NFL: How the Colts-Titans Game Impacts Your Fantasy Football Team

Ryan Lester

Dec 10, 2010

The fantasy playoffs are underway in the majority of leagues as the Colts and Titans kicked off the action last night.

Having players go in the Thursday night games gives you a little bit of an advantage. If your players do well, you can perhaps be a little more cautious with your team. If your players failed to put up good numbers, perhaps you will want to take a bigger risk, hoping for a bigger reward to make up for it.

You also get a feel for your matchup depending on how your opponent's players did. Let’s take a look at how fantasy owners will be feeling about their players.

Quarterbacks: If you started Peyton Manning (319 yards, two TDs), which is roughly 99.9 percent of his owners, you are off to a great start. You can’t ask for much more than 300-plus and a pair of scores without a pick. If you went with Kerry Collins (244 yards, three TDs) I want proof. Seriously though, heck of a call. You can’t be happier with your results.

Running Backs: If you went with Chris Johnson (179 total yards, TD), which also is virtually everybody who owns him, you are off and running (pun intended). He came in with a juicy match-up, and he shrugged off his recent slump and delivered when you needed it the most. It does help to have a competent QB. If you rode the Javarris James (49 yards, TD) train, kudos to you. Donald Brown(62 total yards) had just enough total yardage to keep him from being a bust if he was in your lineup.

Wide Receivers: Reggie Wayne (four catches, 106 yards) didn’t help you run away with it, but he gave you a solid start. Pierre Garcon (six catches, 93 yards, two TDs), on the other hand, had a brilliant game. If you own Garcon, you can afford to be a little more cautious with your lineup. Blair White (seven catches, 52 yards) was rock solid for PPR leagues and slightly below average for standard leagues. Nate Washington (three catches, 48 yards), Kenny Britt (four catches, 39 yards), and the receiver formerly known as talented aka Randy Moss (goose egg) put you in a tough spot if you relied on them. You may have to gamble with your lineup because of it.

Tight Ends: Jacob Tamme (four catches, 36 yards) owners are bitter at his lack of production. Meanwhile, if you rolled with Bo Scaife (four catches, 20 yards, two TDs), again I want proof. Seriously though, my hats off to you if he was in your lineup. I’m even more skeptical if you claim that Craig Stevens (three catches, 20 yards, TD) was in your lineup.

Kickers: Adam Vinatieri (21, 28, 47 FG; three PATs) owners are off to a fabulous start. The odds are strong that you won the kicker battle this week. If you used Rob Bironas (four PATs), you’re a little behind the eight-ball.

Defenses: Neither defense fared well in this one. They allowed 28 and 30 points. The Colts forced two turnovers, but did not record a sack. The Titans recorded one sack, but failed to secure a turnover. You may have to gamble to make up some points if you used either defense in your lineup.