Mack Attack: Watch Out for this Breakout RB

Marlon Mack made a name for himself last year after the Colts drafted him in the 4th round, showcasing spurts of potential. In fact, in 2017 Mack ranked 3rd in “Breakaway Percentage”, which factors in the ability to turn a basic run into a big play.

With Frank Gore now a Miami Dolphin and the Colts not adding any veteran RBs, look for Mack to be the primary benefactor of the workload left behind. He should be valued as a strong RB3 with the ceiling of a high end RB2.

Mack should benefit significantly from the new offense under Frank Reich, the potential return of Andrew Luck, and the addition of guard Quenton Nelson. Assuming Mack is fully recovered from a labrum injury that he played through in 2017, expect him to finish 2018 with about 260 carries and 1,100 yards. He should also be able to contribute more in the passing game this year, as he only racked up 200 reception yards last year.

Even though Mack averaged only 3.8 yards per carry as a rookie, this stat should be taken with a grain of salt as the entire efficiency of the Colts offense was poor, and the offensive line ranked at the bottom of the league. Gore, as the lead RB, only averaged 3.7 YPC but still finished as fantasy’s RB19, so it’s reasonable to expect a similar finish for Mack in 2018.

With a clear-cut role in 2018, Marlon Mack can build on his success in limited opportunities last year and make the jump to become a reliable, consistent fantasy option.