National Football League
Thursday Night Fantasy Football Preview: Colts at Texans
National Football League

Thursday Night Fantasy Football Preview: Colts at Texans

Published Oct. 9, 2014 2:12 p.m. ET

Could we actually see a close game this Thursday night?

So far, here are the results for the short-rest Thursday games (not Week 1):

That’s a margin of victory of 31.25 points per game. However, home teams are 18-13 (58 percent) since 2012.

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How will all of this impact your fantasy football teams?

Strong plays

Andrew Luck, IND – Luck leads the league in yards (1,617) and passing TDs (14). He’s in must-start mode, no matter the matchup, until Luck starts to cool off, which might take a while.

Arian Foster, HOU – Many fantasy owners were asking me about Foster last Sunday in the FOX Sports live chat. Since he was probable at the time, I advised to start him. Foster would go on to rush for 157 yards and two touchdowns. This season, he’s eclipsed the 100-yard barrier in three out of four starts.

Medium plays

Trent Richardson, IND – The running game seems impossible to predict for the Colts. Richardson has the most rushing attempts (70) out of the other RBs in the stable, yet he has one of the lowest yards per carry (3.4) and fewer yards than teammate, Ahmad Bradshaw. However, with TRich being a possible goal line threat, he’s a good play in deep leagues.

Ahmad Bradshaw, IND – While Richardson has 21 more carries than Bradshaw, there is no doubt who the better back is when it comes to the passing game. Bradshaw has more targets, receptions, yards, and TDs than Richardson. Also, Bradshaw is tied with the team lead with four receiving touchdowns.

Reggie Wayne, IND – Wayne has gone back-to-back games with seven catches. He also has been targeted a total of 20 times in the past two weeks. I have Wayne ranked at WR19 this week. Someone needs to catch those Luck TDs.

T.Y. Hilton, IND – Speaking of touchdown receptions, only Emmanuel Sanders has more receptions than Hilton when it comes to receivers without a TD. He’s been targeted by Luck in the double-digits in four out of five games. If the Colts are scoring points Thursday night, I think Hilton is part of the party.

Andre Johnson, HOU – With Johnson’s 42 targets this season, he is earning 31.3 percent of the Houston quarterback's attention when it comes to the Texans receiving corps. Only Jordy Nelson (34.4) has a higher percentage.

DeAndre Hopkins, HOU – AJ might have more targets, but Hopkins is clearly the playmaker. On 24 catches, Hopkins has 354 yards (14.8 yards per catch) and three touchdowns.

Weak plays

Hakeem Nicks, IND – Only Donte Moncrief and Jack Doyle have fewer receiving yards out of all Colts with a catch this season. If Luck isn’t passing to Wayne, Hilton, or Bradshaw, he looks to his two TE vultures (Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener).

Garrett Graham, HOU – Last week, Graham faced the defense allowing the most touchdowns and fantasy points to opposing tight ends, the Dallas Cowboys. In that game, he caught one pass for three yards. No thanks.

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