Game Previews: All Fantasy Relevant Players For Week 6

Colts vs. Jets

Colts

Indianapolis faces a make or break point in their season as they travel to MetLife Stadium this Sunday. The Colts have gotten off to a 1-4 start that shows less promise with each passing week. Andrew Luck and Eric Ebron delivered impressive numbers a week and a half ago against the Patriots, but the long layoff has done little to heal the much-injured offense.

Who will Andrew Luck throw too?

Luck was without his two favorite targets a week ago as Jack Doyle was nursing a hip injury and T.Y. Hilton was held out with a hamstring injury. The story repeats this week. Doyle and Hilton remain on the sideline, and Luck’s new option Ebron appeared on the injury report with an impressive four injuries. Nursing shin, quad, ankle, and knee injuries while facing the top ranked defense against tight ends is likely to severely limit the red zone favorite IF he is even active this week. 

Beyond the usual suspects, Nyheim Hines, Chester Rogers, and Ryan Grant have become regular targets over the past six quarters. Hines is a frequent option due to limited time for Luck while Grant has flashed WR2 numbers at times. Offenses can only produce so long without essential personnel, and this is the game that may finally tip Luck’s production.

Who is #25 and why is he in the backfield?

MARLON MACK IS BACK (hopefully). The starting running back has registered a whopping ten carries this season as a hamstring injury dating to the preseason has left him ineligible. While the offensive options in the passing game are limited, this will be the first time this season that every back is available. Hines has commanded the lion’s share of snaps, but Mack should cut into that if his hamstring holds up. Robert Turbin failed to record an attempt in his first game back from suspension, but he has always been a valuable short-yardage option. Jordan Wilkins is likely to see his playing time continue to decrease while Frank Reich balances Mack, Hines, and the two situational backs.

Is the defense in a strong enough position to start?

The Colts’ defense faces a three-week stretch where they may be able to put up decent numbers, but that does not mean they are a recommended play. New York frequently gives the ball away,  and Sam Darnold is looking like a rookie with five starts, promising some upside. However, safety Matthias Farley has been placed on the injured reserve, Denico Autry is out with a hamstring problem, Clayton Geathers remains out, Malik Hooker while available, is nursing a back injury, Margus Hunt is questionable with a knee injury, and star rookie Darius Leonard is questionable with an ankle injury. Hopefully surviving this game with a shot to win the next two weeks, it’s impossible to project well for a starting lineup potentially missing half of its starters.

-Michael Collins

Jets

Can the Jets defense make it two in a row?

The Jets are coming off of an impressive home win against an underwhelming Broncos team. Visiting them in MetLife this week are the Colts, who are riddled with injuries,will be without WR T.Y. Hilton and TE Jack Doyle yet another game. You can consider the Jets D/ST as a fair streaming option this week, though keep in mind they notoriously cannot defend the tight end, and so Eric Ebron may have himself another nice game. Also to note, the LB unit isn’t the fastest, so a pass-catching back such as RB Nyheim Hines may be tough to defend if he gets some open space.

What to do with Robby and Q?

After coming off a three reception, two score game last week – to which he was either on your bench or in your waiver pool – WR Robby Anderson is in the conversation as a WR3/flex option this week. I wouldn’t bet on a repeat statline, but perhaps his outlook is pointing upwards thanks to the o-line protection QB Sam Darnold received last week.

As far as WR Quincy Enunwa goes, I am willing to chalk his goose egg game last week as just a bad day. I mean, he did miss a scoring chance due to a bad call by an endzone referee, but that’s beside the point. Drops aren’t common coming from Q, and so I would look for him to bounce back this week. Similar to Anderson, treat him as nothing more than a WR3/flex play.

Crowell or Powell?

RB Isaiah Crowell is coming off of a franchise-record day on the ground, rushing for 219 yards. Having put in a lot of mileage in the effort, he hasn’t been practicing this week due to an ankle injury. He was seen in practice with his helmet on Friday, however, reports are leaning that he may be a game time decision for the tilt. It’s something to monitor, and if he does suit up, I would consider him an RB2/flex play at best. Fellow RB Bilal Powell, who had a nice game as well vs Denver, his start or sit outlook is predicated on Crowell’s. If Crow’ is out, Powell can be a sneaky flex play, especially in PPR formats against a beat-up Colts defense.

-Matt Cava