The Facts: Asked if Mack should have a lead on retaining the starting running back position over Jonathan Taylor, HC Frank Reich replied: “There’s definitely inherent respect for the starter returning. And that’s the way I see this. ... I see it as a 1-1 (punch).

Diehards Line: Then Reich added to the intrigue. "The way the league has gone and the way role playing has been elevated in our league, it’s made it prominent," the coach said. "We used to say in San Diego that when we had Danny Woodhead. He was not our starter, he was our ‘role playing’ starter. He played such a significant role. He had 80 catches in a year. You look at a guy like Nyheim Hines. We talk about Marlon and Jonathan, but what about Nyheim? He’s such a good third-down back that he’ll play a prominent (role). In some ways, (Hines) is a starter. He’s a role-playing starter.” As 107.5.com's Ken Bowen noted, for the first time in a while, the Colts have some decisions to make in splitting up the backfield reps. It makes sense to give Mack the early starting nod, and it’s possible he retains that all year long. But Taylor is going to be squarely in the mix to have a key role. As Bowen put it, "You do not draft a running back 41st overall, and one with the resume that Taylor has, and have him relegated to a reserve role throughout his rookie season." And now we know the staff really wants to use Hines in the passing game, so it’s a nightmare for fantasy owners to figure out. And that's exactly what Reich wants in having a deep, versatile backfield.