Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, November 5th @ 4:05 PM ET
Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
Betting Odds: IND -2.5, 44 total via PFF.com
Network: CBS
Writer: Matthew Cava (@cavaM_ on Twitter/X)
Indianapolis Colts
Quarterback
Gardner Minshew (Start if you must, QB2)
The Gardner Minshew-led Colts have lost their last two games, with the most recent defeat to the Saints being a ‘downer’ for him from a fantasy perspective. Compared to his stats from the Browns loss the week prior, while he repeated a two passing TD & one interception outing, he had one carry that went for three yards. Whereas in Week 7, he had three rushes for 29 yards and two scores on the ground. If you are in a QB bind due to the likes of Trevor Lawrence and Jared Goff on their BYE, Minshew could be a viable streaming option.
Running Backs
Zack Moss (Start, FLEX), Jonathan Taylor (Start, RB2)
The Colts backfield should have their way with the Panthers defense this week, as Carolina has allowed the 2nd most fantasy points to opposing RBs this season. Jonathan Taylor is coming off of a 12 for 95 performance against the Saints, and Zack Moss still won’t go away, as he himself ran for 66 yards and a touchdown last week on one less carry than Taylor.
Moss still holds FLEX value at this point, and Taylor can be treated as an RB2 as he continues to get his season going.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
Michael Pittman Jr. (Start, WR3), Josh Downs (Start, FLEX)
The weeks pass, and the sentiment remains; Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs are the two pass-catching options out of Indy that you can insert in your lineups.
After going vocal about his involvement – or lack thereof – Pittman caught eight of 13 targets for 40 yards and a score last week against New Orleans. The Panthers’ defense is actually stingy against WRs this season, allowing the 26th-most fantasy points to the position, but Pittman should remain on pace for a high target share.
Downs himself has been no slouch and is coming off a seven-reception (on nine targets) day for 72 yards against the Saints. Since Week 5, he has averaged 7.2 targets per game, and that number should continue to be the case as he has impressed since then.
As has been the case lately, the Colts TE room is one to avoid for fantasy.
Carolina Panthers
Quarterback
Bryce Young (Sit)
It took seven games, but Bryce Young finally picked up his first NFL win last week against the Texans. He completed 22 of 31 attempts for 235 yards and a touchdown. The matchup this week against the Colts is favorable on paper, but Young is not a recommended streaming option in single-QB leagues. As per FantasyData, Young projects out to be the QB14 on the week with just 14.2 fantasy points scored.
Running Backs
Chuba Hubbard (Start if you must, FLEX), Miles Sanders (Sit)
The Miles Sanders signing has not worked out very well for Carolina this season. In his return from a shoulder injury that kept him out of Week 6 against Miami, Sanders had just two carries for zero yards against Houston last week. It was Chuba Hubbard who turned his 15 touches into 28 scoreless yards, and this should remain Hubbard’s backfield until Sanders can show some consistency.
That being said, even with a plus-matchup here, Sanders can be left on your bench, whereas Hubbard is a start-if-you-must option.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Adam Thielen (Start, WR2), DJ Chark Jr. (Sit), Jonathan Mingo (Sit), Hayden Hurst (Sit)
Adam Thielen continues to be the shining light of the Carolina offense. He commanded another double-digit target share (11) against the Saints, and caught eight passes for 72 scoreless yards; it was his first game without a TD since Week 4. The Colts’ defense just got owned by the Saints’ pass attack – Derek Carr threw for 310 yards and two touchdowns – and so this is another spot for Thielen to thrive.
Jonathan Mingo and DJ Chark Jr. don’t offer much fantasy value of their own at this time.
Tight end Tommy Tremble may have caught a touchdown last week, but both he and Hayden Hurst can be left on your wire.