FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 5/16/2013 8:05am et

Indianapolis Colts RB Vick Ballard is expected to enter training camp as the team's No. 1 running back, but that doesn't mean RB Donald Brown will not also see playing time. Head coach Chuck Pagano sees Ballard as a player who gets stronger as the game wears on, while Brown is considered more of a home run hitter for the offense. "Can Vick be an every-down guy? Yeah. Can Donnie be an every-down guy? Yeah. They are different types of runners and are more than capable on third down, knowing the protections and picking up blitzers and being effective once they get out to catch the football and doing those things out of the backfield," Pagano said. "Vick is a solid, solid guy; Donnie is a home run hitter," Pagano said. "If he gets the edge and hits a crease, he can take it the distance."

Huddle Up: Translating the coach-speak, Ballard will be the every-down back and Brown will be the change-of-pace guy. Brown has flashed some ability in that role, and limiting his touches should help him stay on the field for a full season. Ballard has yet to prove he can deliver a full season of feature-back duties, but right now he's in line for that opportunity and should be ranked as such on fantasy draft boards.

Posted: 12/13/2012 10:37pm et

Indianapolis Colts RB Vick Ballard will continue to see the majority of the workload in Week 15 with RB Donald Brown (knee) now out for the season and RB Delone Carter (ankle) out for two to three weeks. 'About the same,' interim head coach Bruce Arians concurred, 'and as long as he can stay in there he'll stay in there and when he needs to tap out, Mewelde will go in.' Ballard's 562 rushing yards this year ranks fifth among rookie running backs, and he's started the team's last nine games because he's the best package of runner, receiver and pass protector.

Huddle Up: Ballard is coming off an impressive 104 total-yard performance on 20 touches in Week 14, but the challenge is significantly tougher this week with the Colts facing the league's top-ranked fantasy run defense in the Texans.

Posted: 8/22/2012 7:25pm et

Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano praised RB Vick Ballard Wednesday, Aug. 22. 'I think he's ahead of the learning curve,' Pagano said. 'He's doing a great job in the run game and the pass game. The protection stuff is coming around on first down. He's a dynamic runner; he's got make-miss ability. He's strong. He gets extra yards. I don't think you ever see him go backwards. Even after first contact, he's going to make people miss, and he's going to have a lot of yards after contact.'

Huddle Up: Ballard, a fifth-round draft pick out of Mississippi State, leads the Colts in rushing this preseason with 62 yards on 16 attempts, and is making a push to see regular- season playing time along with holdovers Donald Brown and Delone Carter.

Posted: 8/20/2012 11:47am et

Indianapolis Colts RB Vick Ballard received some work with the first-team offense in the team's preseason game Sunday, Aug. 19. Ballard could potentially be in line to receive the bulk of the carries this season.

Huddle Up: The Colts are attempting to transition from the finesse team they were under Peyton Manning to more of a power team, and Donald Brown isn't necessarily the ideal back for that style. Ballard is a nice late-round stash who could wind up paying big dividends.

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:34pm et

Indianapolis Colts RB Vick Ballard impressed the coaching staff with his performance during offseason workouts and will be in the mix for playing time during training camp.

Huddle Up: Who is Vick Ballard? He was the Colts' fifth-round pick this year out of Mississippi State. He rushed for 968 yards and a school-record 19 TDs as a junior, 1189 yards and 10 TDs as a senior. In last year's Music City Bowl he went wild with TD runs of 60 and 72 yards.