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Liz LozaESPN
More like Matty On Ice… Matt Ryan a benched by Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich.
Sam Ehlinger Named the Colts’ starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. This news comes less that 10 days after the Texas product was reported to have leapfrogged Nick Foles The No. 2 job on the Colts depth chart is available here. 2 job. Ehlinger will throw his next pass in the NFL regular-season match.
Since the beginning of the season, Ryan has appeared like a faded veteran. Ryan is averaging 6.8YPA (QB22) and has an average depth-of-target (aDOT), of 6.0 (QB33). The deep ball has been eliminated from Indy’s game plan. Reich instead has taken a quick and efficient approach to the offense. He recorded the second-most passes attempted (297).
Ehlinger’s replacement will not make much of the blueprint. The 24-year-old has only adequate arm strength, and has had trouble moving the ball downfield in college. But don’t expect 42 pass attempts per game. Ehlinger is a wheelie. This is usually a boon for fantasy players, but I wouldn’t get too excited. Ehlinger, a sixth-round selection, is behind the league’s worst pass-blocking unit (8.4% adjusted rate of sack rate). He will not be streaming in single-QB leagues but is close to being on it. Taylor Heinicke Superflex formats
Here’s how Indy’s central change affects the fantasy value of key contributors.
Taylor is the most obvious beneficiary. Reich should be encouraged to use Ehlinger’s mobility (1.907 rushing yards in four years at Texas) while also opening up opportunities for the team’s RB1. Taylor will touch the ball at minimum 20 times per game and remains among the top five fantasy plays each week.
Pittman is currently 16th in fantasy points for PPR WRs. Ironically, he was also WR16 last year. Carson Wentz under center. Ehlinger is expected to run more so Pittman’s volume will likely suffer. He is expected to remain in the top 18 and not be among the top 12 at the position due to his strong hands. It seems that the leap from alpha wideout to alpha will need to be waited another year.
WR Alec Pierce
Volume is the only thing that can stop Pierce from becoming an absolute fantasy force. The former Bearcat can high-point and win in contested settings. Ehlinger’s trust in rookie Ehlinger to climb the ladder and beat the coverage is crucial to his fantasy stock. It takes time to build that trust. Pierce will have his ups and downs, but consistent looks should keep him in WR3/4 territory.
Campbell has scored more than 40 fantasy PPR points in the past two weeks. As Indy’s primary slot receiver Ashton Dulin (foot), Campbell has received double-digit looks on IR and scored in two-to-one efforts. Ehlinger could offer a pathway to fantasy relevance, but it is unlikely that it will materialize next Sunday against Washington. The Commanders’ CBs were significantly more generous with boundary receivers than those who work inside.