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A former 7th round pick out of Hofstra, Marques Colston continues to be vastly overlooked as one of the better wide receivers in the league. He’s recorded 1,000 yards in six of his eight seasons in the league, and also holds the franchise record for touchdown receptions (63). He’s been a consistent target for Drew Brees for years, but at age 31, what should fantasy owners expect from Colston this season?
Positives
Colston plays for the Saints, who love to throw the ball and have one of the best to do it in Brees. That’s pretty positive. I also love how Colston operates out of the slot, serving as a glorified tight end, using his size and terrific route-running ability to get open. And last year, Colston dominated the receiver targets, posting 111, with Lance Moore being the closest with just 54. Outside of tight end Jimmy Graham, Colston is going to get the most looks in an offense that has ranked inside the top-five in passing attempts in every season since 2009. I like his touchdown potential, too. because outside of Graham, no other Saints pass-catcher has the skill-set from up close like Colston. He had a solid 16 red zone looks last year.
Negatives
Obviously, drafting a 31-year old wideout isn’t very exciting. That’s what Colston is like– a guy who comes to work with his hard hat, clocks in, does his job and clocks out. No flash, but production. He has also had multiple knee issues throughout his career. Last year, Colston saw his targets drop below eight per game for only the second time of his career (via FootballGuys), and it makes sense. Brees is the best intermediate passer in football, and last year, he targeted his running backs and tight ends over 60 percent of the time.
Final Verdict
He’s not a sexy name, but Colston is relatively safe. You know what you’re going to get from him, and you’ll gladly take it. 80 catches, 1,000 yards and 6-8 touchdowns is nothing to scoff at. The Saints did lose Darren Sproles and Lance Moore this offseason, and with that, they also have 108 receptions to replace. Colston is still going to have a major role in this offense.
Bye Week: 6
Projected Round: 6th-7th
Auction Value: $6 (via ESPN).
Adam Pfeifer is a lead fantasy sports writer for Rant Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @aPfeiferRS.
