The Fantasy Greek can’t think of a single reason why the schedulers would have pitted the Colts, with a new rookie quarterback, against the Jaguars, a team that reasonably would have bee expected to struggle. In any case, the good news is rookie Andrew Luck has played better than billed. But for issues passing for touchdowns, Luck could well be a borderline top-five quarterback. The Colts seem to be making the transition form the Manning era to the Luck era well. Believe that if the Colts post the same record in the second half of the season that they posted in the third, they would be 10-6 at seasons end. That record would likely get them into the playoffs. As for he Jaguars, they are likely another year’s draft away from, and another years’ free agency period away from, picking up some key personnel to help turn the team around.
The goal in “Fantasy Football Choices” is to provide you, the fantasy football player, with enough information to make sensible and reasonable choices in setting your line-up this week by reviewing the weekly match-ups and identifying which players are “On the Gridiron,” a “Coach’s Decision,” or “On the Pine.” For many of you, the information provided simply provides affirmation to the decisions you have already made. If you like, skip the fluff, and find your player’s match-up for analysis. We also provide a down & dirtly listing of players listed in each category within the Quick Hits.If you are looking for a waiver wire pick-up, then look for those players still on your waiver wire, and you can read that analysis too.
COLTS (5-3) v. JAGUARS (1-7)
The Jaguars allow the fifth most points in the league to their opponents. The Colts aren’t far behind. Still, the Colts have outscored the Jaguars by slightly better than forty points so far this season. The Thursday night game just seems perfect for Andrew Luck. The Fantasy Greek expects a Colts win this week in prime-time!
ON THE GRIDIRON: With the Jaguars giving up the third most fantasy points to running backs, and the Colts giving up the sixth most fantasy points to running backs, both the Colts Vick Ballard and the Jaguars Rashard Jennings should be on fantasy gridirons this week, as solid RB2s.While the Jaguars looked like their rush defense was beginning to stiffen in the couple of games leading up to Week 9, the Jaguars rush defense regressed and gave up 143 yards rushing and 4 TDs this past weekend to the Lions running backs. While the Jaguars are ranked in the middle of all teams defending the pass, Colts WR Reggie Wayne still makes for a good start. While the Jaguars kept Calvin Johnson out of the end-zone, he totaled 129 quality yards.
COACH’S DECISION: The Jaguars have been allowing slightly better than two hundred fifty yards passing by opposing quarterbacks on average per game. The Colts QB Andrew Luck has slightly better than 2,400 yards passing in the first half of his rookie season. While the match-up is not the greatest, the Jaguars allowing the fourteenth least fantasy points to the position, Luck is poised for a multi-TD game in prime-time. While tight-end Dwayne Allen made for a decent start last week, Allen is a player to avoid even with Coby Fleener still out this week against the No. 1 defense against tight-ends in fantasy football.With the Jaguars still top-five in most fantasy points allowed to opposing defenses and special teams, the Colts DST makes for a solid pick-up and play this week. In the past two games,Blaine Gabbert has thrown for 523 yards, 3 touchdowns on 2 interceptions.Gabbert makes for a decent second quarterback in two quarterback leagues or for fantasy players desperately looking for a QB option in the bye week.Wide-receiver Cecil Shorts makes for a good play against a Colts pass defense allowing the fifth most fantasy points to the position.
ON THE PINE: LaVon Brazil, TY Hilton, and Donnie Avery have all made some noise this season but none have consistent enough to really recommend consistently for a weekly start.. Justin Blackmon caught his first touchdown pass last week. If he can do it again, Blackmon could get onto fantasy football gridirons before the season is out. One day, Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis could be fantasy relevant again. This week, though, he remains a player for the fantasy pine against the defense allowing the second least fantasy points to TEs. The Jaguars DST is not a fantasy option because it’s not making the big plays and it’s giving up too many points to their opponents.
Good luck this week!