Colts @ Browns
The Colts defense and special teams did almost all they could to hold their offense in this game by forcing two interceptions, returning a kick for a touchdown, and holding the Browns in check after the Colts offense turned the ball over. Unfortunately for the Colts, they couldn’t overcome two interceptions from Philip Rivers, one being a pick-six, and an intentional grounding penalty that led to a safety. Myles Garrett was able to disrupt Rivers often, and the Colts running game couldn’t get much going. The Browns also had some offensive struggles, with their own running game being held to mostly short gains. Both teams started hot, with five of the first six drives of the game resulting in points, and the second half got off to a crazy start with the Rivers pick-six being immediately followed up by the Colts kick-return touchdown. After that, the game slowed down, as both pass rushes started disrupting the offenses. Ultimately, the Browns made fewer mistakes and were able to put the game away and win 32-23.
Indianapolis Colts
Quarterback
Philip Rivers: 21/33, 243 yards, 2 INTs, 1 sack | 1 carry, -1 yard
Philip Rivers does not look like the answer for the Colts at quarterback. He threw two bad interceptions, one where he blatantly telegraphed a late throw to the flats, and one where he badly hung a pass for the safety to pick off. He also added a safety by getting flagged for intentional grounding in the endzone. He had a few other questionable throws, throwing into what looked to be quadruple coverage once and being fortunate that a few other interceptable passes were dropped. One of his only decent looking passes that went downfield, a long completion to Ashton Dulin, and even on that throw if he’d placed the ball better it probably should have been a long touchdown. Rivers is nothing more than a game-manager at this stage of his career, and as a game-manager that loves to throw interceptions, it seems like there might be better options available to the Colts. There are certainly better options for your fantasy team, and with how he looks this whole passing offense looks like a stay away without Parris Campbell.
Running Backs
Jonathan Taylor: 12 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD | 3 targets, 2 receptions, 17 yards
Nyheim Hines: 3 carries, 8 yards, | 4 targets, 2 receptions, 22 yards
Jordan Wilkins: 1 carry, 1 yard, X TDs
The good news for Jonathan Taylor is that he dominated the backfield touches, including in the red zone, and was able to punch in a short touchdown. Performance-wise he didn’t look great, he’s clearly an athletic talent but he doesn’t seem to have the vision to take advantage of his offensive line yet. I’d bet on him figuring it out but it seems like the belief that he would take over the league once he got the starting job may have been premature. He’s still an easy weekly start, and I would be willing to buy-low if another manager is getting impatient, but temper your expectations for now while Taylor tries to learn the position at the NFL level. Nyheim Hines wasn’t as involved as you’d expect in a game the Colts spent a lot of time trailing in and if he struggles for another week it’s probably time to move on from him in fantasy leagues.
Easy work for @JayT23.
📺 CBS | #INDvsCLE pic.twitter.com/VVPb8RBdOL
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 11, 2020
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
T.Y. Hilton: 10 targets, 6 receptions, 69 yards
Zach Pascal: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 15 yards
Marcus Johnson: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 53 yards
Ashton Dulin: 1 target, 1 reception, 34 yards | 1 carry, 3 yards
Trey Burton: 6 targets, 5 receptions, 33 yards
As Philip Rivers struggled so did his receivers. Marcus Johnson did a nice job to adjust and catch one of Rivers’ few long attempts and probably scores a touchdown if the throw was better. Ashton Dulin similarly made a nice diving catch on a deeper pass, but other than those two plays this passing game was mostly ineffective. It’s nice to see T.Y. Hilton get to double-digit targets, and he could be startable in a better matchup where he’s not seeing Denzel Ward in coverage. Rivers also missed Hilton on what could have been a long completion down the seam. Trey Burton out-targetted Jack Doyle and Mo Allie-Cox combined 5-3.
Ashton Dulin says hello. 👋
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/sM1aLAxqNH
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 11, 2020
Cleveland Browns
Quarterback
Baker Mayfield: 21/37, 247 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, 1 fumble, 1 sack | 2 carries, 17 yards
Baker Mayfield had an alright game and did enough to get the win. He looked comfortable for the first half, tossing two short touchdowns, but in the second half, the Colts started getting to him with their pass rush and it clearly impacted him. He took a few hard hits, briefly entering the concussion tent and also appearing to have the air knocked out of him, and both of his interceptions came as he was being hit.
.@__AWalkJr will take that.
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/8L33twzsE5
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 11, 2020
The Colts are a great defense, and I’m sure it’s hard to throw with a defensive lineman running into you, but Mayfield probably needs to learn to just accept the sack here. He looked comfortable rolling out, especially to his right, and did a good job several times to extend plays with his legs including a nice scramble to convert a third down. Overall a solid game for Mayfield, but there’s still room for improvement and he’s not someone I would start in one-quarterback leagues.
Running Backs
Kareem Hunt: 20 carries, 72 yards | 4 targets, 3 receptions, 21 yards, 1 TD
D’Ernest Johnson: 8 carries, 32 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 4 yards
So much for a split backfield, as Kareem Hunt dominated the touches today. Hunt was mostly contained on the ground but the Browns kept going back to him. His touchdown came on a short pass where he made a pretty nice catch in the back of the end zone.
.@bakermayfield finds @Kareemhunt7 for SIX!
📺: #INDvsCLE on CBS pic.twitter.com/7b77IQNlEq
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 11, 2020
Mayfield does a great job to avoid the sack, and Hunt is able to work his route back to the middle of the field to present his quarterback with a target. Hunt may not be the pure rusher that the injured Nick Chubb is, but his abilities as a receiver and his tight grip on the majority of the backfield touches make Hunt one of the most valuable backs in fantasy until Chubb returns. D’Ernest Johnson converted a long third down to ice the game for the Browns but played a clear sidekick role to Hunt.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Odell Beckham Jr.: 9 targets, 5 receptions, 58 yards | 1 carry, -1 yard | 1/1, 18 yards
Jarvis Landry: 9 targets, 4 receptions, 88 yards
Rashard Higgins: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 31 yards, 1 TD
Austin Hooper: 10 targets, 5 receptions, 57 yards
David Njoku: 1 target, 1 reception, 6 yards
Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry both made some great catches today, but unfortunately, neither was able to turn that into a great fantasy day. Beckham wasn’t able to replicate his incredible touchdown run from last week, getting stuffed for a loss. The Browns also broke out another receiver pass, this time from Beckham, but he ended up checking it down to Austin Hooper. Landry had two really bad drops that kept him from reaching 100 yards, but he sort of made up for it by making several contested catches before the drops. Hooper was the target down the seam on one of Mayfield’s interceptions, and if Mayfield wasn’t hit on the throw leading to the interception Hooper could have had a nice gain on the play. Rashard Higgins caught a touchdown after being inactive earlier this season and looks to have regained the third receiver role.
— Dan Adams (@dadams0323 on Twitter)