Fantasy Football Week 6: Complete Thursday Night Preview

Tonight is the night.

There have been five straight weeks of NFL blowouts on Thursday night, with the winning teams outscoring the losers a combined 205-60.

In terms of fantasy football, that has basically meant big performances for certain individuals but from one team only.

Thursday evening at Reliant Stadium figures to be a bit different. Both the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans figure to put points on the board, and we will have a competitive game.

That means plenty of points for whoever you have in your lineup Thursday night.

Starting Quarterbacks

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Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck

The first overall pick in the 2012 draft has led his team to the playoffs in each of his first two seasons but has not put up eye-popping numbers in terms of touchdown passes.

Luck threw for 23 scores in both his rookie and second campaigns. After five weeks in 2014, he has already thrown 14 touchdown passes and has run for two scores as well. All told, the third-year signal-caller has totaled 11 rushing touchdowns in 37 games.

In last season’s sweep of the Texans, Luck threw a combined five touchdown passes compared to one interception—this despite being sacked five times in the two contests.

This season, Indianapolis’ rushing attack ranks 16th in the league, while Chuck Pagano’s club owns the top-ranked passing game in the NFL.

Fantasy Prediction: 33-of-40, 402 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT. 3 carries, 19 yards, 1 TD.

Houston Texans: Ryan Fitzpatrick

You see what you get with the well-traveled quarterback. Last season as a member of the Tennessee Titans, Fitzpatrick threw 14 touchdown passes and committed an equal amount of turnovers.

Five games into 2014, the veteran performer has connected for five scores but has been picked off six times. And it is worth noting that Fitzpatrick has had his issues as of late, throwing all six of those interceptions (compared to just two scores) in the last three games.

Then again, the Colts’ iffy defense could provide a little relief.

Fantasy Prediction: 19-of-29, 232 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT. 2 carries, 11 yards, 0 TD.

Running Backs

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Indianapolis Colts Starter: Trent Richardson

We are still waiting for that breakout performance from Richardson, who cost the Colts a first-round pick in 2014 after acquiring him from the Cleveland Browns 13 months ago.

That hasn’t stopped Chuck Pagano and company from giving Richardson the ball. He’s totaled 70 carries for 240 yards and one touchdown this season. He’s also totaled 13 catches for 132 yards but has fumbled twice, losing one of those miscues.

Fantasy Prediction: 15 carries, 61 yards, 0 TD. 2 receptions, 10 yards, 0 TD.

Indianapolis Colts Backup: Ahmad Bradshaw

The two-time Super Bowl champion running back has fit in well with the Colts, who can use all the help they can get when it comes to the position.

Despite having 21 fewer carries than Richardson, Bradshaw actually leads the team with 250 yards rushing. He is also tied for the team lead with four touchdowns, all receptions, courtesy of 18 catches for 151 yards.

Fantasy Prediction: 6 carries, 43 yards, 0 TD. 4 receptions, 43 yards, 1 TD.

Houston Texans Starter: Arian Foster

One of the game’s best workhorse runners remains just that when healthy.

In the team’s first two games this season, Foster totaled 55 carries for 241 yards rushing and a touchdown. After sitting out Week 3 and being limited to six yards on eight carries in the win over the Buffalo Bills, he rebounded with 157 yards rushing and two scores on 23 carries last Sunday.

The Indianapolis defense has had its problems stopping Foster in the past, and this contest should be no exception.

Fantasy Prediction: 26 carries, 129 yards, 2 TD. 3 receptions, 28 yards, 0 TD.

Houston Texans Backup: Alfred Blue

Blue started for Foster in Week 3 vs. the Giants and responded with 78 yards rushing on 13 carries. He’s totaled 143 yards on 39 carries this season but has totaled only three catches. He’ll give Foster a breather on occasion in this matchup, especially coming off a short week.

Fantasy Prediction: 8 carries, 29 yards, 0 TD. 0 receptions.

Wide Receivers

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Indianapolis Colts: Reggie Wayne

The prolific wide receiver missed a big chunk of 2013 due to injury. But Wayne is making up for lost time this year.

The 14-year veteran ranks seventh in NFL history with 1,036 catches and ninth in league annals with 13,950 receiving yards. This season, he’s totaled 30 grabs for a team-high 384 yards but scored just one touchdown. But he’s facing a very familiar foe this week in the Texans.

Fantasy Prediction: 10 receptions, 131 yards, 1 TD.

