Dose: T.Y. Terrific On TNF
After speeding out to a 24-0 first quarter lead, it looked as if the Indianapolis Colts would be continuing the NFL’s streak of Thursday Night blowouts. Thankfully, the Houston Texans had other plans as a healthy diet of Arian Foster and Andre Johnson led the Texans back into the game in the second half. Ultimately, the Andrew Luck to T.Y. Hilton connection was too much, as the duo held off Houston for a 33-28 victory.
T.Y. Hilton was the fantasy star of this contest, as he tallied an impressive 223 receiving yards to go with a touchdown as he caught all nine passes Andrew Luck threw in his direction. The score was Hilton’s first of the season, but this burner has proved to be extremely consistent in 2014. Over Indianapolis’ last four games, Hilton has stacked up a minimum of 80 receiving yards in each contest, which is a mark that Hilton topped only five times total in 2013. Hilton can safely be trusted as a fantasy WR2 while he continues his stellar play as Andrew Luck’s top receiving option.
Andrew Luck (370 yards and three touchdowns) was great yet again on Thursday Night, and is now averaging 331 passing yards per game in 2014. Luck has been producing fantasy points at an insane rate this season, and if that isn’t quite enough, go check out Indianapolis’ schedule during the homestretch of the fantasy season. Meetings with Jacksonville, Washington, Cleveland, Houston, and Dallas await Luck and the Colts in Weeks 12-16, so the Indianapolis quarterback could be a key factor in deciding fantasy titles this winter.
On a short week, Arian Foster turned in another fantastic performance as he glided his way to 141 total yards and two touchdowns on the night. Foster has made incredible progress in recovering from his hamstring injury, and now has four 100+ yard performances on the young season. Foster is a monster when he is healthy, and he hasn’t experienced any setbacks with his hamstring over the last two weeks. This all adds up to Foster being an unquestioned top fantasy running back play next week as the Texans now have ten days off before playing on Monday Night Football in Week 7. Saddle up.
Colts at Texans News and Notes
Andre Johnson finally recorded his first 2014 touchdown as he caught seven of 12 targets for 99 yards. It was encouraging to see Johnson this involved in Houston’s offense as DeAndre Hopkins had seemingly become the top receiving option for Ryan Fitzpatrick in recent games. Both Johnson and Hopkins will occupy WR2 territory in Week 7. … Trent Richardson received 17 touches to Ahmad Bradshaw’s 14 on Thursday, but it was Bradshaw who predictably led in production. Richardson’s fantasy fortunes are strictly dependent on short yardage touchdown plunges at this point, while Bradshaw continues to be the most dynamic “real life” and fantasy option. … Dwayne Allen caught three of seven targets for 49 yards, as he continues to be a mid-level tight end option who is capable of scoring any week in Andrew Luck’s offense. … The tight end position was largely ignored again in Houston on Thursday, as Garrett Graham and rookie C.J. Fiedorowicz recorded one total catch on two targets.
In Other News…
Detroit running back Joique Bell (concussion) could be receiving a beefy workload this week as Detroit takes on Minnesota. It appears that Bell will be ready to play on Sunday after being listed as a full participant in Thursday’s practice and with Reggie Bush (ankle) a non-participant on Thursday, the Lions could be looking to Bell to lead their ground game. The matchup with Minnesota is decent, but the idea of having a monopoly on the receptions out of Detroit’s backfield is enticing for fantasy owners, as Matthew Stafford has targeted the Bush/Bell duo more than eight times per game so far in 2014.
In somewhat surprising news, San Diego running back Ryan Mathews has yet to resume running, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. With this news, Week 5 darling Branden Oliver may now have a longer leash than anticipated as he attempts to build off his impressive 182 yard, two touchdown performance from last Sunday. San Diego’s Week 6 matchup against the buttery soft Oakland Raiders defense is a perfect spot for more Oliver awesomeness, as Oakland is coughing up 158.3 rushing yards per game this season (2nd worst in the NFL).
Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com expects the Broncos to give Ronnie Hillman roughly 50-55% of the running back carries on Sunday. Hillman, who got the majority of the work in Week 5 after Montee Ball’s departure, still looks like the safest fantasy bet in this reshaped backfield but C.J. Anderson and Juwan Thompson could also mix in as Denver travels to face the New York Jets this week. Hillman is up for flex consideration while Anderson and Thompson are decent bench options as we wait to see the official workload split.
On Thursday, Minnesota OC Norv Turner said the Vikings are “anxious” to get speedy wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson more involved in their offense. Any amount of involvement in Week 6 will be an improvement, as Patterson has received a mere 13 total touches in Minnesota’s last four games with a whopping one carry out of the backfield. Patterson doesn’t need ten targets per game but is best suited for a role as a dynamic offensive option in the same style that Seattle utilizes Percy Harvin. Hopefully Turner’s words mean Patterson’s role will expand, although Minnesota faces a stout defensive test on Sunday in the Detroit Lions. Let’s just be thankful Christian Ponder will be on the sidelines for this one.
News and Notes
Bucs coach Lovie Smith told the Tampa Tribune that he is “staying the course” with running back Doug Martin. The Buccaneers back has been anything but a playmaker this season, averaging just 2.5 yards per carry in three games and won’t catch much of a break against Baltimore’s defense this week. … Michael Vick admitted that he wasn’t prepared to play in Sunday’s game, which isn’t shocking after his 8-19 passing performance while replacing Geno Smith. The Jets have seemingly turned everything they touch into a train wreck this season and get more salt in the wound as they face Denver at home this week. Avoid both of these quarterbacks for now. … Bishop Sankey could finally get unleashed this week as the fantasy world’s favorite slug, Shonn Greene (hamstring), did not practice on Thursday. Tennessee coach Ken Whisenhunt seems to be hesitant to hand over the starting role to Sankey but he may have no choice this week and the matchup against Jacksonville is gravy. … Carson Palmer (shoulder) was limited in practice on Thursday and will be leaving for Denver on Friday in order to receive more treatment on his injury. Drew Stanton (concussion) is a dicey bet to play in Week 6 as well, so it could be rookie Logan Thomas under center on Sunday in a nice matchup against Washington. This news is not encouraging for owners of Arizona wide receivers.
Injury Quick Slants
Both Zac Stacy (calf) and Percy Harvin (thigh) missed practice on Thursday, but neither player appears to be in danger of missing Week 6 at this point. … Jordan Reed (hamstring) was limited on Thursday but still plans on playing this Sunday in a solid matchup against Arizona. … Teddy Bridgewater (ankle) was a full participant in Thursday’s practice. He draws the Detroit Lions on Sunday, who allow the least fantasy points per week to opposing quarterbacks. … Vernon Davis (back) was a limited participant in practice on Thursday but seems poised to play in Week 6. He will be a borderline TE1 option if he does suit up. … Carolina coach Ron Rivera wants to see Jonathan Stewart (knee) in practice on Friday and Saturday before declaring him ready for Week 6. Either way, the Carolina backfield will likely be a bland mix of boring backs like Stewart, Darrin Reaves, and Chris Ogbonnaya. I would avoid them unless desperate. … Toby Gerhart (ankle) missed Thursday’s practice in case you needed to be further persuaded to ignore him as a Week 6 option. … Knowshon Moreno (elbow) was limited in practice on Thursday, so keep a close eye on news out of Miami this weekend regarding his Week 6 status. Lamar Miller may get one more crack at a solo running back gig in a decent matchup with Green Bay. … Calvin Johnson (ankle) missed practice on Thursday and thankfully looks like he will end his streak of “decoy” performances this week by sitting out Detroit’s game against Minnesota. Golden Tate will likely take advantage of Megatron’s absence once again. … Eric Decker (hamstring) was limited on Thursday and is still a sketchy option even if active on Sunday after sitting out Week 5. I’d bench him for most other reasonable options. … Jimmy Graham (shoulder) is “doing fine” according to his coach Sean Payton, who is likely just as excited as fantasy owners to see big Jimbo recovering well during the bye week.
