Indianapolis Colts @ Minnesota Vikings
Final Score: Vikings 16, Colts 10
Writer: Steven Pintado (@coachstevenp)
Three Up
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Jonathan Taylor — Taylor continues to put up solid numbers and found the end zone once again. While Seth McGowan seeing more work could be concerning, Taylor showed why he remains an elite running back with a strong performance against a tough defense.
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Jordan Mason — The veteran running back returned after missing the last three games and immediately stepped back into an RB1A role in the offense. Mason looked solid despite the extended absence and showed he can still be a valuable contributor in the backfield.
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T.J.Hockenson — Hockenson finished second on the team in targets and scored the Vikings’ only touchdown of the game. He continues to be a reliable option in the passing game, especially when Minnesota needs a playmaker in the red zone.
Three Down
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Daniel Jones — Jones struggled throughout the game, finishing with just 108 passing yards. He committed a costly turnover on a poor throw and took far too many sacks. His inability to move the ball through the air was a major reason the Colts struggled offensively outside of their running game.
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Justin Jefferson — Jefferson finished with seven targets but managed just 44 receiving yards. He has now been held under 50 yards in three of his first five games, raising concerns about his consistency and fantasy production.
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Josh Downs — Downs made virtually no impact on the Colts’ offense despite leading the team with four targets. He continues to be a nonfactor in fantasy football, offering little production or upside in recent weeks.
Indianapolis Colts
Quarterback
Daniel Jones: 13/22, 108 Yards, INT | 4 Carries, 13 Yards
Jones had a very poor outing in this game. He got off to a promising start with a few quick throws to his pass catchers, but things quickly went downhill. Jones struggled to handle the pressure Minnesota brought throughout the evening, causing him to miss his targets frequently. His interception was an especially poor decision, as he threw the ball into heavy traffic with no clear intended receiver. The offensive line didn’t do Jones any favors either, allowing consistent pressure and four sacks, some of which came at critical moments for the offense. While the protection was far from ideal, Jones failed to adjust and make plays when the team needed him most. The Colts’ passing game struggled throughout the night, and Jones was a major reason why the offense couldn’t get anything going through the air.
Running Back
Jonathan Taylor: 18 Carries, 95 Yards, TD| 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 15 Yards
Taylor continues to shine despite playing in a struggling Colts offense. He got off to a fast start with an impressive 38-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Taylor also had a 10-yard reception in the third quarter that nearly turned into a disaster when a defender attempted to rip the ball away, but he managed to maintain possession. With trade rumors surrounding Taylor, it was interesting to see backup Seth McGowan receive more opportunities, including touches in important situations and the red zone. Despite the increased involvement from McGowan, Taylor once again showed why he remains one of the top running backs in fantasy football.
Seth McGowan: 11 Carries, 46 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 2 Yards
The rookie saw an expanded role in this game, which was especially surprising considering the Colts were in a close matchup they were trying to win. McGowan looked solid with his touches, running hard upfield and fighting for every extra yard. He also saw opportunities on third downs and in the red zone, showing that his role was much more than simply giving Taylor a breather. McGowan was splitting some of the backfield workload and making the most of his opportunities. With trade rumors surrounding Taylor, McGowan is becoming an interesting name to monitor in fantasy football, especially if his involvement continues to grow.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Keenan Allen: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 31 Yards
Allen saw just three targets as he was primarily used in the short areas of the field. However, the lack of passing volume limited his opportunities to make a significant impact, resulting in a quiet performance.
Laquon Treadwell: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 19 Yards
Treadwell saw a few opportunities in the first half, primarily catching short passes as the Colts struggled to move the ball through the air. Indianapolis never really looked to push the ball downfield, as the deep passing game didn’t appear to be part of the offensive game plan. This limited Treadwell’s opportunities to make any significant plays, resulting in a quiet performance.
