Daily Dose: Hasselbeck 2-0
Thursday night’s matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans could have been advertised as “turn back the clock night,” as Matt Hasselbeck led the Colts to a 27-20 victory alongside Frank Gore and Andre Johnson. Hasselbeck, who was drafted when Colts wide receiver Donte Moncrief was five years old, helped Indianapolis record a second-straight win without star quarterback Andrew Luck (shoulder). Hasselbeck focused on T.Y. Hilton and Andre Johnson most in the passing game, with Johnson catching six passes for 77 yards and two scores after not catching a single pass in two consecutive weeks. Colts running back Frank Gore also turned in a productive game, running for 98 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries.
The Houston offense created plenty of intrigue in this game with Ryan Mallett being pulled once again for Brian Hoyer, who threw for 312 yards and two touchdowns in relief. Although Hoyer threw a horrendous interception at the end of the game, he looked solid in his time on the field and could be a bye week option in two quarterback leagues over the next month. Hoyer’s top two targets were Houston’s top two stars, DeAndre Hopkins and Arian Foster. Foster ran for 41 yards on 19 carries, but caught nine passes for 77 yards in a fantastic PPR performance. Foster should be trusted as normal moving forward as he looked fully healthy on Thursday night outside of a brief concussion scare. Hopkins was a monster as usual, catching 11 of 14 targets for 169 yards. Hopkins is now averaging a ridiculous 14 targets per game this season, and has racked up an average of 142.3 receiving yards over his last three games. Hopkins is a locked-in WR1.
Colts and Texans Quick Slants
Donte Moncrief was targeted just three times and caught one pass for three yards. Moncrief should return back to his normal production levels upon Andrew Luck’s return in Week 6. … Rookie Jaelen Strong caught two passes for 53 yards and two touchdowns as the Texans played without both Nate Washington and Cecil Shorts. Strong will continue to work his way up the depth chart as the season progresses. … Not much tight end production in this game, with Dwayne Allen’s 21 yards the leading mark from both teams. … T.Y. Hilton caught five of nine targets for 88 yards on the night.
In Other News…
Marshawn Lynch (hamstring, calf) will be the biggest injury concern of worried fantasy owners on Sunday morning, as Beast Mode attempts to work his way back after missing Week 4. Lynch was “limited” in practice on Thursday, and coach Pete Carroll said “it will take us all the way to the end of the week before we know” in regards to Lynch’s Sunday status. The Cincinnati Bengals are on the Week 5 schedule for Seattle and the Bengals have been stingy against the run in 2015, allowing just 85.8 rushing yards per game, the sixth-best mark in the NFL. If Lynch is unable to suit up, the rushing duties in Seattle’s backfield will go to Thomas Rawls once again, who ran for 48 yards on 17 carries (2.8 ypc) in Week 4 against Detroit. Considering the strength of the Cincinnati defense and the complete debacle that has been the Seattle offensive line so far this season, neither running back is likely to find success on Sunday. Luckily, this is a 1:00 PM game on Sunday, so the fantasy world will have its answer well before lineups lock.
Buffalo is struggling to find healthy running backs at the moment and Rex Ryan is reaching to the lower depths of his depth chart in preparation for Week 5. With LeSean McCoy (hamstring) and Karlos Williams (concussion) likely out, that leaves Anthony Dixon and Boom Herron as the likely recipients of the work in Buffalo’s backfield this week. The Buffalo News stated that they “wouldn’t be surprised” if Herron out-carries Dixon on Sunday, as Dixon is still recovering from a calf injury. This leaves a muddled mess for fantasy purposes, so running back starved teams should grab Herron then Dixon if in need of a long-shot start for Sunday. More news on the anticipated backfield split will hopefully be announced over the weekend.
Steve Smith Sr. (back) has been ruled out for Week 5, leaving the Baltimore Ravens rummaging around at garage sales this weekend in search of wide receiver help. Kamar Aiken is the most likely option to lead the Ravens in receiving this week, but with Smith out and tight end Crockett Gillmore looking doubtful, other lesser-known options like Marlon Brown and the recently acquired Chris Givens could be given healthy target totals this week as well.
Injury Quick Slants
Ben Roethlisberger (knee) has reportedly experienced no setbacks during the rehab process for his injured knee. Roethlisberger will still miss a few more weeks but he should be ready to start somewhere around Week 8. … Alshon Jeffery (hamstring) appears closer to a return to action but was “limited” in practice on Thursday. This feel like a Sunday morning announcement situation, so stay tuned. … Joique Bell (ankle) missed practice on Thursday, as Detroit rookie Ameer Abdullah looks to get a second-straight start with Bell likely out once again. … Tevin Coleman (ribs) practiced in limited fashion on Thursday but will be returning to the Atlanta backfield squarely behind breakout performer Devonta Freeman. … Davante Adams (ankle) didn’t practice on Thursday and is unlikely to play in Week 5, leaving Ty Montgomery to serve as Green Bay’s third wide receiver. … Andre Ellington (knee) practiced in full on Thursday and looks ready to join the Arizona backfield alongside Chris and David Johnson. … Sammy Watkins (calf) was limited in practice on Thursday but his Week 5 playing status is still in question as the Bills prepare for the Tennessee Titans. … DeSean Jackson (hamstring) got in another limited session at practice on Thursday but is still looking doubtful for Week 5. More news on the Washington receiver will likely surface over the weekend. … Crockett Gillmore (calf) did not practice on Thursday and will probably miss Baltimore’s Week 5 contest. Maxx Williams will get more playing time again this week in Gillmore’s absence. … Victor Cruz (calf) will remain out for the foreseeable future and will be reevaluated on Monday. … Stevie Johnson (hamstring) did not practice on Thursday and the San Diego receiving corps is looking mighty thin behind Keenan Allen as Sunday quickly approaches.
