2017 Positional Preview: Wide Receiver

T.Y. Hilton led the NFL in receiving yards last season, but can the rest of the Colts’ wide receivers get him some help in 2017?

According to almost every metric, T.Y Hilton had an incredible year at wide receiver with his 1,448 receiving yards ranking first in the league, and his 15.9 yards per reception also ranking in the top ten. Hilton and Andrew Luck have created a dynamic connection in the passing game connecting for over 1,000 yards in each of the past four seasons and 30 total TD’s since they came into the NFL together in 2012.

Hilton has gained recognition for his high level of performance by being selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the past three seasons. While Hilton is sure to be incredible once again in 2017, the rest of the receiving corps remains a question mark.

Donte Moncrief was beginning to emerge as Luck’s favorite red zone target with 7 touchdowns in 9 games last season, but he was in and out of the lineup all year long due to injury. Moncrief doesn’t have an extensive injury history, and should take another step forward in his fourth year in the NFL.

Phillip Dorsett has yet to live up to his first-round draft selection, but he improved in year two hauling in 33 receptions for 528 yards giving him 16 yards per reception. If he can further develop as a deep threat, him and Hilton could dominate the deep passing game with Luck’s elite arm strength.

Kamar Aiken and Chester Rogers will see a majority of the snaps behind the Colts’ top three receivers. Aiken was nearly a 1,000-yard receiver in 2015 stepping up for a host of Ravens’ injured WR’s. Rogers got to see the field plenty as an undrafted rookie last season gaining 273 yards receiving at 14.4 yards per reception.

This receiving corps is very young with each of their top five wide receivers under the age of 29, but they’ll need to begin to live up to their potential for the passing game to be successful in 2017.