What Does Donnie Avery's Injury Mean for Fantasy Owners, Colts?

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Donnie Avery was forced out of Sunday's 59-24 loss to the New England Patriots due to a concussion:

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Colts announce Donnie Avery has a concussion and will not return.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) November 18, 2012

 

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His injury (should it keep him out for an extended period of time) is one that will have marginal effects for the Colts and fantasy football owners. Let's look at the ramifications for each.

Fantasy Football Owners

If Avery is on your fantasy football team, it is hopefully as nothing more than a deep bench player. He has 38 catches for 519 yards and one touchdown on the season.

QB Andrew Luck has targeted Avery 75 times, but targets aren't getting anyone fantasy points. The Colts offense relies on WR Reggie Wayne and the tight-end position for the majority of its workload.

Avery is talented, but he was a bad fantasy play before this injury and is now relatively useless the rest of the season.

If he is on your roster, dump him. 

For the Colts

Avery is a versatile 5'11", 200-pound WR that can give Luck a nice weapon to target. Not having him in the lineup will hurt, but players like T.Y. Hilton and LaVon Brazill are capable of stepping up in his absence.

Are either of them as good as Avery?

No, but Luck is a good enough quarterback to spread the ball around to multiple wideouts in the absence of one of his best. In fact, 15 different Colts have caught passes this season, and six of those players have double-digit receptions.

Avery is a player unafraid to go over the middle of the field and make difficult plays. He is also a guy who has accounted for 25 first-down catches through nine games. Replacing him will not be easy, but Indianapolis has the type of players that can handle the task.

And they will have to, because the Colts need a boost after being blown out by New England.