the Colts, and he’s on pace for 323 carries and 1.504 rushing yards. While he’s only been targeted nine times in the passing game so far this year, his consistent workload running the ball gives him a high floor each week.
This week, Mack will face a Texans defense that ranks 13th in aFPA to opposing running backs and is eighth in points scored per game on offense. That makes it likely the Colts will need to throw the ball, which could limit Mack’s touches. That being said, he’s still the main back in the offense and should have a high enough floor to be a solid RB2 in all leagues.
Week 5 at Kansas City Chiefs
Marlon Mack was limited to 11 carries and 39 yards last week against the Raiders as the Colts got down early and ended up needing to fight to get back into the game. While it’s not concerning that Mack got only 11 carries in a situation where the team needed to throw the ball 46 times, it is a little concerning that Mack was off the field for much of the fourth quarter. We knew Mack was primarily a two-down player, but this is demonstrable evidence of the fact.
This week, Mack has a good matchup against the Chiefs, but if they Colts get down early again, we could see another day with fewer touches. Mack is worth starting as an RB2 and he has a ton of potential after Mark Ingram and Kerryon Johnson both ran all over Kansas City the past two weeks, but fantasy owners should be a little wary of the way the game goes. If the Chiefs get up early, Mack might get pulled again.
Week 4 vs. Oakland Raiders
Marlon Mack went into the Falcons matchup last week labeled questionable, but he ended up starting and getting 18 touches, including a pair of receptions, for 88 yards and a touchdown. Mack is averaging 21.7 touches per game so far this season and he’s found the end zone twice in three outings. He looks like a safe bet for consistent production each week and should be especially reliable in standard leagues.
This week, Mack faces a Raiders defense that surprisingly ranks fourth in our aFPA to running backs, but was torched by Dalvin Cook last week. Of course, everyone gets torched by Dalvin Cook. If the Raiders struggle offensively as they did a week ago, the Colts will likely give Mack well over 20 carries, making him a strong fantasy option in all league formats. We have him as a top-10 back this week.
Week 3 vs. Atlanta Falcons
Marlon Mack had only 51 yards rushing last week against a tough Titans defense, but he still received 20 carries and he remains the primary workhorse for the Colts backfield. Mack averaged 7.0 yards on 25 carries in Week 1 against the Chargers, and he should be a reliable RB2 throughout the season due to his workload. Not many players will touch the ball as often as he will, giving him a high floor in most weeks.
This week, Mack should rebound against the Falcons defense. While Atlanta was very effective against Miles Sanders and Jordan Howard last week, they were torched by Dalvin Cook in Week 1. Expect Mack to land somewhere in the middle and to have borderline RB1 upside in a nice matchup. Start him.
Week 2 at Tennessee Titans
Marlon Mack had a great start to the season, rushing for 174 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries, including a 63-yard run that showed impressive burst and balance. Mack looks like he’s going to be a bell-cow for the Colts on the ground. His only downside is a lack of activity in the passing game, which limits his upside. He should still be valuable in most leagues as a solid RB2 however, particularly in standard formats.
This week, Mack faces a tough Titans defense that held the Browns to a mere 13 points last week. However, the Titans did give up 4.4 yards per carry to Nick Chubb and if the Colts can keep the game close, Mack could be in for another production outing. If the Titans get away from them however, Mack’s risk-factor is that he doesn’t wind up with enough carries to have a repeat performance. Still, we have him ranked as a steady RB2 option due to his workload potential and high floor.
Week 1 at Los Angeles Chargers
Marlon Mack had a breakout season last year, rushing for 908 yards and nine touchdowns in only 12 games. He also added 103 yards and a touchdown on 17 catches. Mack benefits from a suddenly top-level offensive line, and if the Colts can stay ahead in game script, he should be a consistent fantasy option each and every week.
Mack begins the season against a Chargers defense that allowed the eighth-least rushing touchdowns last year and ninth-least rushing yards. Expect Mack to have a high floor with the workload he’s likely to get but temper your expectations against such a tough defense. We have him ranked as a borderline RB2, with a slight bump in standard league formats.
Fantasy Upside
Marlon Mack had a breakout season in his second year. He missed four games, but he was productive when he was on the field. He averaged 84.25 yards from scrimmage per game and scored 10 touchdowns. He averaged 4.7 yards per carry behind an improved offensive line that featured rookie All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson. While not used extensively in the passing game, he was targeted 26 times and isn’t a liability on passing downs. He’s a key cog in a fantastic Colts offense that was fifth in the league in points per game last season, and seventh in total yards per game.
Fantasy Downside
Mack missed four games and was nicked up for much of the season with nagging injuries. The Colts also have a dynamic pass-catching back in Nyheim Hines, who will limit Mack’s opportunities in the passing game. Spencer Ware was added to the roster in free agency, so it’s possible the Colts employ a committee approach to the backfield. One season does not a career make, and Mack will need to prove he can be productive in multiple years to earn status as a top fantasy back.
2019 Bottom Line
With Andrew Luck returned to form and an emerging Colts offense, Mack should continue to thrive as the primary ball-carrier. Improved offensive line play and a schedule that features the Falcons, Raiders and Chiefs – ranked 28th, 22nd and 31st in rushing yards per attempt allowed last season, respectively – over the first five games of the season could have Mack off to a hot start. He’s well-worth his ADP at the back of the third round in 12-team leagues, and we have him ranked as an RB2 in all league formats.
Week 19 at Kanas City Chiefs
Despite being five-point underdogs in Kansas City, Vegas expects a shootout between the Chiefs and the Colts. That has pushed the Colts implied team total in the divisional round up higher than 25 points. In the ground game, the Chiefs rank just 28th in aFPA to RBs. Marlon Mack's volume puts him in an attractive position to have a big week for those that want him on their fantasy rosters. The strength of the Colts offensive line cannot be questioned. He dominated the work so much that Nyheim Hines was basically useless for fantasy last week.
Week 17 at Tennessee Titans
The Colts offensive starters, if healthy, will play a full 60 minutes in Week 17 in what has turned into a play-in game against the Titans. Indianapolis is a 3-point road favorite with an implied team total of 23.25 points. That should lead to positive game script for the Colts running game against the toughest opponent in the league in aFPA to RBs. Mack has gone four consecutive games without more than one reception, relegating him to low-end RB2/FLEX status, likely needing a touchdown to bolster his weekly fantasy line.
