Colts vs. Broncos: Latest Odds and Stat Predictions for Top Fantasy Stars

It's win or go home for the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos in their 2015 NFL playoff showdown Sunday, but every yard and point will loom large for bettors and fantasy aficionados. 

Regular-season fantasy football is in the books, but anyone who struggled through poor seasons can right their wrongs by dabbling in postseason fantasy action. With two of the top quarterbacks in football squaring off at Mile High and tons of skill position players to look out for, the Colts and Broncos may put up some of the biggest numbers this divisional weekend. 

The two sides played to a memorable 31-24 Broncos win in the opening weekend of the regular season, but months have passed, and two very different teams will take to the gridiron Sunday afternoon.

Here's a full look at what you need to know for viewing Indianapolis at Denver and a full breakdown of fantasy expectations.

Matchup	Date	Time (ET)	TV	Predicted Winner	Spread
Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos	Jan. 11	4:40 p.m.	CBS	Denver	DEN -7

Player	Team	Projected Stats
QB Peyton Manning	Broncos	300 passing yards, 2 TDs, INT
QB Andrew Luck	Colts	240 passing yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
RB CJ Anderson	Broncos	80 rushing yards, 15 receiving yards, 2 TDs
RB Daniel Herron	Colts	40 rushing yards
WR Demaryius Thomas	Broncos	110 receiving yards, TD
WR T.Y. Hilton	Colts	90 receiving yards, TD
TE Julius Thomas	Broncos	77 receiving yards, TD
TE Coby Fleener	Colts	60 receiving yards, 2 TDs

Note: Odds courtesy of Odds Shark, last updated January 6

Best Fantasy Option: RB C.J. Anderson vs. Colts 

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Is something up with Peyton Manning?

Perhaps it's been simply the Broncos keeping their star quarterback as fresh as possible for another run at the Super Bowl, but Manning certainly hasn't come into the playoffs on fire by any means. Although the Broncos finished 4-1, Manning threw more interceptions (six) than touchdowns (five) in that closeout stretch.

Former coach Tony Dungy had to ponder whether things would return to normalcy for Manning in the playoffs, per his interview with NBC's Dan Patrick via The Indianapolis Star. 

"

"Peyton Manning, something's up here, Tony. Because you know C.J. Anderson has been great," Patrick said. "They've changed their game plan and it feels like it's almost out of necessity (rather) than design here. Is there something more with Peyton Manning not being healthy and his arm?"

"You get down to the final eight, final four, Super Bowl, they're going to have to throw to win," he said.

"

One player on the Broncos offense there is no problem with is C.J. Anderson.

With injuries rattling Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman throughout 2014, Anderson has remained a dangerous threat. He finished with at least 80 yards in each of his last three games and racked up two three-touchdown games down the stretch.

The Colts secondary has been decent at 12th in the league, but the running game hasn't proved nearly as formidable. They concede 113.4 yards per game on the ground.

Even though Cincinnati fell behind early and all but abandoned the run, the Bengals still carried for over 5.2 yards per rush against the Colts. With so much attention paid to Manning and his plentiful receivers, Anderson could average that and then some.

Worst Fantasy Option: RB Daniel Herron vs. Broncos

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

For once this season, the league's top-ranked passing attack has a running back worth leaning on. But don't be leaning on him into this weekend in quite the unfavorable matchup.

Running back Daniel Herron has proved to be the Colts' best bet this season rushing the ball, especially down the stretch. He notched 56 of his 78 carries on the season throughout the final six games, racking up almost 300 yards in that span.

There hasn't been a more dependable player on offense outside of Andrew Luck in the last several games, as Mike Wells of ESPN noted:

Expecting him to keep that up against Denver's vaunted defense would be bestowing too high of hopes on the second-year back.

For all of the Broncos' success in thwarting opposing quarterbacks, they're even better at sniffing out the run. They rank second in the NFL in rushing yards against per game, conceding just 79.8 yards on the ground.

It wouldn't be shocking to see the Broncos jump out to a sizable early lead, just like they did in Week 1 versus Indianapolis and just like they've done so many times since Manning's arrival. That will leave the Colts airing it out and could have them abandoning the run altogether.

What's more, Herron didn't get hardly any carries in the Wild Card Round win over Cincinnati after a costly fumble that overshadowed an otherwise impressive game. That won't keep him from getting carries, but it could force the Colts to dial back his touches against a ball-hawking defense.