NFL Week 11: Who's Hot, Who's Not in the AFC South

It hasn't been the greatest year for the AFC South.

The Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars are a combined 3-16.

The Tennessee Titans have ridden Matt Hasselbeck's surprisingly strong play to a 5-4 record, but they need more from Chris Johnson.

The Houston Texans are the class of the division, but they continue to be ravaged by injuries to star players.

Now here's a look at some individuals getting it done for their team and some who aren't. Here are five "hot" and five "not hot" players entering Week 11. 

Hot: Arian Foster, Houston Texans

Since returning form a hamstring injury, Arian Foster has been spectacular.

When star receiver Andre Johnson went down with a hamstring injury of his own, the Texans turned to Foster and backup Ben Tate to carry the load.

Over the past four weeks, Foster has racked up 435 rushing yards, 259 yards receiving and six total touchdowns.

Now, as Johnson nears his return, the Texans have lost quarterback Matt Schaub and figure to continue their run-heavy attack.

Foster makes the "hot" list because he has been virtually unstoppable.

Hot: Brian Cushing, Houston Texans

Brian Cushing is leading the underrated Houston defense.

Many doubted the Texans defense after Mario Williams went down with a season-ending pectoral injury, but Cushing has kept this unit strong.

Over the past three games, Cushing has 22 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions.

Hot: Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans

Could Chris Johnson finally be back?

After a horrific first half of the season, he is starting to show signs of life.

In Week 9, Johnson rushed for 64 yards and gained 46 more as a receiver. A 110-yard performance against a solid Cincinnati defense gave some reason for hope, but it would take a lot more to justify his enormous new contract.

Johnson followed it up with a strong showing in Week 10. He rushed for 130 yards and scored his second touchdown of the year. Johnson also added another 44 yards through the air.

Johnson is finally starting to look like CJ2K again, but he has more work to do before we can declare that he's all the way back.

Hot: Jeremy Mincey, Jacksonville Jaguars

Jeremy Mincey, a former sixth-round pick of the New England Patriots, is starting to make his mark on the NFL.

Over his last three games, the defensive end has 11 tackles, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

Mincey is not exactly a household name, but he is playing well and earns a spot on the AFC South "hot" list.

Hot: Jacob Tamme, Indianapolis Colts

Dallas Clark had been a major disappointment this season, as he has clearly missed Peyton Manning. Then in Week 9, he suffered a leg injury that has his season in doubt.

Reggie Wayne has not been able to get anything going with the backup quarterbacks, and Pierre Garcon has slipped back into obscurity after two monster games.

This offense needs a consistent receiver, and they are hoping tight end Jacob Tamme can be that guy.

In the Week 10 matchup against Jacksonville, Tamme hauled in six passes for 75 yards.

Unfortunately, the Colts are in a state where one solid performance qualifies a player as "hot."

Not: Mike Thomas, Jacksonville Jaguars

Now on to the "nots."

Jacksonville had high hopes for young receiver Mike Thomas coming into the year. After finishing with 820 yards and four touchdowns in 2010, the third-year man out of Arizona was poised for a break-out season.

Things haven't gone according to plan.

Over the his last three games, Thomas has managed only five catches for 33 yards and no scores.

Blame Thomas or blame the quarterback, but either way he is simply not getting it done.

Not: Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville Jaguars

Now for the man charged with getting the ball to Mike Thomas.

Rookie Blaine Gabbert has had a rough go of it since stepping into the starting lineup.

Over his last three starts, Gabbert is 33/71 passing for a total of 308 yards. He has also thrown three interceptions and only two touchdowns.

Those numbers are bad even for a rookie, which lands Gabbert on the "not hot" list.

Not: Curtis Painter, Indianapolis Colts

Curtis Painter is another struggling AFC South quarterback. He has played so poorly that in Week 10, head coach Jim Caldwell pulled him in favor of Dan Orlovsky.

During Weeks 9 and 10, Painter threw for fewer than 200 total yards with three interceptions and no touchdowns. 

The Indianapolis Colts are a mess, and Curtis Painter is decidedly "not hot."

Not: Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis Colts

This year has been one that the Indianapolis Colts would love to forget. Pass-rush savant Dwight Freeney is no exception.

Over the past five games, Freeney has three tackles and no sacks. In Week 10 Freeney had fewer tackles than center Jeff Saturday and receiver Reggie Wayne.

The offense has the excuse of playing without Peyton Manning, but that doesn't apply to Freeney.

This perennial Pro Bowler is "not hot."

Not: Nate Washington, Tennessee Titans

Nate Washington became Tennsessee's top receiver when Kenny Britt went down with a season-ending knee injury.

Washington turned in a few decent performances, but he hasn't held up as a No. 1 receiver.

He has a mere 11 receptions for 112 yards during the last four games. That easily qualifies any team's No. 1 target for the "not hot" list.

The Titans will try to win with the resurgence of running back Chris Johnson and the emergence of wide receiver Damian Williams.