Who is Nyheim Hines?
Hines was a fourth-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2018 NFL draft. In his junior season at North Carolina State, Hines lead the ACC in all-purpose yards with 1,265, while averaging 5.6 yards per carry and rushing for 12 touchdowns. According to Playerprofiler.com, the 5-foot-8, 200-pound scat back measures in the 98th percentile in 40-yard dash and 86th percentile in weight-adjusted speed score.
Along with his breakaway speed and rushing prowess, Hines excels at receiving the ball. Over his three years at NC State, Hines caught 89 calls for 933 yards and a touchdown. Having a well-rounded skill set and being versatile are key for fantasy football, and Hines checks all of those boxes.
When is Nyheim Hines being drafted?
According to Fantasypros.com, Hines’ average draft position, or ADP, is just inside the top-50 running backs at RB47 in point per reception formats, or PPR. He is being selected after D’Onta Foreman, who may begin the year on the physically unable to perform list, or PUP list, all of the Green Bay Packers running backs, Jamaal Williams, Aaron Jones and Ty Montgomery, and third string Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb.
Due to a lack of name recognition and poor team play, Nyheim Hines is being majorly overlooked in fantasy drafts, as I would not select any of the aforementioned names ahead of Hines at this time.
Where does Hines fit in Indianapolis?
With Marlon Mack injuring his hamstring in the pre-season opener, the primary running back job is up for grabs. Aside from Mack, other competition includes Jordan Wilkins, a fifth-round pick in 2018, Robert Turbin, who has an ankle injury and is suspended for the first four games of the season, and Christine Michael, who may pose the biggest threat to Hines playing time, although is unproven and volatile.
After analysis, it seems as though Hines is the most talented and versatile back in Indianapolis, which suggests he will see the bulk of targets out of the backfield, while also vying for time on first and second down. Under former Head Coach Chuck Pagano, the Indianapolis Colts targeted their running backs 82 times, with 71 total going to former Colt Frank Gore and the recently injured Marlon Mack, opening plenty of opportunities for Hines to catch balls out of the backfield in 2018.
Why draft Nyheim Hines?
Considering his ADP, drafting Hines is a virtually no risk, high reward situation. He is a perfect depth running back to pick up in PPR formats considering his receiving upside, and his opportunity to take the lead back role with all of the question marks in the Indianapolis backfield. Hines will provide fantasy value in PPR formats no matter how many carries he gets, and fantasy floor will be like former running back C.J. Spiller and the Cincinnati Bengals’ Giovani Bernard.
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