Indianapolis Colts tight end Eric Ebron enjoyed what was easily the best year of his career this past season, hauling in 66 receptions for 750 yards and 13 touchdowns en route to a Pro Bowl appearance.
It was a prime example of what a difference a year (and a change of scenery) makes, as in 2017, Ebron was hearing boos from Detroit Lions fans for a litany of dropped passes.
Now, Ebron is one of the best tight ends in football, and as a result, he is a prime Fantasy Football option heading into 2019.
Going into last year, Ebron was a bit of a sleeper, as not many really knew what to expect after he had had such a rough season the year prior, especially on a new team.
However, with Andrew Luck at quarterback and a phenomenal offensive line, Ebron flourished, and you should expect more to the same this coming season.
To be clear, expecting Ebron to register 13 touchdown catches again might be asking for a bit too much, especially considering that the Colts also added wide receiver Devin Funchess to their roster via free agency this offseason, but Ebron will still be a top tight end option in the next tier below Travis Kelce and George Kittle.
It's hard not to like Indianapolis in general right now. The Colts have the quarterback. They have the running back in Marlon Mack. They have a legitimate No. 1 receiver in T.Y. Hilton. They have the aforementioned great line.
The wheels are in motion for Indy, a club that should be a Super Bowl contender in 2019.
At the very least, the Colts should score a lot of points, which should mean ample opportunities for Ebron.
It is important to keep in mind that Hilton is Luck's No. 1 target and that Funchess may take away some of Ebron's touches, so he might not catch around 70 balls this time, but you should still anticipate somewhere in the neighborhood of 55-60 receptions, 700 yards and 10 touchdowns, which makes him a phenomenal option as your No. 1 tight end.
Again, don't be surprised or disappointed if Ebron takes a step back from 2018. Not many tight ends ever have that kind of season, and with the Colts having more weapons and perhaps leaning a bit more on Mack and the ground game in 2019, Ebron simply may not get as many targets, but because he is still such a reliable option and because his 6-foot-4, 255-pound frame makes him a dependable red zone threat (not sure why the Lions didn't utilize him more in that regard), he will remain incredibly productive.
While most will prioritize wide receivers over tight ends (and understandably so), you do have to remember that there are certainly more good wide receivers than there are tight ends, so because Ebron is really good in a much more shallow position, it would not be all that crazy to use an early pick on him if guys like Kelce, Kittle, and Zach Ertz are off the board.
After all, Ebron led all tight ends in touchdowns, was sixth in receptions and fifth in receiving yards this past year, so he is undoubtedly an elite option at that position.