At PFN, we’ve researched more than 350 fantasy football players, trying to identify which ones are overrated, underrated, and priced right. With that in mind, here is Indianapolis Colts RB Evan Hull’s fantasy outlook for 2023.
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Evan Hull’s 2023 Fantasy Outlook
If you’re reading this, congratulations on being a hardcore fantasy manager — the type of person who leaves no stone unturned. You care about winning, and you’ll read whatever you can get your hands on to come out on top.
Like most people, you know that Evan Hull has almost no shot at securing fantasy relevance in 2023. But unlike most people, you’re a couple of minutes away from understanding the four factors that could make Hull not only rosterable but a true fantasy asset.
First, let’s toss out the idea that Hull is irrelevant because of his draft position. Yes, he was taken near the end of the fifth round — the 12th of 18 RBs selected.
But in recent years, plenty of late-round running backs have made noise in the NFL, including Tyler Allgeier (2022 fifth-rounder), Isiah Pacheco (2022 seventh-rounder), and Elijah Mitchell (2021 sixth-rounder). Others, like Kenneth Gainwell and Eno Benjamin, have flashed on occasion.
Second, he is a powerful runner with bell-cow experience who excels in the receiving game. In fact, he caught 88 passes in his last two collegiate campaigns. Whether or not Hull is “NFL-ready,” he possesses a diverse enough skill set to capitalize if he gets the opportunity.
Third, the only other guys running behind all-world RB Jonathan Taylor (assuming he doesn’t get traded) are Zack Moss and Deon Jackson. While Moss has improved as a rusher in the past two years, it remains unclear if he could handle a full load if Taylor got hurt or is not with the team in 2023. And while Jackson is a great UDFA story with terrific hands, his rushing prowess is still lacking.
So there’s at least a reasonable chance that Hull could leapfrog Jackson at some point, giving him a potential leg up on Moss in the receiving game if Taylor goes down. A long shot? Sure. But there’s a visible path here, and that matters when we’re talking about the all-important RB position, where No. 3 and even No. 4 RBs sometimes become fantasy heroes.
Finally, the elephant in the room: Taylor’s ongoing trade request combined with his durability. After dominating touches in the second half of the 2021 season, he missed six contests in 2022 and missed all but two snaps in a seventh game. He’s entering the final year of his rookie deal.
The Colts could play this in a number of ways. If they believe the 24-year-old will be integral to their near-term resurgence (2024 and 2025, in particular), then they might retain him and manage his reps better this season in an attempt to prolong his career.
Or, they could opt to run him into the ground if Taylor can’t find a trade partner. He’s earned 450 touches (including 403 carries) in his last 19 full games. That’s an extraordinarily high workload. Historically, that’s rarely sustainable.
If Taylor collects 20+ touches per game to begin the season, it could be a sign that Indy has almost no plans to sign him to a long-term deal and will make one big push for relevance while riding their bell cow.
But if the Colts ease up just a bit on Taylor – or he’s traded – there should be a greater role for Moss and/or Jackson and/or Hull. Even with the run-happy Anthony Richardson under center, Indy should find opportunities for 5-7 touches per game elsewhere.
Depending on how quickly Hull develops, he’s got at least an outside shot at contributing. And given his assets in the passing game, he could be a sneaky end-of-bench fantasy guy with a slim chance at meaningful production.