INDIANAPOLIS — This Sunday night, it's a rematch at Arrowhead.
The Indianapolis Colts go back on the road this weekend to visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football in a rematch of last year's Divisional Round playoff victory by the Chiefs.
The Colts are a little banged up at the moment as they brace for their Week 6 bye, so it may affect the availability of some key players, which could, in turn, sway what you might do with the players on your fantasy football roster.
The Chiefs, though, have proven to be an opponent that offenses can have a solid fantasy impact against, as they rank 30th overall in defense (408.5 YPG).
Here's what you might expect from the Colts players on your rosters this week in Kansas City.
*Weekly positional rankings from FantasyPros.com, based on Half-PPR scoring. Ranks as of Thursday morning of game week.
QB Jacoby Brissett
- Last week: 24-of-46 passing (52.2%), 265 yards, 5 carries, 19 yards, 3 total TD, 1 total TO — 27.9 FP
- Last three weeks avg.: 23.0-of-37.0 passing (62.2%), 240.3 yards, 5.0 carries, 16.0 yards, 8 total TD, 3 total TO — 24.6 FP
- FantasyPros Week 5 Position Rank: QB12
- Chiefs vs. QBs: 25th (20.5 FPPG)
Brissett has surprised many outsiders by being one of fantasy's best quarterbacks so far, currently ranking seventh among all quarterbacks through four weeks. He's also the only quarterback in the NFL to throw for multiple touchdowns in each game, and he's tied with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson for the league lead with 10 passing touchdowns.
The Colts are fourth in red zone offense (71.4 percent) and the Kansas City defense is 29th at home in red zone defense (80 percent). All but one of Brissett's touchdowns have come in the red zone, so it looks like he could add another bushel of touchdowns this week.
The Chiefs are ranked tied for 24th in pass plays of 20-plus yards allowed (17), and have surrendered some solid quarterback performances. The Jacksonville Jaguars combined for 350 yards and three touchdowns, and last week Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford went for 291 yards and three scores.
RB Marlon Mack
- Last week: 11 carries, 39 yards (3.5 avg) — 3.9 FP
- Last three weeks avg.: 15.7 carries, 54.7 yards (3.6 avg), 1.3 catches (2.0 targets), 8.7 yards (6.5 avg), 1 total TD — 9.0 FP
- FantasyPros Week 5 Position Rank: RB11
- Chiefs vs. RBs: 23rd (20.0 FPPG)
*Mack has missed the first two days of practice this week with an ankle injury that he suffered in Week 4.
If Mack plays this week then he has strong potential. His own résumé not withstanding, the Chiefs have been gashed by running backs all season, as they rank 31st in run defense (149.8 YPG) and 32nd in rushing yards per carry allowed (5.9 avg). The Jaguars' Leonard Fournette had 17 touches for 94 yards, Josh Jacobs of the Oakland Raiders had 12 touches for 99 yards, the Ravens' Mark Ingram had 20 touches for 135 yards and three touchdowns and last week Kerryon Johnson of the Lions had 28 touches for 157 yards.
If Mack cannot play than it'll likely be a split between Jordan Wilkins and Nyheim Hines, with Wilkins getting the traditional early-down running back looks and Hines occupying most of the passing-down reps. There could perhaps even be some Jonathan Williams mixed in for the first time this season.
WR T.Y. Hilton
- Last week (Week 3): 8 receptions (10 targets), 65 yards (8.1 avg), 1 total TD — 16.5 FP
- Last three weeks avg. (Weeks 1-3): 6.7 receptions (8.3 targets), 65.0 yards (9.8 avg), 4 total TD — 17.8 FP
- FantasyPros Week 5 Position Rank: WR57
- Chiefs vs. WRs: 21st (25.8 FPPG)
*Hilton missed Wednesday's practice this week with a quad injury, but returned for Thursday's practice. He missed Week 4 with the injury.
Hilton's availability is a big question mark after he's been out since the second half of Week 3 with a quad injury. If he plays, he belongs in fantasy lineups, as his stats speak for themselves. If he doesn't, the Colts don't necessarily have one player they rely on in the passing game like they do Hilton.
If Hilton is unable to play, then look for tight ends Jack Doyle and Eric Ebron to be arguably the biggest targets, with receivers Zach Pascal, Chester Rogers, Parris Campbell and Deon Cain getting the rest of the wealth spread to them. This also could be a week where running back Nyheim Hines sees a big chunk of playing time if Mack doesn't play, and especially if the Chiefs form a large deficit over the Colts.
This season against the Chiefs, Jaguars receiver D.J. Chark had four catches for 146 yards and a touchdown while teammate Chris Conley had six catches for 97 yards and another score. Lions receiver Kenny Golladay also had five receptions for 67 yards and a pair of scores just last week.
TEs Eric Ebron and Jack Doyle
- Last week: Ebron — 1 reception (5 targets), 48 yards (48.0 avg), 1 total TD — 11.3 FP | Doyle — 4 receptions (8 targets), 22 yards (5.5 avg), 1 total TD — 10.2 FP
- Last three weeks avg.: Ebron — 2.3 receptions (4.3 targets), 40.0 yards (17.1 avg), 2 total TD — 9.2 FP | Doyle — 3.3 receptions (5.0 targets), 29.7 yards (8.9 avg), 1 total TD — 6.6 FP
- FantasyPros Week 5 Position Rank: Ebron TE11 and Doyle TE16
- Chiefs vs. TEs: 23rd (8.6 FPPG)
Like we mentioned, if Hilton can't give it a go then Doyle and Ebron likely become big beneficiaries, statistically. They've already become more involved in the last couple weeks, with Doyle averaging 6.0 targets and Ebron averaging 4.5 over the last two weeks. They also both scored touchdowns last week.
Opposing tight ends Darren Waller and Derek Carrier of the Raiders combined for nine receptions for 99 yards against the Chiefs, and Lions tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Logan Thomas had six receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown last week.
Colts Defense/Special Teams
- Last week: 377 yards allowed, 31 points allowed, 1 sack, 1 takeaway
- Last three weeks avg.: 339.0 yards allowed, 24.0 points allowed, 5 total sacks, 2 total takeaways
- FantasyPros Week 5 Position Rank: DST31
- Chiefs vs. DSTs: 1st (1.0 FPPG)
It's never a good idea to start any defense in fantasy against the league's most potent offense, led by the reigning MVP. The Chiefs are currently second overall in offense (474.8) and first in scoring (33.8 PPG). Although we know this Colts defense over the last year can get to the quarterback and take the ball away, the Chiefs are strong in both of those areas, currently tied for the sixth-fewest turnovers (four), and tied for second-fewest sacks allowed (three).
The Colts also have some injuries to iron out on the defensive side of the ball with safeties Malik Hooker (knee) and Clayton Geathers (concussion) as well as linebacker Darius Leonard (concussion) and defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis (ankle). The good news is that Leonard has been able to practice both days this week.
