Finally, a good Thursday night game!
The late-week installment of NFL football has been downright awful this season, as the first five games have featured an average point differential of 29 (!).
If there’s any hope for such a dismal affair, it comes this week in a battle for AFC South supremacy between the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans. Thursday nights have been completely hit-or-miss from a fantasy perspective thanks to all the blowouts, but we’re hoping this week provides a bit more normalcy with two teams that are (relatively) evenly matched.
The Colts and Texans have a couple players who should be in your lineup no matter what (read: Andrew Luck, Arian Foster), and a lot more players who are on the fringe between sit and start.
That’s where we come in. Here’s who deserves a starting spot on your roster, and who should be left behind.
SIT
Trent Richardson, Running Back, Colts: It’s time to stop holding your breath on Richardson. Sure, he hasn’t been awful this season. But Ahmad Bradshaw continues to outperform him, both in real life and in fantasy production. Richardson’s only real value lies in the occasional rushing touchdown, and the Texans have allowed just three in five games so far. You can do better.
Hakeem Nicks, Wide Receiver, Colts: Another big name who has underperformed this year. Nicks battles for targets with T.Y. Hilton, Reggie Wayne and even Bradshaw, while Dwayne Allen seems set on stealing all the receiving touchdowns. Nicks scored a couple touchdowns earlier this season, but he’s boom or bust at this point. We’re going with bust.
START
DeAndre Hopkins, Wide Receiver, Texans: Andre Johnson is showing signs of decline, and Hopkins has been more than willing to pick up the slack. He’s scored no less than six fantasy points in every game this season and consistently is among the team leaders in targets. The Colts have been stingy against wide receivers this season, but if cornerback Vontae Davis locks up on Johnson, Hopkins could be in for a big night.
Ahmad Bradshaw, Running Back, Colts: As we mentioned above, Bradshaw has taken over as the most productive back in Indy, and he doesn’t just do it on the ground. The Texans have allowed 50 or more receiving yards to running backs in back-to-back weeks, and the dual-threat Bradshaw is a prime candidate to keep that streak going. He’s worth a flex play or a starting running back spot if you don’t have elite options.
Have a fantasy question for Darren? Send it to him via Twitter at @darren_hartwell.
Photo via Pat Lovell/USA TODAY Sports Images
