Donnie

Avery

Damian Williams will move into the starting lineup, with Lavelle Hawkins also playing a bigger role. If those two fail to impress, Avery’s role could expand by mid-season. Avery may be worth a flier in Dynasty leagues, but keep expectations low.

“That’s the idea,” said GM Ryan Grigson. Health issues have derailed the former 33rd overall pick’s career, but Indianapolis has given Avery a chance at a rebirth. Reggie Wayne is locked in at split end and Austin Collie will work the slot in three-wide sets, but there’s a void at flanker with Pierre Garcon off to Washington. The Colts are in rebuilding mode and likely to add another free agent or a rookie to the mix, however, so Avery is looking like nothing more than a late-round fantasy flier right now.

The snakebitten former 33rd overall pick in the draft, Avery racked up 100 receptions for 1,263 yards and eight touchdowns during his first two NFL seasons before tearing his right ACL in August of 2010. Avery did post three catches for 45 yards and a touchdown in Week 17 of 2011, but he did nothing in between. The 28-year-old (in June) is still certainly worth a flier. While brittle and limited physically, Avery runs like the wind when healthy. In addition to visiting the Jets, Avery also drew interest from the Vikings, Bears, and Dolphins.

Avery is just three years removed from back-to-back 500-yard campaigns in St. Louis, but played only 111 snaps for the Titans last season after missing all of 2010 with a torn ACL. He’d be purely a depth signing.

This was Avery’s only production of the season; he was a healthy scratch for much of the year’s second half. Signed to a one-year contract after Kenny Britt’s ACL injury, Avery will be a free agent at season’s end. He should generate some interest as a situational deep threat, but has shown that he doesn’t add enough to be relied upon as an NFL starter.

“We know he has good speed,” Palmer said, “and we are trying to utilize that speed.” Palmer went on to state that Avery has played due to injuries at the position, but “at some point we’re going to have to make a decision one way or the other about whether he’s active or not active.”

Avery has been completely unproductive as a Titan, failing to catch a pass whenever he’s been active. The Titans appear to be moving on. Otherwise, Tennessee’s roster is mostly healthy heading into Sunday’s game.

The speedy Avery has a shot to win a starting job opposite of Reggie Wayne, but will face competition from rookies T.Y. Hilton and LaVon Brazill. GM Ryan Grigson has already admitted that the team is hoping the former second-round pick will step up and replace Pierre Garcon. The young Colts offense figures to struggle this season, so Avery is safe to ignore on draft day.

Avery has generated surprisingly consistent buzz since signing with the Colts in March, but this is a not-so-subtle reminder of his lengthy injury history. It’s not inconceivable that Avery could come into fantasy value if he establishes himself as the Colts’ primary deep threat, but he’s too risky to spend a draft pick on. Avery isn’t among Rotoworld’s Top 100 receivers.

The injury prone fourth-year pro missed Indy’s first two exhibition tilts, but will finally get a chance to showcase his wares following a puff-piece filled offseason. Avery was supposedly entrenched as the No. 3 wideout as recently as last week, but he could find himself surpassed by impressive rookie LaVon Brazill. Avery isn’t worth the hassle in fantasy leagues.