What You Need To Know:

• Hines’ numbers regressed in 2019 alongside a healthier (and busier) Marlon Mack.
• He wasn’t particularly effective or elusive as a pass catcher and lacked reliability with 6 drops.
• The Colts added stud rookie RB Jonathan Taylor in Round 2. Hines still profiles as the lead receiving back, albeit one with a low TD ceiling.

Year 2 regression

Marlon Mack missed 4 games in 2018, helping Hines gather 85-314-2 rushing. He added 63-425-2 on 81 targets.

With Mack missing only 2 games in 2019 — and Hines not proving worthy of a larger role — the latter’s numbers dropped to 52-199-2 rushing; 44-320-0 receiving (58 targets).

At 5’8, 197 pounds, Hines never profiled as a volume rusher. His efficiency last year as a pass catcher just wasn’t adequate, either.

He ranked 10th among 19 RBs with 50+ targets in Pro Football Focus’ yards per route run metric. He added 7.1 yards after catch per reception — 15th among the same sample.

Hines also had 6 drops.

Despite a small stature, the former North Carolina State back has at least made 32 of 32 appearances as a pro.

Year 3 outlook

HC Frank Reich injected some optimism into Hines’ 2020 outlook, saying that he wouldn’t be surprised if Hines posts 10 catches in a game.

OK?

"Philip (Rivers) has an uncanny ability to get the ball to the backs,” Reich added via the Indy Star. “Nyheim will be very much integrated into the game plan, on all three downs. Still enough snaps for him to be very, very productive this year. Very productive.”

Sure, Rivers has a history of feeding receiving backs like Danny Woodhead and Austin Ekeler. But we call BS on the “all 3 downs” part. Stud rookie Jonathan Taylor crushes any hope of that. Plus, there are questions over receiving upside beyond what Hines did in ’19.

The Colts return T.Y. Hilton. He missed a career-high 6 games last season and turns 31 in November, but we’ll bet on a more durable 2020.

Indy als…