Beat writer Mike Chappell is skeptical that Vick Ballard is the answer to the Colts' running-game woes.

We noticed that Ballard missed the few open holes that his underwhelming offensive line provided last week, and Chappell pointed out that he was "indecisive and slow to the hole." Even in a plus matchup versus the Browns, Ballard is just Rotoworld's No. 27 fantasy back for Week 7.

The Colts will start rookie Vick Ballard at running back in Week 6 against the Jets.

Vick Ballard rushed six times for 11 yards in Indy's Week 5 win over the Packers.

Ballard has rushed at least four times in each of Indianapolis' first four games, but has accumulated a putrid 42 yards on his 21 totes. That, of course, comes out to a horrendous 2.0 yards per carry. Colts starter Donald Brown is a non-factor between the tackles, but Ballard hasn't given any indication he's ready to push him.

Rookie RB Vick Ballard is expected to enter the season as the primary backup to Donald Brown.

Brown will start, but the Colts are expected to rely on a committee approach throughout the season. Ballard has already shown adequate blocking and receiving ability, and NFL Films analyst Greg Cosell opined that the fifth-rounder was clearly the Colts' best runner in preseason action. Ballard is worth stashing at the end of the roster in 12- and 14-team leagues.

Colts rookie RB Vick Ballard rushed seven times for eight yards in Saturday's preseason game against the Redskins.

The Colts' offensive line was manhandled by the Redskins' front seven, providing very little in terms of running lanes. As poor as Ballard's line looks, note that, as a team, the Colts combined for just 51 yards on 26 carries (2.0 YPC). Ballard is up to 23 carries for 70 yards (3.0 YPC) this preseason. He also has an 11-yard reception. With Delone Carter and Mewelde Moore struggling with injuries, Ballard leads the No. 2 running back competition as Week 1 approaches.

Coach Chuck Pagano notes that rookie RB Vick Ballard has been "ahead of the learning curve" in his first training camp.

"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.

Colts rookie RB Vick Ballard rushed 10 times for 34 yards in the team's second preseason game Sunday night against Pittsburgh.

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.

NFL Network's Mike Lombardi stated repeatedly on Inside Training Camp Live Tuesday that rookie Vick Ballard will prove the Colts' best running back option this season.

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."

Colts RBs coach David Walker noted that fifth-round RB Vick Ballard is a "smart kid" who did a "nice job" in offseason practices.

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