Fantasy Upside
Nyheim Hines has a lot of upside this season. He’s caught 107 balls over the last two seasons and new quarterback Phillip Rivers has always been effective checking down to his running backs. Hines is shifty with good hands and showed flashes as a rookie before struggling last year with the rest of the Colts’ offense.
Fantasy Downside
Hines may get pushed out of the lineup by second-round running back Jonathan Taylor. Taylor showed improved receiving ability as he progressed in college and looked fluid catching the ball at the combine. It’s possible the Colts use Taylor as a replacement for Hines, rather than as a replacement for Mack, during his rookie year before Mack enters free agency in 2021. If that happens, there may not be many touches for the third year scatback out of NC State.
2020 Bottom Line
Hines is basically free in all league formats, so grabbing him in the last round of PPR leagues isn’t a terrible idea. If Taylor ends up taking more of Mack’s work and less of Hines’, then Hines should have a shot at the 81 targets he notched as a rookie. That would make him a viable bye-week filler in most PPR leagues.
Week 17 at Jacksonville Jaguars
Nyheim Hines returned two punts for touchdowns last week in a rout of the Panthers but was held to just six yards on a carry and one reception on offense. Unless your league gives return yardage points, Hines just doesn’t get the ball enough to warrant any serious fantasy consideration. He should remain on waivers for the final week of the season in most formats.
Week 16 vs. Carolina Panthers
Nyheim Hines only had 12 yards on four touches – including a pair of receptions – last week in a blowout loss to the Saints. The Colts struggled heavily on offense and Hines was unable to produce with minimal touches. Hines hasn’t been a productive fantasy option this season and has only three double-digit PPR games all year. He should remain on the bench this week, despite a favorable matchup against the Panthers.
Week 15 at New Orleans Saints
With Marlon Mack back in the lineup last week, Nyheim Hines had just four carries for a single yard. Hines caught four passes for 24 yards as well, but he’s hardly been productive with a healthy Mack, making it hard to trust him in the playoffs. He has what could be a tough matchups anyway, and fantasy owners should leave him on waivers in most league formats.
Week 14 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Nyheim Hines scored a touchdown last week but still touched the ball only six times, including a pair of receptions, gaining 40 total yards in the process. Hines has some upside against a Buccaneers team that can score and put the Colts in passing situations often, but outside of the deepest PPR formats, fantasy owners should steer clear of the Colts’ running back situation until Marlon Mack returns from his hand injury.
Week 13 vs. Tennessee Titans
Nyheim Hines got a little extra action last week with Marlon Mack sidelined, carrying the ball a season-high nine times for 51 yards while adding 10 receiving yards on a pair of receptions. Hines is still risky, however, with Jonathan Williams likely to see the bulk of the touches in the Colts’ backfield while Mack recovers from a hand injury. He has a little upside in PPR leagues now that he’s shown the potential to receive double-digit touches, but he’s still too risky to count on in most leagues.
Week 12 at Houston Texans
I really want to get excited about the fact that Nyheim Hines has 11 targets over his past two games. I really want to think he’ll be a viable fantasy option in PPR leagues to close out the season after scoring his first touchdown of the season last week in a lopsided victory over the Jaguars. However, it’s hard to count on someone who has averaged just 5.5 touches per game this year and still only gained 35 yards in a good game last week. Hines has some upside in a nice matchup against the Texans this week in PPR formats, but he’s too risky to get excited about, and most fantasy owners should look elsewhere if possible. He’s a fringe RB3 at best, and only if it’s a PPR.
Week 11 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Nyheim Hines had seven targets last week against the Dolphins, a season-high for him, but he still managed only 44 total yards on three carries and four receptions. Those look like best-case-scenario numbers for Hines this year as he’s yet to put together consistent production this season and hasn’t even found the end zone through nine games. He might be worth rostering in very deep PPR formats, but in the vast majority of leagues, he should be on waivers.
Week 10 vs. Miami Dolphins
Nyheim Hines had one carry and one reception last week against the Steelers for a total of 28 yards. Hines has averaged only 5.25 touches per game this year, not nearly enough to justify a fantasy roster spot in most leagues. He has a little upside this week in a good matchup against the Dolphins with the Colts down two receivers, but he’s ultimately too risky to start in any league, even PPR formats. He should remain on waivers.
Week 9 at Pittsburgh Steelers
Nyheim Hines had seven touches last week against the Broncos, including three receptions, for a total of 46 yards from scrimmage. It was one of his better games of the season, which tells you all you need to know about his general fantasy value. While he has some intriguing versatility that should lead to PPR numbers, his lack of production this year makes it hard to recommend rostering him in most leagues. Fantasy owners should leave him on waivers until he starts showing a little more upside.
