Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
As Reggie Wayne owners mourn the loss of one of their prized fantasy football studs, the question begins now in whether or not Darrius Heyward-Bey could be a potential replacement. When looking at what Heyward-Bey did last week in an Indianapolis Colts win against the Denver Broncos, the short answer would be: He’s worth a shot.
Hauling in four catches for 44 yards and a touchdown, Heyward-Bey definitely gave owners a productive night. He also added a 30 yard run off of a reverse. But, can he keep this up?
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Common sense would tell you absolutely not for one big reason: Heyward-Bey has never had the reliable hands that quarterback Andrew Luck looked for in Wayne and continues to look for in T.Y. Hilton. But, Heyward-Bey will get the start and be a clear number two option in the passing game.
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With very good speed still, Heyward-Bey can get behind defensive backs and stretch the field. At this point, it’s whether or not Luck trusts him enough to give him some increased targets. Over his last five games, Heyward-Bey has averaged five targets per contest — of course with Wayne healthy.
Now that he’s going to be more involved, I would like to think he could see anywhere from 6-10 targets per game, with 10 being on the very high end. The Colts still haven’t gotten the production they want out of Trent Richardson and his rushing attack, but will continue giving him opportunities despite his struggles and even some worry over fumbling.
With that said, look at Heyward-Bey as a weaker WR3/Flex spot in leagues 10 teams and over. Don’t you dare pick him up in an eight team league with so many waiver moves being made each week and plenty of guys available. But, any league with 10 or more teams could see some value in a guy like Heyward-Bey.
Ryan Heckman is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ryanmheckman, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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