Josh Downs: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 18 Yards
Downs finished with just two receptions, as the Colts’ offense simply didn’t throw the ball enough to give him many opportunities, despite leading the team in targets. His first catch came in the opening quarter on a quick slant route, but he saw a few uncatchable passes afterward. Downs wouldn’t record another reception until the fourth quarter, finishing with another disappointing performance. He has struggled to produce in recent weeks, but it’s difficult to determine whether the issue is his own play or the inconsistent quarterback performance
Drew Ogletree: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 12 Yards
Deion Burks: 1 Target, 1 Receptions, 11 Yards
Mo Alie-Cox: 2 Targets
Will Mallory: 3 Targets
Minnesota Vikings
Quarterback
Kyler Murray: 14/24, 150 Yards, TD | 5 carries, 39 Yards
Murray had a very inconsistent performance in the passing game. The positive was that when Murray had time in the pocket, he was able to make some high-level throws. However, once the pressure started getting to him, Murray struggled with his accuracy and frequently overthrew his receivers. He also had several turnover-worthy throws that nearly resulted in interceptions. Murray did show off his rushing ability, highlighted by a 35-yard run in the fourth quarter where he looked like the classic Murray, using his speed and elusiveness to avoid tackles in the open field. The Colts did a great job creating pressure, which played a major role in limiting Murray’s production through the air. Hopefully, better days are ahead for Murray, as his lack of consistency as a passer will only hurt his fantasy value and the Vikings’ offense moving forward.
Running Back
Jordan Mason: 15 Carries, 68 Yards | 2 Targets
Mason made a solid return to the lineup, leading the Vikings in carries even before Aaron Jones exited with an injury. Mason had several impressive runs throughout the game, including a few gains of around 12 yards. He showed off his physical running style against the Colts, breaking tackles and fighting for extra yardage. Mason also saw a couple of opportunities in the receiving game, but Murray overthrew him on both targets. Overall, it was an encouraging return for Mason, who showed he can handle a significant workload in the backfield. With Jones’ injury status uncertain, Mason could see an even larger role moving forward.
Aaron Jones: 8 Carries, 26 Yards, Fumble | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 0 Yards
Jones saw the first opportunities in the Vikings’ backfield, recording four carries on the team’s opening drive. However, Jones struggled to make much of an impact until the fourth quarter, when he broke off a 17-yard run before suffering an injury. He was seen limping on the sideline shortly afterward and did not return to the game. Even before the injury, Mason had taken over the lead in touches, raising questions about how Minnesota plans to split the backfield workload moving forward. We’ll have to monitor Jones’ injury status, as it could have a significant impact on his role and fantasy value in the coming weeks.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Justin Jefferson: 7 Targets, 4 Receptions, 44 Yards
Jefferson made a few solid catches in this game, but his overall production was disappointing. His best play came on a 21-yard reception, where he ran a sharp post route toward the sideline to create separation. Most of Jefferson’s other opportunities came on short passes that helped move the chains and pick up first downs. Unfortunately, Murray missed Jefferson on several throws that could have led to a much better fantasy performance. Overall, it was a quiet and rather boring outing for Jefferson, who struggled to make a significant impact due to inconsistent quarterback play.
Jordan Addison: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 20 Yards | 1 Carry, 3 Yards
Addison saw all of his touches come in the first half, as he consistently created separation from defenders on a few slant routes. Addison was getting open throughout the game, but Murray’s struggles as a passer limited his opportunities to make a bigger impact. I don’t think Addison was the problem in this matchup, as Murray was simply off his game with several inaccurate throws. Addison’s production could have been better, as he made a 34-yard catch late in the game that was eventually called back due to an penalty.
Jauan Jennings: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 34 Yards
Jennings finally came alive in this game, showing some much-needed production after a quiet start to the season. He made a couple of solid plays, including receptions of 20 and 14 yards. Jennings took a short pass for a key gain that helped set up the go-ahead drive. Overall, it was an encouraging performance for Jennings, who showed he can still make an impact in the passing game when given opportunities.
T.J. Hockenson: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 35 Yards, TD
Hockenson was primarily used on short passes over the middle of the field for Murray early in the game. In the fourth quarter, Hockenson made a big play up the seam, as Murray found him over the middle for a 22-yard gain. His touchdown came on a short drag route, where he showed impressive body control while breaking away from a defender to reach the end zone. Hockenson also had an opportunity to score earlier in the game, but Murray underthrew the pass, giving the defender a chance to make a play on the ball.
Gavin Bartholomew: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 17 Yards
Tai Felton:1 Target
Max Bredeson: 1 Target