Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, November 22nd, at 4:25 PM EST
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
Betting Odds: GB +2.5, 51.5 total via Oddsshark
Network: FOX
Green Bay Packers
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers (Start, QB1)
Aaron Rodgers has been locked in all season, except for Week 6, but especially more so as of late. In the past four games since then, he has averaged 301 passing yards and 3.25 touchdowns through the air. He’s also only been sacked three times that span, which is a key factor in his productivity given the time he has in the pocket. The Colts defense is the toughest unit he’ll face since Tampa Bay Week 6, as they have allowed the fewest fantasy points to the QB position this season. Even so, AR12 is a set and forget QB this week.
Running Backs
Aaron Jones (Start, RB1), Jamaal Williams (Sit)
Since returning Week 9, Aaron Jones has reclaimed the Green Bay backfield. He is out-snapping and out-carrying Jamaal Williams, as expected, but isn’t producing majorly on the ground. His pass game involvement is a saving grace for fantasy owners, as he has ten receptions total in the last two weeks. Even though he hasn’t eclipsed over 100 yards on the ground since Week 2, and faces off against a stout Colts defensive front, Jones is still a locked-in RB1. Williams on the other hand has fallen back into his backup role and is a matchup-dependent option.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Davante Adams (Start, WR1), Marquez-Valdez Scantling (Start, FLEX), Allen Lazard (Start, FLEX), Robert Tonyan (Start, TE2)
Davante Adams has been as reliable as they come this season. He has scored in four straight to the tune of seven total touchdowns in that span. With at least 10 targets in every game since Week 6, look for more of the same against Indianapolis, despite the tougher matchup. The Colts defense has given up the seventh-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this year. Marquez-Valdez Scantling has been on fire himself, expressing big-play ability and finding the end zone three times in the last two weeks. Last week against the Jags was a career-best performance with 149 receiving yards, but don’t expect that against the Colts. This may be the last week you end up being able to start MVS, as Allen Lazard is back. He’s the true WR2 when Adams is healthy, and you can FLEX him this week and hope he becomes a fantasy factor down the stretch.
Tight end Robert Tonyan has been quiet the past two weeks, and overall since Adams has returned. With Lazard back in the fold, things could fade even more for Tonyan. Even then, you’ll want to ride it out with him and hope for a red-zone score simply because the TE landscape is so weak around the league.
Indianapolis Colts
Quarterback
Philip Rivers (Sit)
Philip Rivers is coming off a 301 yard, 1 touchdown performance against the Titans last week, which resulted in a rather surprising win. But Rivers wasn’t the true cause to the W, as the Colts continued to lean on their run game and defense to knock off Tennessee. A repeat stat line likely won’t get it done against the Packers, as the Green Bay defense has given up the fourth-fewest fantasy points to the QB position this season. You can leave Rivers on your league wire.
Running Backs
Nyheim Hines (Start, FLEX), Jonathan Taylor (Sit), Jordan Wilkins (Sit)
As rotating of a backfield as they come, the Indianapolis running backs are all involved in their own rights. Nyheim Hines is the clear hot-hand, and a worthy FLEX option because of his pass-game work. Out of the three runners, Hines has looked the most capable of gaining yards on the ground as well; last week against the Titans he had 70 yards on 12 carries and a rushing touchdown. Rookie Jonathan Taylor has taken a major backseat in recent weeks, seeing his carry share diminish in favor of Hines. I personally wouldn’t be comfortable starting him against Green Bay, even in the plus matchup. The same goes for Jordan Wilkins, who hasn’t produced outside of a Week 8 blowup.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Michael Pittman Jr. (Start, WR3), Zach Pascal (Sit), T.Y. Hilton (Sit), Mo-Alie Cox (), Trey Burton (), Jack Doyle (Sit)
If you were fortunate enough to land Michael Pittman Jr. off the wire this week, you may be in line to reap the benefits of another rookie WR producing the rest of this season. Pittman has had 15 total targets in the last two games and broke the century mark in receiving last week with 101 yards. Time will tell what production he can sustain, but he certainly appears to be trending towards a rapport with Rivers. Both Zach Pascal and T.Y. Hilton (oh how he’s fallen), aren’t viable starting options for the foreseeable future.
The Colts’ tight end room is a weekly crapshoot. With Jack Doyle still in the concussion protocol as of Wednesday, Mo-Alie Cox and Trey Burton still aren’t on the streaming radar this week simply to the fact this Colts offense has trended towards a run-first plan. Not to mention the fact that the Packers defense has given up the fewest amount of fantasy points to tight ends this season.
-Matthew Cava (@cavaM_ Twitter & Reddit)
Does DJ Moore become a sit if Bridgewater is out? I have other options such as Hunt, Chark or Lazard but have been going back and forth on who becomes my flex play this week. (Thomas, Cook and Jefferson are starting). I know little about PJ Walker and what he brings to the table. Love your version of start/sit. It’s far more comprehensive than most.