Fantasy Football Week 2: Why Owners Must Start Peyton Hillis vs. Colts

Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis had a slow start to the 2011 NFL season.

The Madden 12 cover boy rushed 17 times for just 57 yards and hauled in six catches for 30 yards. He didn't find the end zone and was a part of a Browns offense that gained just 285 yards in a 27-17 Week 1 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Browns had difficulty creating running lanes for Hillis, thanks to breaking in three new starters along the offensive line. Tackle Oniel Cousins and guards Jason Pinkston and Shawn Lauvao have yet to find a rhythm with returning starters Joe Thomas and Alex Mack.

Seeing the line struggle to create holes had to be difficult for fantasy owners who sunk early picks into Hillis. But fear not, Hillis owners, a solution to your problems arrives in Week 2 in the form of the Indianapolis Colts run defense.

In Week 1 against the Houston Texans, the Colts were gashed repeatedly, as they gave up 167 rushing yards. Without star running back Arian Foster, the Texans were still able to put up the fourth-highest rushing total league-wide on Sunday.

Backup running backs Ben Tate (116 yards, one touchdown) and Derrick Ward (39 yards, one touchdown) both had great days against a soft Colts defense that is still reeling from its pasting in Week 1.

While Tate and Ward are nice backs, they aren't as good as Hillis.

Hillis had a disappointing opening week, but he is definitely a must-start this week. In fact, he might have the most favorable matchup of any player in all of fantasy football this week. Expect the Browns to get him going early and keep feeding him all day.

If you own Hillis, you will be the envy of your league this week, as he appears likely to put up big numbers.