The Indianapolis Colts passing offense is expected to take a step forward in 2020 after several additions were made this offseason, but it also has to do with the return of wide receiver T.Y. Hilton.
Despite playing in only 10 games in 2019 due to several injuries, there is optimism that Hilton can bounce back as long as he stays healthy. Though he’s currently on the NFI list with a hamstring injury, Ian Hartitz of Pro Football Focus predicts a bounce-back for the veteran wideout.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: T.Y. HILTON REBOUNDS WITH WR2 PRODUCTION
Hilton has posted career per-game averages of 5.3-85-0.4 with Andrew Luck and 4-58-0.3 without. The good news: Philip Rivers fed Keenan Allen 159, 136 and 149 targets in the past three seasons, and there’s essentially zero competition for No. 1 pass-game target duties in Indianapolis. Last season marked the first time that Hilton ever played fewer than 14 games; it’s tough to see him finishing as anything other than a top-24 fantasy producer with good health.
Staying healthy is the key. Sure there is the argument that Hilton has missed just 10 games in eight seasons. But there is also recent years of dealing with various soft tissue injuries. Most of these aren’t freak injuries like a torn ACL. They often come with wear and tear.
Is Hilton injury-prone? No. He shouldn’t be classified in that category. He’s toughed out many injuries over his career and will continue to do so but to say his health isn’t a question would be naive.
But if Hilton is healthy, he’s in for a big year. There is no debating that the passing game runs through him and the historical data shows that Rivers loves to target his WR1.
The question will be how healthy is Hilton in 2020 but if he’s on the field, there’s a good chance he bounces back with Rivers under center.
