Vick

Ballard

At 5'10/219, Ballard’s best assets come between the tackles. He can push the pile, but doesn’t do much in space and is adequate at best in the passing game. Ballard did rack up a hefty 6.2 yards-per-carry average on 193 carries as a senior for the Bulldogs. He projects as a rotational back behind Donald Brown.

Indianapolis’ run blocking was putrid, but Ballard runs with good pad level and did well to keep falling forward. The fifth-round pick out of Mississippi State looks clearly to be ahead of Delone Carter on the Colts’ depth chart. Look for Donald Brown, Ballard, and third-down back Mewelde Moore to open the season as Indianapolis’ top three running backs, playing in a rotation.

Brown is entering camp atop the depth chart, but Carter and Ballard are better fits for new head coach Chuck Pagano’s preferred smash-mouth offense. Carter is going to have to be much better than he was as a rookie, though, and Ballard to play above his head, in order to prove superior options than Brown in terms of gaining yards. This backfield is probably best left avoided in fantasy leagues. Brown is shaping up as a dicey RB3 who will lack in-season job security.

“He’s done a really nice job of picking things up and impressing his teammates,” added Walker. Beat writers noted that Ballard showed promise in minicamp and believe he has a legitimate shot to push Donald Brown and Delone Carter for playing time as a rookie. He’s a player to track in deep leagues over the next month.

That puts him behind Donald Brown, Mewelde Moore and rookie Vick Ballard. Initial depth charts are almost always entirely symbolic, but it’s a certainly a sign Carter hasn’t done much to impress the new coaching staff. Who enters first between Carter and Ballard will be something to monitor in Sunday’s preseason opener.

Ballard has some pop at 5-foot-10 and 219 pounds, but there’s no wiggle to his game and he’s not going to help in the passing attack. While NFL teams aren’t smitten with Ballard’s talent, opportunity can be more than half the battle in fantasy leagues, and there’s plenty of it in Indianapolis’ backfield. Ballard should battle Delone Carter for the team’s primary power back role.

This is merely one reporter’s early opinion, not an official depth chart from the team. After averaging just 3.7 yards per carry and losing three fumbles last season, Carter certainly isn’t guaranteed the power-back role. He’ll have to fight off Ballard through preseason action.

We’ll wait for preseason action to make any bold predictions on Ballard, but Lombardi is certainly high on the fifth-round pick. Lombardi even says he’d draft Ballard onto his fantasy football team, if he played. “Prototypical NFL runner in terms of breaking tackles, yards after contact,” Lombardi described. “He’s a sleeper. I’m not a fantasy guy, but I would play him.”

“He’s doing a great job in the run game and the pass game. The protection stuff is coming around on first down,” said Pagano. “He’s a dynamic runner; he’s got make-miss ability. He’s strong. He gets extra yards ... So I’m really pleased with his progress to this point.” Ballard’s impressive camp has been one of the primary reasons Rotoworld has yet to buy into Donald Brown as a fantasy starter.

On the Colts’ first play from scrimmage, Brown took a dump pass from Andrew Luck and went 63 yards for a touchdown. That turned out to be his only catch and he proceeded to rush two times for two yards. Meanwhile, second-teamer Delone Carter sustained a rib injury and rookie third-stringer Vick Ballard rushed six times for 28 yards.