Week 15 vs. Dallas Cowboys
Indianapolis has an above average implied team total this week against a tough Dallas defense. That implied total is 25 points. However, the Cowboys rank top five in aFPA to RBs, foreshadowing a pass-heavy attack for the Colts. Nyheim Hines just hasn't seen fantasy relevant volume either of late, averaging less than 10 touches per game over the past month. He's too much of a longshot to consider in Week 15 lineups.
Week 14 at Houston Texans
The Colts have a very modest implied team total of 22.75 points this week, with negative game script expected on the road in Houston. The Texans rank fourth in aFPA to RBs. The Colts entire offense struggled last week, with essentially no running game. Just draw a line through it like a bad horse race and move forward. It's a tough match-up again this week, but Marlon Mack is still the early down option, garnering far more work on the ground than Nyheim Hines. However, with Jack Doyle on IR, Hines re-emerged as a passing game option in this offense last week. Both should be considered nothing more than a FLEX though, with Mack still the preferable option against this tough Texans defensive front.
Week 13 at Jacksonville Jaguars
Remember when facing the Jaguars defense was a near death sentence for a player's fantasy prospects? That's not the case anymore. The Jags are tough against RBs (2nd in aFPA), but the Colts have an implied team total of 25.5 on the road. Jacksonville's offense also operates at a faster pace when Leonard Fournette is out, which should mean additional offensive plays for the Colts too. If Marlon Mack can clear the concussion protocol, he should be a viable, volume-based RB2 in a difficult match-up. Otherwise, Nyheim Hines will step into the same situation. If Mack is active though, Hines is not a viable starting option.
Week 12 vs. Miami Dolphins
The Colts come off another strong offensive performance against the Titans, and this week, Indianapolis has the highest implied team total on the Sunday slate, nearing 30 expected points. Miami ranks just 31st in aFPA to RBs this season as well. As heavy favorites, Marlon Mack is in a boom situation this week. He's played 60 percent of snaps in three straight games and has 17+ touches in three of his past four. That's bad news for Nyheim Hines though, as he has less than seven touches in four of his past five games. He cannot be started with confidence.
Week 11 vs. Tennesee Titans
The Colts have a high implied team total of 25 at home against Tennessee, and maybe the best offensive line in the NFL right now, helping the Colts ground game. However, this unit did find it to be tough sledding last week against a stout Jaguars front and could find similar difficulties this week against a pass funnel Titans defense that ranks second in aFPA to RBs. Marlon Mack should still dominate the touches in this backfield, but he may see volume more like he saw last week than his first couple of games back. That meant only six touches for Nyheim Hines a week ago, making it extremely difficult to trust him in Week 11.
Week 10 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Colts have a middle-of-the-road implied team total against the Jaguars this week, and Jacksonville ranks 10th in aFPA to RBs. However, Marlon Mack's volume cannot be ignored. He has 21 and 27 touches in his last two games. That type of usage won't leave much left over for Hines, even in the passing game with T.Y. Hilton and Jack Doyle now healthy. The Colts should have far fewer plays against the Jaguars than they did against terrible Oakland, meaning we cannot rely on Hines getting double-digit touches again. He's too risky of a start with Marlon Mack healthy.
Week 8 at Oakland Raiders
Marlon Mack (ankle) was downgraded from limited in practice Wednesday to did not practice on Thursday. His status needs to be monitored as Sunday approaches. If he is out, Nyheim Hines re-enters the RB2 conversation for Week 8. In games Mack has not played this season, Hines has averaged 7.25 carries per game and 8.5 targets per game. Oakland is below average as well in aFPA to RBs.
Week 7 vs. Buffalo Bills
Marlon Mack returned from injury last week, and although Nyheim Hines played more snaps, Mack out-touched Hines 13-to-5. The problem is Hines saw his snaps drop from at least 68 percent each of the previous three weeks to below 50 percent with Mack active in Week 6. That takes Hines out of starting consideration in standard leagues and only a FLEX option in PPR leagues, as he has at least five receptions in four of six games this season. The Bills are a plus match-up too, ranked just 23rd in aFPA.
Week 6 at New York Jets
Andrew Luck will once again be playing with a depleted supporting cast of pass catchers in the Meadowlands Sunday. T.Y. Hilton and Jack Doyle still are not practicing, and now Eric Ebron is also not practicing with four different injuries. That should mean continued use of Hines in the passing game, who has seven receptions or more in three of five games this year. He's also played two-thirds of snaps in three consecutive games. Even with Marlon Mack back from injury, that type of usage still keeps Hines on the FLEX/low-end RB2 radar for Week 6.
Week 5 at New England Patriots (TNF)
Andrew Luck and the Colts offense travel to Foxboro with their top pass-catcher, T.Y. Hilton, doubtful with a hamstring injury. That should funnel more targets to Nyheim Hines, but with Robert Turbin back from suspension, Hines is the only back in this offense we'd trust in Week 5. The Colts have the fourth-lowest implied team total of 20.5 points this week, and the Patriots rank just 27th in aFPA to RBs. Hines is the only back in this offense with double-digit touches in either of the past two weeks, and he's the one getting the more valuable targets over carries. Consider him an RB2 for Week 5.
