The Indianapolis Colts will likely provide some solid play for fantasy football this year. Jonathan Taylor looks to be the next big running back in the NFL, while many believe either Michael Pittman or Parris Campbell can emerge as consistent fantasy options. Even Carson Wentz has gained attention as a possible QB2 in 2021. With one of the best offensive lines in the game, this team should be dangerous throughout the year.
Even with the excitement brewing in Indianapolis, the Colts will need someone else to emerge as a major contributor for the offense. Head coach Frank Reich is a great play-caller and has a knack for getting the ball to the best players on the field. For that reason, we could see another pass-option emerge as a decent sleeper pick for fantasy football.
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It’s no secret Reich likes to utilize his tight ends. While he was the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, Reich often drew up plays for Zach Ertz. During his time with the Colts, we witnessed Eric Ebron record a career year and make a Pro-Bowl appearance. Indianapolis needs someone to step up to help Wentz this year, and Mo Alie-Cox could be the answer.
Fantasy Football: Colts Top Sleeper
Mo Alie-Cox
Alie-Cox hasn’t had the most impressive start to his career, but he recorded career highs in 2021. He finished last season with 31 receptions, 394 yards, and two touchdowns. According to Fantasy Pros, Alie-Cox racked up 80.4 fantasy points in PPR formats, which made him the TE29 on the year. Alie-Cox didn’t get too many looks, but he proved to be an extremely reliable target, as he ended the year with a 79.5% catching percentage.
That reliability likely caught the coaching staff’s eye. For that reason, Reich may draw up more plays for Alie-Cox in 2021. He’s also a decent blocker as well, which means Alie-Cox should be on the field frequently throughout the season. Even with everything looking up, ESPN seems to believe the Colts’ tight end will produce similar numbers as last year. They project him to finish with 30 receptions, 344 yards, and 3 touchdowns, giving Alie-Cox just 79.48 fantasy points in PPR formats. He’s currently ranked as the TE34 on ESPN.
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Even with those poor projections, Alie-Cox has the talent to be a major sleeper in fantasy football this year – and perhaps future years. He has improved each season of his career so far, plays in an offensive scheme that is preferable for tight ends, and has a new quarterback that tends to throw to that position often.
His current ADP on Fantasy Pros is 328, which means he’s going to go undrafted in your redraft leagues. Keep close tabs on Alie-Cox, as he could be a waiver wire addition that helps boost your tight end group. Approach Alie-Cox as a FLEX streaming option depending on matchups, who has the potential to play as a TE2. You don’t win your league in the initial draft, it’s won in the waiver wire, and Alie-Cox has the potential to be that special waiver wire pickup in 2021.
