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I’m not a condiment guy when it comes to food. Mustard and relish on my dog? Disgusting. Mayonnaise on my burger? Naw. Let me just savor the meat with egg, mushrooms, grilled onions, lettuce, and tomatoes. I know. I’m a freaking weirdo. Tell me something my wife doesn’t say to me every day. I’m good with dipping my fries in ketchup and fish and chips in clam chowder, though, and hot sauce on my mexican delicacies. Is that cool? Anyways, when it comes to fantasy football, give me all the sauce, especially the hot stuff. I want flips crossing the goal line, hips gyrating in the end zone, and leaps into the stands. I want catches, yards, and first downs. Nyheim Hines provided plenty of sauce on Sunday, scoring two touchdowns on the day. Was this a one squirt occurrence or can we expect a steady flow all season?

Hines is 23 years old, 5′ 9″, and 196 pounds. He played his college ball at NC State and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. In his rookie season, he rushed 85 times for 314 yards with 2 touchdowns while catching 63 passes for 425 yards and 2 touchdowns on 63 targets. Last season, the numbers dropped to 52 rushes for 199 yards and 2 touchdowns with 44 receptions for 320 yards on 58 targets, as Jacoby Brissett was thrust into the starting quarterback role due to the retirement of Andrew Luck. 

Entering this season, Hines was slated for third down and two-minute drive duties. With Phillip Rivers signed to be the new quarterback, that role was going to be a prosperous one. Below are the number of targets that Rivers has given to the running back position over his career.

YEARRB TARGETS
200683
2007105
2008111
200987
2010130
2011165
2012142
2013129
201496
2015171
201691
2017129
2018138
2019174

Back in May, Frank Reich said that “he could even see a game this season in which Nyheim Hines has 10 catches.” 

During Sunday’s game against the Jaguars, Hines not only hauled in 8 of 9 targets for 45 yards and a touchdown, but he had 7 carries for 28 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Three of those carries were in the redzone. If he’s getting money carries, then the sauce is super spicy.

Sunday’s performance by Hines reminded me of what Danny Woodhead used to do for the Chargers back in the day. Woodhead is 5′ 8″ and 200 pounds. In 2013, he carried 106 times for 429 yards and 2 touchdowns while catching 76 of 88 targets for 605 yards and 6 touchdowns. In 2015, he carried 98 times for 336 yards and 3 touchdowns while hauling in 80 of 106 targets for 755 yards and 6 touchdowns. From a fantasy perspective, Woodhead ended as the 12th and 3rd running back in PPR leagues. Ryan Matthews and Melvin Gordon were the starting running backs on those Charger teams. 

Now, in 2013, Frank Reich was the quarterbacks coach for the Chargers. In 2015, he was the offensive coordinator. 

One plus one equals two. 

With the news that Marlon Mack tore his Achilles, the sauce from Hines could be flowing steadily all season long.Â