Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, January 9th at 1:00 PM ET
Location: NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
Betting Odds: TEN -10, 43 total via Oddsshark
Network: CBS
Tennessee Titans
Quarterback
Ryan Tannehill (Sit)
It is a must-win situation for the Titans, and you can be sure that every healthy player they have will be available. Health is important for a Titans team that has dealt with more injuries than any team in the league. Tennessee will also be looking to rebound from a loss to the Texans earlier in the season. Ryan Tannehill currently sits as the overall QB13 but those numbers are deceiving. He is just the QB20 in points per game and has just two weekly QB1 finishes on the season. He is an ideal option for 2QB leagues but you will want to stay away in other formats.
Running Backs
D’Onta Foreman (Start, RB2), Dontrell Hilliard (Sit)
Titans back D’Onta Foreman exploded last week, finishing with 132 yards on 26 carries, and one score. He was a hammer running the ball, and all signs point to the Titans featuring him again this week in a critical game. Foreman is an afterthought in the passing game, just eight targets on the year, but he has earned 19 or more carries three times in the past five games. This late in the season, Foreman is a player that should be in your lineups.
Dontrell Hilliard also scored last week and finished with nearly 17 fantasy points. Hilliard is a boom or bust option, and maybe a shot in the dark in DFS lineups, but with limited targets and an average of just eight carries per game, his volume leaves something to be desired.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
A.J. Brown (Start, WR2), Chester Rogers (Sit), Anthony Firkster (Sit)
A.J. Brown scored just six fantasy points last week, quite a dud after exploding in Week 16. However, Brown looked healthy and is entering the game as the unquestioned lead receiver in a game the titans want to win to secure a first-round bye. While brown has been somewhat disappointing, you do not want to leave him on your bench. The rest of the Titans receiving corps is a patchwork group, and when combined with Tannehill’s low amount of passing attempts, both Chester Rogers and Anthony Firkster can be avoided, despite some nice games recently.
Houston Texans
Quarterback
Davis Mills (Sit)
Davis Mills was playing good football heading down the stretch, before facing a tough 49ers defense that shut him down. Mills may have earned himself another season as the starter, due to his recent play, but he will be facing the team with the best record in the AFC. There are plenty of better streaming options, and this is a game for his evaluation only.
Running Backs
Rex Burkhead (Sit), Royce Freeman (Sit)
Rex Burkhead came back to earth, after an explosive game in Week 16. With 16 carries for 47 yards, Burkhead had a similar outing to how he has performed all year. However, this week he faces a Titans defense that has been the best in the league defending fantasy running backs. Burkhead will see plenty of carries (15+) and perhaps even find the end-zone but that is far from guaranteed. Early this year he scored just four fantasy points against this defense. It is best to avoid this backfield altogether this week, including Royce Freeman.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
Brandon Cooks (Start, WR2), Nico Collins (Sit), Brevin Jordan (Sit)
It hardly matters who Brandin Cooks is playing each week or who his quarterback is, he just keeps producing. Cooks has finished as a weekly WR1 or WR2 in 53% of his weekly starts, including two of the past three weeks. Cooks has been productive all season but recently he has also scored touchdowns. Expect another solid outing this week, as the Texans will again focus most of its passing attack around the veteran wideout.
Nico Collins is an interesting option this week, another shot-in-the-dark play, who could be featured in the final game of the season. However, I wouldn’t blame you if he was on your bench this week, with many more solid options. At tight end, the Texans have struggled to find a consistent player at the position for several years now, and Brevin Jordan is not a good option this week.
-Marc Salazar (@oldsnake77)