Colts vs. Jets: Picks, Lineup Tips for Daily Fantasy FanDuel, DraftKings

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The Indianapolis Colts may be 3-5, but they're likely a better team than their record indicates. They've had some tough matchups early in the season, and two of their losses were overtime defeats that could have swung the other way (against the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans).

The New York Jets are 2-5, but their wins have been against two of the top teams in the AFC (the Tennessee Titans and Cincinnati Bengals). They're coming off a big win over the Bengals and are aiming to go on a bit of a surprise run.

Even though Indianapolis will be favored when it hosts New York on Thursday night, there's the potential for a competitive matchup to open Week 9. And there should be players on both sides who will have standout fantasy performances.

If you're planning on playing daily fantasy for Thursday's matchup, quite a few players will be strong options. So, who should you try to build a lineup around?

Here's some DFS advice ahead of Thursday's Colts-Jets game.

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It took a while for Michael Carter to get going during his rookie season. But now that he's gotten some NFL experience (and a solid connection with a new quarterback), he's emerging as a strong fantasy option for these middle weeks of the 2021 season.

With rookie quarterback Zach Wilson out due to a right knee injury, Mike White is now leading New York's offense. And he's been leaning heavily on Carter since taking over. In Week 8, Carter had a season-high 24 touches (15 carries and nine receptions) that he turned into 172 total yards and a touchdown.

White is starting again in Week 9, so Carter is somebody who should be started in fantasy. In DFS, he's also a great option to utilize as your captain/MVP, especially because he comes at a more affordable price ($8,600 on DraftKings; $13,000 on FanDuel) than some of the other top options.

If the Jets have a lead, they'll likely run the ball with Carter a lot. If they're trailing (the more likely scenario), then Carter will still get plenty of touches because of his involvement in the passing game. He's a safe play who has the potential to put up some big numbers, regardless of how the game goes for New York.

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T.Y. Hilton has been ruled out for Thursday's game due to a concussion. That means there's no uncertainty regarding who Carson Wentz's top target will be: Michael Pittman Jr.

Pittman ($10,200 on DraftKings; $13,500 on FanDuel) has been a bit inconsistent during his second NFL season, but when he gets targeted a lot, he can put up some big numbers. In Week 8, he had 15 passes come his way, which led to 10 receptions for 86 yards and two touchdowns, his first multi-score game of the year.

With Hilton out, Pittman will again be Indianapolis' No. 1 receiver. He has a good chance of getting into the end zone and racking up some big yardage, so he should be included in DFS lineups. Wentz ($10,800 on DraftKings; $16,500 on FanDuel) is also a strong play, even though he's the more expensive option of the two quarterbacks.

Wentz has been a reliable fantasy option all season, as he's passed for multiple touchdowns each of the past five weeks. Meanwhile, White is unlikely to put up the same big numbers he did in his first NFL start last week. So Wentz is the safer and stronger play, making him the better QB to start in DFS.

Frank Franklin II/Associated Press

It took a while for Michael Carter to get going during his rookie season. But now that he's gotten some NFL experience (and a solid connection with a new quarterback), he's emerging as a strong fantasy option for these middle weeks of the 2021 season.

With rookie quarterback Zach Wilson out due to a right knee injury, Mike White is now leading New York's offense. And he's been leaning heavily on Carter since taking over. In Week 8, Carter had a season-high 24 touches (15 carries and nine receptions) that he turned into 172 total yards and a touchdown.

White is starting again in Week 9, so Carter is somebody who should be started in fantasy. In DFS, he's also a great option to utilize as your captain/MVP, especially because he comes at a more affordable price ($8,600 on DraftKings; $13,000 on FanDuel) than some of the other top options.

If the Jets have a lead, they'll likely run the ball with Carter a lot. If they're trailing (the more likely scenario), then Carter will still get plenty of touches because of his involvement in the passing game. He's a safe play who has the potential to put up some big numbers, regardless of how the game goes for New York.