What We Saw: Week 6 2018

Colts vs. Jets

Colts

In totally non-Colts fashion, Indianapolis played from behind starting with a pick-six on the second play of the game. Marlon Mack’s inability to catch the ball set the stage for yet another aerial attack from this offense. Injuries have plagued this team since the preseason, and these long efforts produce underwhelming efforts each week. On the one hand, Indianapolis is one of the worst teams in the league, but on the other, a couple of relevant options emerge every game.

Andrew Luck is ironically very unlucky.

The first seven plays of the game for Indianapolis tell everything there is to know about this game. This short sequence included a drop from Chester Rogers, a drop-turned-pick-six on the next play, a 34-yard gain to tight end Mo Alie-Cox, and a throw on the run from Andrew Luck for a 34-yard score to Marcus Johnson.

With T.Y. Hilton and Jack Doyle on the sidelines once again, this offense was short-handed against a Jets secondary that is missing just as many pieces. The result was another 300-yard performance and four scores (good for 16 on the season, second in the league) for Luck despite a trio of interceptions. Rogers led the team in targets, but underwhelmed with just four catches on 10 opportunities – he salvaged FLEX value with a touchdown in the final two minutes. Eric Ebron was again the top receiver for the Colts with 71 yards and a score on seven targets. Catching his league-best (for tight ends) sixth touchdown in as many games, the free agent acquisition pairs incredibly well with Luck.

Marlon Mack showed highs and lows in his first full game.

It’s technically wrong to call Sunday Mack’s debut, but this was effectively his first real game after he was injured against Washington. He started on a low note with the dropped/tipped pass that turned into a pick-six. His role in the passing game was limited, but that was as much matchup as it was Nyheim Hines who was only targeted three times.

Mack impressed on the ground with 89 yards on a dozen carries and a long of 25 yards. The opportunity was limited with Indianapolis needing to score points, but it is clear that he will be the main rusher. Robert Turbin took his first carries of the year, running for less than three yards per carry and losing a fumble. The expectation will be that Mack and Hines control the backfield with Turbin and Jordan Wilkins finding nothing more than situational work. One game is not enough to prove Mack’s role in the offense, but snaps against Buffalo could clear up RB2 vs. FLEX potential moving forward.

The defense is impressive, but injured.

Injuries kept a number of key players on the sideline this week, and it showed against a New York offense that tried to give away the game. The Jets controlled the ball 15 minutes longer than Indianapolis but were outgained by 50 yards. Rookie Darius Leonard tallied 9 tackles in his return from injury as Jabaal Sheard and Jihad Ward each recorded a sack, and Malik Hooker finally broke into the interception column with his first pick of the year. This unit has shown flashes, and a potential meeting with Nathan Peterman last week offers some opportunity, but there is not enough consistency to carry the similar ups and downs from the offense.

-Michael Collins

Jets

Back to back wins at home. A .500 record with a rookie QB anchoring an up and down offense. Just who are the 2018 New York Jets as a team? This win against the Colts was telling for a team who was hit with injuries on both sides of the ball, but the Jets fairly dominated the game moreso than the score showed.

One goes down, and two step up.

WR Quincy Enunwa can’t shake the injury bug, and it’s a shame because he truly is a stout receiver, especially for a rookie like QB Sam Darnold. Q left the game in the second quarter after a tackle and lost fumble combo. It’s been determined he has a high ankle sprain that will sideline him for 3-4 weeks. Realistically, I don’t think the Jets will see him again until after their bye for the New England game. For fantasy purposes, unfortunately he’s now a drop candidate.

With that said, it’s time to grab your stock of WR Terrelle Pryor Sr. and WR Jermaine Kearse. Pryor scored on a bullet TD right on the goal line, his second in as many weeks, and Kearse saw an (obvious) uptick in targets and grabs due to Enunwa departure; nine catches on ten targets for 94 yards. You can look for both receivers to be involved more and more as the weeks go. They are worthy of a roster spot, and WR3/flex consideration with bye weeks underway.

Is that a tight end I see?

The Jets notoriously have not had a reliable TE since Dustin Keller – blast from the past. Can Chris Herndon be the next man up? He only had two targets on the day, but caught both and even hauled in his first touchdown of his career in the process. Darnold seems to be trying to build a rapport with the 6’4” rookie, and could potentially play himself into a streaming role going forward.

Halt the breaks on the run game

After coming off of a franchise-setting game the week before, RB Isaiah Crowell came back down to earth having only racked up 40 yards on 13 rushes. Fellow back Bilal Powell posted 59 yards on 16 attempts. I think you can continue to consider both as RB2/flex plays, though Powell will always have the advantage if you’re in a PPR league.

Create turnovers and reap the benefits

If you took my advice entering the game of considering to stream the Jets D/ST, you’re welcome. The unit scored 17 fantasy points, despite giving up 34 to the Colts offense. On top of three interceptions – one of which went for a pick-6 by CB Morris Claiborne – they also had a fumble recovery. Covering the tight end is still an issue, as Eric Ebron had himself a productive game, but the turnovers and goal line stands led to positive results and ultimately a big win.

-Matt Cava