Indianapolis Colts: T.Y. Hilton

Hilton was part of the team’s terrific offensive draft class that gave the Colts Andrew Luck and tight ends Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener.

This season, the former third-round pick leads Indianapolis with 31 catches, good for 381 yards. But he’s yet to find the end zone after scoring five touchdowns a year ago and then exploding in the 2013 playoffs. Hilton has been targeted 10 or more times in four of the club’s five games this season.

Fantasy Prediction: 7 receptions, 94 yards, 0 TD.

Indianapolis Colts: Hakeem Nicks

The one-time New York Giants’ first-round pick has totaled 15 catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns in his first season with the Colts. But he hasn’t been much of a factor in recent weeks. That could change Thursday night against and up-and-down Texans pass defense.

Fantasy Prediction: 4 receptions, 54 yards, 0 TD.

Indianapolis Colts: Donte Moncrief

The former University of Mississippi product was a third-round pick in May and will eventually become a bigger factor in this attack. Shut out and not targeted last week in the win over the Baltimore Ravens, Moncrief has totaled eight catches for 94 yards in five games this year.

Fantasy Prediction: 1 reception, 6 yards.

Houston Texans: Andre Johnson

Another all-timer who is climbing up the NFL charts, Johnson ranks 11th in NFL history with 954 receptions, and his 12,981 receiving yards puts him 15th in league annals.

However, while Johnson leads the Texans with 27 grabs in 2014, he has yet to reach the 100-yard mark in a game or score a touchdown this season. He’s listed as questionable this week with an ankle injury.

Fantasy Prediction: 7 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TD.

Houston Texans: DeAndre Hopkins

Looking for Johnson’s touchdowns? They seem to winding up in the hands of Hopkins, who leads the club with 354 receiving yards and owns three of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s five scoring passes.

Last year’s first-round pick finished second on the team with 52 catches for 802 yards and two touchdowns. He appears well on his way to surpassing those totals this season, ranking second on the club with 24 catches.

Fantasy Prediction: 5 receptions, 92 yards, 1 TD.

Houston Texans: Damaris Johnson

A waiver pickup from the Philadelphia Eagles, Johnson has totaled five catches for 71 yards and a touchdown this season. But his bigger role comes on special teams, leading the team in both punt and kickoff return yardage.

Fantasy Prediction: 1 receptions, 4 yards, 0 TD.

Houston Texans: Keshawn Martin

A fourth-round draft choice back in 2012, Martin has totaled two catches for 23 yards this season. He’s not missed a game in three NFL seasons and has totaled 34 grabs for 361 yards and three scores in his brief career.

Fantasy Prediction: 0 receptions.

Tight Ends

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Indianapolis Colts Starter: Dwayne Allen

Last season, Allen was injured in the season opener and missed the remainder of 2013. This year, he’s doing what he does best, and that’s reach the end zone. While he’s tied for fourth on the club with 15 catches, he’s tied for the team lead with four touchdowns grabs.

Allen has scored in three consecutive games and four out of five contests in 2014.

Fantasy Prediction: 3 receptions, 30 yards, 1 TD.

Indianapolis Colts Backup: Coby Fleener

Andrew Luck’s former collegiate teammate at Stanford University is off to a respectable start this season. Fleener has totaled just 11 catches for 139 yards but has scored a pair of touchdowns.

Both he and Allen should be able to take advantage of Romeo Crennel’s 3-4 defensive unit, which ranks 21st against the pass in 2014.

Fantasy Prediction: 2 receptions, 34 yards, 0 TD.

Houston Texans Starter: Garrett Graham

Graham has been a somewhat capable replacement for Owen Daniels, who spent the last few seasons battling injuries and was released this offseason.

So far in 2014, Graham’s production has been inconsistent at best. He’s totaled 10 catches for 98 yards in four games this season, but five of those receptions came in Week 3.

A year ago, Graham totaled five touchdown catches in 13 games.

Fantasy Prediction: 3 receptions, 30 yards, 0 TD.

Houston Texans Backup: C.J. Fiedorowicz

The Texans grabbed Fiedorowicz with their first pick in the third round five months ago, but he’s yet to crack the statistical list. He’s been targeted just twice in the four games and does not have a reception yet.

Fantasy Prediction: 0 receptions.

Defense/Special Teams

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Indianapolis Colts Defense/Special Teams

Give credit where it is due. This looks like a much-improved area for Chuck Pagano’s club, at least in terms of fantasy production.

