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Marlon Mack

Second-year back ready for expanded role

The Colts let Frank Gore go in the offseason, leaving Marlon Mack atop their depth chart. It's fair to say that few if any expect him to keep that job into the regular season. Last year's third-round pick wasn't particularly effective, averaging just 3.8 yards per carry with his limited chances.

But Mack himself believes he's ready for that "top dog" role. "Everybody wants to be the top dog, and so you’ve just got to (be motivated) and just be hungry and attack," he told the team's website.

There's one area where Mack was pretty good a year ago: after the catch. Mack turned his 21 receptions into 225 yards. Among all No. 2 running backs, that 10.7 yards per catch was one of the highest rates in the league.

NO. 2 RUNNING BACKS, YARDS PER CATCH
PlayerNoYdsAvgLgTDP
Derrick Henry, Tenn.1113612.466t1
Corey Clement, Phil.1012312.3282
Tevin Coleman, Atl.2729911.1393
Marlon Mack, Ind.2122510.7341
Rod Smith, Dall.1920210.681t1
Austin Ekeler, LAC2727910.3383
Joe Mixon, Cin.302879.6670
Kyle Juszczyk, S.F.333159.5441
Jalen Richard, Oak.272569.5391
Mike Davis, Sea.151318.7230
Samaje Perine, Wash.221828.3251
C.J. Anderson, Den.282248.0251
D.J. Foster, Ariz.171337.8200
Damien Williams, Mia.201557.8241
Ty Montgomery, G.B.231737.5231
T.J. Yeldon, Jac.302247.5200
Bilal Powell, NYJ231707.4310
Mark Ingram, N.O.584167.2540
Peyton Barber, T.B.161147.1340
Latavius Murray, Minn.151036.9280
Dion Lewis, N.E.322146.7203
Isaiah Crowell, Clev.281826.5380
Jonathan Stewart, Car.8526.5211
Ameer Abdullah, Det.251626.5221
Danny Woodhead, Balt.332006.1220
Malcolm Brown, LAR9535.9160
Wayne Gallman, NYG341935.7111
Mike Tolbert, Buff.14785.6120
Charcandrick West, K.C.271505.6252
Jordan Howard, Chi.231255.4120
Tyler Ervin, Hou.8384.870
Fitzgerald Toussaint, Pitt.294.570

Even if you added in No. 1s, actually, the only other backs better than Mack last year were Chris Thompson (13.1) and Todd Gurley (12.3).

The Colts, with nothing else on the roster but Robert Turbin and Christine Michael, seem likely to add talent in the draft. Should Saquon Barkley be available when they draft at No. 6 overall, they could even take him. That would relegate Mack obsolete fairly quickly.

But no one should be writing Mack off just yet. He might wind up having some fantasy value in 2018.

--Andy Richardson

Fantasy Index