2. Potent Rushing Attack
The Colts’ running game was unstoppable after a sluggish start in 2020.
The Colts made a fairly surprising move when they re-signed free agent Marlon Mack to a one-year contract this offseason. Assuming the former fourth-round pick is fully recovered from Achilles surgery, he could prove to be an absolute steal at just $2 million guaranteed.
After all, he compiled 1,999 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on 4.5 yards per carry over the previous two seasons. While Mack will likely play second fiddle to Jonathan Taylor, he’ll provide tremendous value as a change-of-pace back.
Speaking of Taylor, he was genuinely immaculate down the stretch after a slow start to his rookie campaign. The 2020 second-round pick set a franchise record 253 rushing yards, to go with two touchdowns, in the final game of the year that helped Indy clinch a playoff berth.
In the previous five games, Taylor averaged 97.6 rushing yards on 5.6 yards per carry. When all was said and done, the 22-year-old star finished third in the league in both rushing yards (1,169) and first downs (69), tied for fourth in touchdowns (11), and eighth in yards per carry (5.0).
To put it simply, the former Wisconsin star is well on his way to becoming one of the most complete running backs in the league, which makes it downright scary to think we haven’t even touched on Nyheim Hines yet after he set career-highs across the board as a rusher last season.
It’s well-documented that the 2018 fourth-round is one of the best pass-catching RBs out there, and to think that he’s adding to his game between the tackles leads us to believe that the Colts’ rushing attack could be unstoppable next season with this three-headed committee.