Eric Ebron caught 13 TDs last year (plus a rushing score), and everyone agrees that can't happen again. Jack Doyle should be back from injury, and the Colts added a couple of wideouts who could cut into that scoring production. But there's another candidate, one unlikely to be drafted in most fantasy leagues.
Third-year tight end Mo Alie-Cox, an undrafted free agent who didn't even play football in college (he played basketball), got a couple of chances last year as the team's No. 2 tight end. He turned 13 targets into 7 receptions for 133 yards and 2 TDs. And now The Athletic's Stephen Holder thinks Alie-Cox could be a breakout player for the team.
How that's going to happen with Ebron and Doyle as the team's top 2 tight ends isn't exactly clear. Nobody is going to draft Alie-Cox as long as both of those guys are healthy. But Doyle is trying to come back from hip and kidney injuries, so the 29-year-old's health can't be taken for granted. And no team in the league -- with the possible exception of Philadelphia? -- is more likely to have two productive tight ends than Indianapolis.
Led by Ebron's 13, the Colts threw 21 TDs to tight ends last year. Even if you removed Ebron's scores from the equation, only four teams would have thrown more to the position than the Colts.
| TEAM TIGHT END PRODUCTION, 2018 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | YPG | No | Yards | TD |
| Indianapolis | 76.0 | 108 | 1216 | 21 |
| Kansas City | 93.8 | 115 | 1500 | 13 |
| Philadelphia | 98.2 | 155 | 1571 | 12 |
| Tampa Bay | 56.9 | 73 | 911 | 11 |
| Oakland | 69.4 | 91 | 1111 | 10 |
| Cleveland | 53.3 | 75 | 853 | 8 |
| Seattle | 37.5 | 51 | 600 | 8 |
| Carolina | 42.3 | 65 | 676 | 7 |
| Chicago | 41.8 | 64 | 668 | 7 |
| San Francisco | 92.6 | 95 | 1481 | 7 |
| Tennessee | 50.1 | 67 | 802 | 7 |
| Pittsburgh | 69.9 | 86 | 1119 | 6 |
| Atlanta | 49.9 | 85 | 799 | 5 |
| Baltimore | 66.9 | 86 | 1071 | 5 |
| Cincinnati | 44.3 | 67 | 708 | 5 |
| LA Rams | 38.6 | 58 | 617 | 5 |
| NY Giants | 58.4 | 79 | 935 | 5 |
| NY Jets | 45.9 | 67 | 735 | 5 |
| Washington | 60.4 | 84 | 966 | 5 |
| Dallas | 44.4 | 68 | 710 | 4 |
| Detroit | 28.8 | 45 | 461 | 4 |
| Green Bay | 57.6 | 81 | 922 | 4 |
| Houston | 46.6 | 61 | 745 | 4 |
| Minnesota | 46.7 | 74 | 747 | 4 |
| New Orleans | 46.2 | 66 | 739 | 4 |
| Denver | 40.6 | 68 | 649 | 3 |
| LA Chargers | 35.4 | 48 | 567 | 3 |
| New England | 47.6 | 54 | 761 | 3 |
| Miami | 24.1 | 39 | 386 | 2 |
| Arizona | 29.7 | 46 | 475 | 1 |
| Buffalo | 32.8 | 56 | 525 | 1 |
| Jacksonville | 33.1 | 59 | 530 | 1 |
The Eagles, with Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert, might have the best tight end duo in the league. But the Colts look like the offense most likely to lead the league in touchdowns by the position.
Realistically, Alie-Cox is most interesting in dynasty formats. Ebron is in the final year of his contract, and Doyle's body might be breaking down. But if you're drafting in one of those 28-round best-ball leagues, a last-round pick on Alie-Cox might not be the worst selection. Could pay off handsomely if he does wind up as one of the team's top 2 at the position.
--Andy Richardson