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Mo Alie-Cox

Sleeper beneficiary of Colts reliance on TEs?

Eric Ebron caught 13 TDs last year (plus a rushing score), and everyone agrees that can't happen again. Jack Doyle should be back from injury, and the Colts added a couple of wideouts who could cut into that scoring production. But there's another candidate, one unlikely to be drafted in most fantasy leagues.

Third-year tight end Mo Alie-Cox, an undrafted free agent who didn't even play football in college (he played basketball), got a couple of chances last year as the team's No. 2 tight end. He turned 13 targets into 7 receptions for 133 yards and 2 TDs. And now The Athletic's Stephen Holder thinks Alie-Cox could be a breakout player for the team.

How that's going to happen with Ebron and Doyle as the team's top 2 tight ends isn't exactly clear. Nobody is going to draft Alie-Cox as long as both of those guys are healthy. But Doyle is trying to come back from hip and kidney injuries, so the 29-year-old's health can't be taken for granted. And no team in the league -- with the possible exception of Philadelphia? -- is more likely to have two productive tight ends than Indianapolis.

Led by Ebron's 13, the Colts threw 21 TDs to tight ends last year. Even if you removed Ebron's scores from the equation, only four teams would have thrown more to the position than the Colts.

TEAM TIGHT END PRODUCTION, 2018
TeamYPGNoYardsTD
Indianapolis76.0108121621
Kansas City93.8115150013
Philadelphia98.2155157112
Tampa Bay56.97391111
Oakland69.491111110
Cleveland53.3758538
Seattle37.5516008
Carolina42.3656767
Chicago41.8646687
San Francisco92.69514817
Tennessee50.1678027
Pittsburgh69.98611196
Atlanta49.9857995
Baltimore66.98610715
Cincinnati44.3677085
LA Rams38.6586175
NY Giants58.4799355
NY Jets45.9677355
Washington60.4849665
Dallas44.4687104
Detroit28.8454614
Green Bay57.6819224
Houston46.6617454
Minnesota46.7747474
New Orleans46.2667394
Denver40.6686493
LA Chargers35.4485673
New England47.6547613
Miami24.1393862
Arizona29.7464751
Buffalo32.8565251
Jacksonville33.1595301

The Eagles, with Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert, might have the best tight end duo in the league. But the Colts look like the offense most likely to lead the league in touchdowns by the position.

Realistically, Alie-Cox is most interesting in dynasty formats. Ebron is in the final year of his contract, and Doyle's body might be breaking down. But if you're drafting in one of those 28-round best-ball leagues, a last-round pick on Alie-Cox might not be the worst selection. Could pay off handsomely if he does wind up as one of the team's top 2 at the position.

--Andy Richardson

Fantasy Index