Fantasy Upside
The hope is that Jack Doyle’s 72 targets from last year will just add in Eric Ebron’s – now a Steeler – 52 targets to make Doyle a legit TE1 in 2020. Doyle has the talent to do that, and he’s been able to produce during the limited periods of time when he’s been the key tight end for the Colts. In 2017, he caught 80 balls for 690 yards and four touchdowns, and he had five touchdowns on 59 receptions the year before. Doyle was injured in 2018, but caught 43 passes for 448 yards and four touchdowns last season in a terrible offense. The addition of Philip Rivers – who has always made excellent use of his talented tight ends – should help Doyle, and could help him finish as a top-10 option at the position.
Fantasy Downside
Doyle just turned 30 and the Colts have used two tight ends regularly in the past, which might mean those 52 vacated targets could be spread around. Additionally, the Colts should be healthier at the wide receiver position after T.Y. Hilton and Parris Campbell missed a combined 15 games in 2019. The team also added Michael Pittman on the outside in the second round of the draft, a big-bodied receiver who could potentially steal away red-zone targets. If the increased talent at other positions gobble up the available targets, Doyle may struggle to improve on his numbers from last season.
2020 Bottom Line
The reward and high floor of Doyle vastly outweighs the risk associated with him in the 14th round of 12-team leagues. For fantasy owners who want to wait on the position, Doyle is an excellent low-cost option who can be a plug-and-play starter with the upside to become a top-10 and possibly even top-5 option at the position. If everything clicks with Rivers and the Colts’ offense as a whole, Doyle could see triple-digit targets again and become a massive steal. If he continues to put up steady, albeit unspectacular numbers, then he’s a quality option at a position of scarcity that won’t cost you much. Doyle should be on a lot of roster this year at such a low cost. According to ADP, he’s the 19th tight end off the board.