While the Colts remain somewhat vulnerable to the run, the team has produced a dozen sacks and forced 10 turnovers—all without former Pro Bowl outside linebacker Robert Mathis this season.

Given Houston Texans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s penchant for turnovers, this group will have some opportunities. Of course, those chances will be limited if the Colts defense can’t keep Arian Foster off the field.

Fantasy Prediction: 31 points allowed, 2 sacks, 2 INT, 0 FF.

Houston Texans Defense/Special Teams

The big news in Houston has been what defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel has brought to this unit.

During last season’s disastrous campaign, the Texans managed a mere 11 takeaways in 16 contests—the fewest in the NFL. That included a league-low seven interceptions, one fewer than Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman.

Five games in 2014, Houston has forced a dozen turnovers, the best-such mark in the NFL. And Crennel’s defense has already picked off five passes. Add in seven sacks in five games, and this group is always worth a start.

Fantasy Prediction: 28 points allowed, 4 sacks, 2 INT, 1 FF.

Best Sleeper Adds

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A couple of these performers may not be on your team and could be worth adding on Thursday morning. Sometimes a little last-minute shopping can be beneficial.

1. Hakeem Nicks, Wide Receiver, Indianapolis Colts (Owned in 72.7 percent of ESPN leagues)

He’s totaled 15 receptions this season, but that’s only good enough to be ranked tied for fourth on this team. After scoring touchdowns in two of the team’s first three games, Nicks has totaled just five catches for 41 yards the last two weeks.

2. Coby Fleener, Tight End, Indianapolis Colts (Owned in 15.3 percent of ESPN leagues)

Fleener is one of seven Colts to catch at least 10 passes this season, and he has scored twice. Andrew Luck could have a big night against the Texans defense, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see Fleener score his third touchdown of the young season.

3. Garrett Graham, Tight End, Houston Texans (Owned in 3.3 percent of ESPN leagues)

With just 10 receptions in four games, Graham doesn’t appear to be a big threat fantasy-wise. But there are always holes for the tight end when facing a 3-4 defense, so he could be worth considering if your starter (for example, Jimmy Graham or Travis Kelce) is off this week.

Injury Report

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Here is a look at the latest injury report regarding the Colts and Texans, focusing on key performers, courtesy of NFL.com.

Indianapolis Colts
Player		Status
Jack Mewhort	G	Out
Hugh Thornton	G	Out
Arthur Jones	DT	Out
Darius Butler	CB	Out
Jerrell Freeman	LB	Questionable
Bjoern Werner	LB	Probable

Mewhort will be out for the second straight week and last Sunday was replaced at left guard by Lance Louis. This week, Thornton is out with a back injury, meaning the Colts will be down both starting guards. Jones will miss his fourth consecutive game.

Houston Texans
Player		Status
Andre Johnson	WR	Questionable
Ryan Fitzpatrick	QB	Probable
Arian Foster	RB	Probable
Alfred Blue	RB	Probable
J.J. Watt	DE	Probable
Brian Cushing	LB	Probable
Johnathan Joseph	CB	Probable
D.J. Swearinger	S	Probable

The Texans’ injury list is long and distinguished, but the majority of the players listed are probable. Still, Johnson is dealing with an ankle injury, and he and Cushing have not practiced all week. But the vast majority of the group participated in a full practice on Wednesday.

Sit or Start

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We know who the stars are when it comes to this contest. But is there a pivotal player or two who may be on your roster that you can’t decide whether to start or not? Here’s a little help.

RB Trent Richardson (Colts): He leads the team with 85 touches from scrimmage but has totaled just 372 yards and scored just one touchdown. There have been flashes by Richardson, but his performance remains an overall disappointment.

Verdict: Sit

RB Ahmad Bradshaw (Colts): The one-time New York Giants standout offers plenty of versatility and knows his way to the end zone, especially as a pass-catcher. Look for Andrew Luck to get Bradshaw matched up on the Texans linebackers.

Verdict: Start

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (Texans): You lose as much as you get from Fitzpatrick, who turns it over as much as he finds the end zone. He’ll take a backseat to Arian Foster in terms of fantasy impact...again.

Verdict: Sit

WR Andre Johnson (Texans): It’s always hard to sit one of the most productive receivers in NFL history. Johnson has not scored a touchdown in 12 straight games dating back to last season, but that streak ends on Thursday night.

Verdict: Start

Some statistical support provided by Pro-Football-Reference, NFL.com and ESPN.com. Depth chart info provided by Ourlads.