Thursday October 9, 2014
Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans

We have had one terrible Thursday night game after another. Not one game has really even been worth watching. Unless of course you have a fantasy player going. Call us crazy, but we believe this week will be different. We have a nice matchup in a battle for first place in the AFC South. There are a few very interesting matchups in this game, the most important may be JJ Watt against a poor Colts’ offensive line. Enough about that though, let’s get to the fantasy implications.

Indianapolis Colts: Key Players

QB Andrew Luck
Luck has been playing like an MVP or at least an All-Pro. He leads the league in both passing yards and passing TDs. He has a nice matchup against the 21st ranked Texans pass defense. As long as the Colts can keep Watt at bay, Luck should have few problems in this one.
Verdict: Start Luck. At this point you’re starting him every single week no matter who he’s playing.

RB Ahmad Bradshaw
Bradshaw has been excellent this season as predicted by yours truly. How could one foretell such an unforeseeable occurrence you ask? It’s quite simple algebra actually. (X+Awful = Bradshaw+Excellent). If anybody hasn’t stopped reading my incoherent rambling yet, X=Trent Richardson. T-Rich is awful, hence why he will not be featured in this article. Bradshaw when healthy has always been very good.
Verdict: Start Bradshaw. He’s been a top five RB to this point. He is a solid RB2 and great flex option. He is beginning to see more touches.

WR Reggie Wayne
The former Hurricane and future Hall of Famer has been revitalized this season. Somewhat shockingly because of the fact that he’s about to turn 36-years-old in a month and he tore his ACL last season. The guy is apparently a genetic freak and even more importantly, he’s Luck’s favorite target.
Verdict: Start Wayne. The wily veteran is a very strong WR3/flex play. Especially against a nice matchup like the Texans.

WR T.Y. Hilton
Hilton has been the Colts’ most dangerous weapon. He is an explosive big play WR and leads the team in receptions. His stats are very close to Wayne’s. The issue with Hilton is, he has not caught a TD yet. He has PPR value, but a few TDs would go a long way to increasing his fantasy value.
Verdict: Start Hilton. He is a nice flex option. Hilton is bound to catch a TD eventually, and his receptions and yards give him nice value.

TE Dwayne Allen
Allen has been excellent in every game, with the exception of Week 2 when he didn’t see a single target. He has caught a TD in every other game. Luck loves utilizing him in the red zone, and it has really translated in to fantasy production. There have not been a whole lot of TEs more consistent this season.
Verdict: Start Allen. He is pretty much a lock to catch four passes for 50 yards and a TD. That’s a solid game as usual.

Houston Texans: Key Players

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick is, how do you say it? Not a very good QB. He has thrown more interceptions than TDs and is not a viable fantasy option.
Verdict: Sit Fitzpatrick. It’s not impossible he has a good game every now and then. Still, he is way too risky a play and a candidate to have a negative points performance.

RB Arian Foster
When healthy, Foster has been close to spectacular. In the three games he was healthy, Foster has averaged 26 carries, 133 yards and a TD on the ground. He’s had some decent PPR value as well. As long as Foster is healthy, he’s a must start. He’s been as good as anyone in the league.
Verdict: Start Foster. The guy has been awesome. He’s an elite RB1 and should be used as such.

WR DeAndre Hopkins
Hopkins has been great this season. Perhaps even the breakout player of the year. He sits just outside the top 10 at the WR position. He is clearly the best WR on the Texans right now.
Verdict: Start Hopkins. He is an excellent play. You can use him as a WR2, or if you have a strong WR corps, he’s a tremendous flex option.

WR Andre Johnson
Another former Hurricane and future Hall of Famer. Unfortunately, he is currently trending in the opposite direction of Wayne. It could be the hold out, injuries, age or the QB. Either way, he has not been great this season and is a WR2 on his own team at this point.
Verdict: Sit Johnson. It’s tough to sit a big name like Johnson and he hasn’t been awful. Nonetheless, there are too many good WRs to start him. He is in the same boat as other aging big name WRs like Larry Fitzgerald.

TE Garrett Graham
Graham has been very disappointing this season. He has not been able to fill the void left by Owen Daniels. Still, the Colts are very bad defending TEs. He is an intriguing play if you’re desperate.
Verdict: Sit Graham. While we can’t tell you to start him, the Colts are the fifth most generous defense when it comes to allowing fantasy points to TEs. Just something to think about.

Predictions

Final Score
Indianapolis: 20
Houston: 21

Best Play
Colts: Andrew Luck
Texans: Arian Foster

Sleeper
Garrett Graham