Colts WR Parris Campbell Jr. slated for breakout season?

Everything seems to be lining up for Colts WR Parris Campbell Jr. to enjoy a breakout season in 2020.

Following the arrival of Philip Rivers, who signed a one-year deal worth $25 million at the start of the offseason, the Indianapolis Colts’ passing game figures to drastically improve in 2020. While there’s no denying that the 38-year-old’s veteran presence will go a long way in helping the cause, fans shouldn’t be overlooking the team’s bolstered wide receiving corps.

In the simplest of terms, the unit is loaded with talent, even though it doesn’t exactly feature high-profile names. There’s no telling which player will end up leading the Colts in receiving this season, and that is a genuinely great problem to have for head coach Frank Reich.

We’re not saying that Parris Campbell Jr. is going to finish as Indy’s top wideout, but the stars are quite literally aligning for him to enjoy a breakout year as a sophomore after injuries derailed the former Buckeye’s rookie season.

For starters, Rivers absolutely loves throwing to slot receivers. There’s a reason Chargers wideout Keenan Allen ranks near the top of the league in targets every season. Campbell obviously isn’t anywhere near the three-time Pro Bowler’s level, but the similarities in their style of play and positioning cannot be understated.

Campbell thrived lining up in the slot at Ohio State — where he tallied 90 receptions for 1,063 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior in 2018 — and the buzz out of Colts training camp suggested that’s where he’ll play the majority of snaps this season.

Furthermore, TY Hilton is back healthy after missing six games in 2019 with two separate leg injuries. Some skeptics might say that his return will eat into Campbell’s target share, but we’d assert that it will only create more exploitable matchups for the former Buckeye.

There’s also the arrival of Michael Pittman Jr., who was nabbed in the second round back in April, to consider. His imposing frame (6-foot-4 and 223 pounds) will command significant attention from opposing secondaries, specifically in the red zone and on third down. Couple the USC product’s physical presence with Hilton’s dynamism and Campbell could be seeing A LOT of one-on-one matchups in the slot.

We haven’t even mentioned the Colts’ stacked running game, which will presumably set up loads of play action opportunities. If we know anything about Rivers, it’s that he loves taking deep shots, and the 23-year-old speedster could be on the receiving end of them more often than originally anticipated.

Campbell is the type of receiver who will only prove to benefit from the firepower surrounding him on offense, and the Colts are flush with dynamic playmakers both on the perimeter and in the backfield. It also helps that one of the most decorated regular season quarterbacks of all time will be throwing his way, too.

Fans in Indianapolis should be bracing for a big season from the second-year wideout.