Matt Hasselbeck, T.Y. Hilton's Week 4 Fantasy Outlook After Andrew Luck's Injury

Matt Hasselbeck is expected to take over the reigns of the Indianapolis Colts offense Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars as Andrew Luck recovers from injury. The 40-year-old veteran is a risky fantasy option and represents a downgrade for the weapons around him, especially T.Y. Hilton.

Chris Mortensen of ESPN reported that Luck would miss the team's Week 4 matchup because of a right shoulder injury. It's the first game he's going to miss due to injury. The Colts signed Josh Johnson to provide depth behind Hasselbeck.

Let's dive into the fantasy value for the longtime signal-caller and his top target.

Matt Hasselbeck

The biggest problem with trusting Hasselbeck, even as a low-cost option in daily leagues, is the lack of playing time in recent years. He's taken just 56 regular-season snaps since the start of the 2013 season, when he joined the Colts.

"If necessary, I will be ready to go," he stated while awaiting final word on Luck's status, per Mike Wells of ESPN. That said, it's unlikely he'll go from an infrequently used backup directly into the pass-heavy attack the team usually runs.

Through three weeks, the Colts have attempted 116 passes while rushing just 64 times. Expect those numbers to end up far more even this week as the team attempts to alleviate some pressure from the backup's shoulders.

That should result in a heavier workload for Frank Gore. It doesn't mean he should make a significant jump up the rankings, however. The Jaguars have been solid against the run in the early going, ranking 10th at a shade over 90 yards against per game.

Using a more standard, balanced attack, look for Hasselbeck to finish the day with around 225 yards passing and a touchdown—solid numbers, and potentially enough for the Colts to win the game, but hardly a one-week fantasy star.

T.Y. Hilton

It's always hard to take a player with Hilton's skill set out of the lineup. He possesses game-breaking speed, and all it takes is one big play to create a good fantasy week. That said, it's difficult to envision the Colts taking many shots deep down the field with Hasselbeck under center.

So his value is really tied to a fantasy owner's roster. Teams with a lot of receiver depth should turn to players with a little more stability. If that's not available, then it's not worth taking him out in favor of a different boom-or-bust option. He's already a talented member of that group this week.

That also means it's better to look elsewhere in daily leagues. The chance he provides the necessary bang for the buck is considerably lower with Hasselbeck under center.

Hilton will return to his normal status as a fringe No. 1 fantasy receiver once Luck returns. Until then, there are too many question marks to lean heavily on him to lead you to fantasy glory.