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For the past few years, everyone has considered DeAndre Hopkins, Odell Beckham Jr. and Julio Jones “must-haves” in fantasy football. Forgotten among the rest, TY Hilton has been one of the best performers in terms of fantasy as well.
In 2018, the Indianapolis Colts' playmaking wide receiver totaled 163 points in ESPN standard leagues. His 163 fantasy points were good enough for 15th best among wide receivers last season. That's pretty impressive considering that Hilton missed two games and was ailing with an ankle injury for the majority of the season.
Currently, Hilton is averaging the 26th pick as a selection in ESPN fantasy drafts. As a result, that puts him as the 10th wide receiver who is coming off of the board. That is not too bad for a wideout who was the most targeted guy (120 targets) in an offense that threw the ball 644 times in 2018 (second-most in the NFL).
Also, having Andrew Luck throw him the ball is a notable detail. As long as Luck is under center, Hilton is consistently one of the most dynamic receivers in the entire NFL. Hilton's speed and route running represent a deadly combo that allows him to terrorize defenses.
So where should you target TY Hilton in the fantasy drafts you will partake in? Again, Hilton is currently being drafted in the range of the 26th to 30th pick in most drafts. That makes him a second or third-round pick in most fantasy leagues.
His current average selection is absolutely warranted, given his potential within the Colts' high-flying offense. Frank Reich wanted to show the world that Luck was healthy last year. Luck should be able to stay healthy again in 2019, given the quality of his offensive line in front of him. Marlon Mack figures to see more touches on the ground, but you're not going to avoid throwing the ball with a high-level quarterback such as Luck.
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Even ESPN believes that Hilton is due for a monster season in fantasy football and for the Colts. Last season, Hilton had 76 catches, 1,270 yards, and six touchdowns. This season, ESPN is projecting the speedy wideout to garner 81 receptions, 1,285 yards, and eight touchdowns.
According to ESPN, his numbers will rise across the board; eight touchdowns would be a career-high for him. In his seven seasons in the league, TY Hilton has finished in the top 27 among wide receivers in fantasy every season. It's not naive to believe that Hilton could crack the top 10 this year.
Health has rarely been an issue for Hilton throughout his career, missing just four games in his seven seasons. Despite his lack of size, the Colts' receiver has shown toughness in the face injuries in his career. Therefore, there is little risk to taking Hilton in your fantasy draft.
The 2019 season is likely going to be a huge one for the eight-year wideout. People should be clamoring for pieces of the Colts' offense in fantasy football, including Hilton, Eric Ebron, Jack Doyle, Luck, and Mack. Also, Devin Funchess could be an interesting sleeper in fantasy this season as well (currently the 61st wide receiver taken in drafts).
All in all, where should TY Hilton be targeted in fantasy drafts? As of now, the second or third round is a perfect place to consider selecting the big-play receiver in Indianapolis.
