Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, October 15th, 12:00 PM CDT
Location: EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville
Betting Odds: JAC -6.5, 45.5 total via Odds Shark
Network: Fox
Writer: Steve Bradshaw (@SteveBradshawFF)
Indianapolis Colts
Quarterback
Gardner Minshew (Start, QB2)
Anthony Richardson has looked great so far in his rookie season, but once again, he’s injured. This time, Richardson is out with a shoulder injury, and it’s 100% certain that Gardner Minshew will be stepping in as the starter this week. Although Minshew doesn’t have the same rushing upside as Richardson, he’s a solid real-life quarterback who should be a QB2 in fantasy.
Despite only scoring 11.1 and 13.1 points in his first two games, I have faith that Minshew can finish as a QB2 this week. This is primarily because the Colts are such big underdogs, and they’ll be forced to pass. This should be a game where the Colts trail by quite a large margin, so Minshew will have to throw the ball a ton this game.
Running Backs
Jonathon Taylor (Start, FLEX), Zack Moss (Start, FLEX)
Jonathon Taylor is finally back in action after his contract holdout. After only playing ten snaps in his first game back, I expect Taylor to see an increased workload in Week 6. That said, with how good Zack Moss has looked, it doesn’t make sense for the Colts to throw Taylor in the fire. This will eventually be Taylor’s backfield, but for now, he will split touches with Moss.
Stepping in for Taylor this year, Moss has looked phenomenal. In just four games, Moss is averaging 21.4 PPG. It’s tough to predict how involved Moss will be going forward, but after his 33-point performance last week, it’s impossible to rank him any lower than this. Taylor should see an expanded role in the offense, but there’s no way you can sit Moss with the amount of production he’s provided.
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
Michael Pittman (Start, WR2), Josh Downs (Start, FLEX), Alec Pierce (Sit), Kylen Gransen (Sit), Mo-Alie Cox (Sit)
Michael Pittman had a slight rebound last week, going from 4.5 points in Week 4 to 10.2 in Week 5. This isn’t what we want to see, but what makes Pittman a WR2 in fantasy is his role in the Colts offense. Pittman had seven targets last week, proving once again that he’s a target hog.
While Pittman is still the alpha receiver in this offense, Josh Downs finished week five with a career-high of 15.7 points. The rookie has a great prospect profile and should benefit from the increased passing volume this week. I expect Downs to keep improving as the season progresses, and he’s a solid flex option this week.
Even in a game where there should be an increase in passing yards, I’m benching Alec Pierce, Kylen Gransen, and Mo-Alie Cox. Of the three, the only guy you could argue for is Pierce; however, after the emergence of Downs, Pierce is falling even further down this Colts depth chart. As for Kylen Gransen and Mo-Alie Cox, the tight-end pair hasn’t been fantasy-relevant all year. There’s no reason to start these guys until proven otherwise.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Quarterback
Trevor Lawrence (Start, QB1)
In what has been a rough year for Trevor Lawrence, it was great to see him go out and throw for 315 yards last week. Even though this performance didn’t necessarily translate into fantasy success with 15.7 points, Lawrence looked much better. This game could have been the breakout we were all looking for, but Lawrence was only able to score one touchdown.
I’m not out on Lawrence yet, and right now, he’s still a QB1 for me. The upside is there, and he has all the tools around him. In what should be a dominant win against the Colts, I expect Lawrence and this offense to get back on track.
Running Backs
Travis Etienne Jr. (Start, RB1), Tank Bigsby (Sit)
Travis Etienne has been seeing a ton of volume all year but was finally able to capitalize in week five. Etienne had a breakout game, recording 36.4 points. Not only was Etienne heavily targeted in the passing game with five targets, but he also ran for 136 yards on 5.2 YPC. We all knew the talent was there, and finally, it’s shinned through. In a game where the Jaguars should be able to run the ball in the second half, Etienne is an easy RB1 selection for this week.
Despite being selected in the third round of the NFL Draft, Tank Bigsby hasn’t been fantasy-relevant at all this year. Etienne is the clear bell cow in the Jaguars offense, and Bigsby is set to strict backup duties. There’s no way you can start Bigsby anytime soon, considering he hasn’t seen over 21% of snaps this year.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Calvin Ridley (Start, WR2), Christian Kirk (Start, WR3), Zay Jones (Sit), Evan Engram (Start, TE1)
Calvin Ridley got back on track with 20.6 points last week, and I have him as WR2 facing off the Colts. I don’t love the touchdown upside in what shouldn’t be a shootout, but Ridley has proven to be an extremely talented receiver with a ton of upside every week. I still don’t feel comfortable putting Ridley in that WR1 tier with all the uncertainty in this offense, but I love him as a WR2.
Christian Kirk has thrived since Zay Jones went down, and it looks like Jones still isn’t fully healthy. Kirk finished week five with a 14.4-point performance and heading into week six, this type of production should continue. Right now, it looks like the Jaguars are starting Kirk in two wide receiver sets over Jones, which is a massive deal. Until we see otherwise, Kirk is a locked and loaded WR3.
Zay Jones had an excellent start to the season, but injuries have set him back in his path to fantasy relevance. We’ve seen the upside case with Jones in the first game of the season; he was operating as the WR2 in this offense, leading to a 16.5-point performance. However, after his injury, the Jaguars have decided to lean on Kirk instead.
This may not continue the rest of the season, but heading into Week 6, I’m benching Jones. Jones is on the field, but he played in only 43% of the snaps last week. Although Jones may be technically “healthy,” you shouldn’t be starting him until the Jaguars use him at his full capacity again.
In what’s been a horrendous tight-end landscape, once again, Evan Engram is a bonafide TE1. Engram has commanded eight targets for four weeks straight, which is an incredible feat for a tight end. This consistency in targets has led to Engram averaging 11 PPG this year without scoring a touchdown. Once Lawrence and this offense get rolling, watch out for Engram. He’s an extremely talented player who’s due for a touchdown, and I’m locking him in as my TE1 every week going forward.