INDIANAPOLIS — This week, the Indianapolis Colts host the Oakland Raiders at Lucas Oil Stadium. With three games under their belt, Colts players have yielded some great results for those who own shares of them in fantasy football, and this week could be much of the same.
There are some important injuries on both teams to monitor this week that may affect fantasy output, but there is still plenty to like in this matchup. What should you expect from the Colts players on your team? We've got you covered.
*Weekly positional rankings from FantasyPros.com, based on Half-PPR scoring. Ranks as of Thursday morning of game week.
QB Jacoby Brissett
- Last week: 28-of-37 passing (75.7%), 310 yards, 3 carries, 4 yards, 2 total TD — 24.4 FP
- Last three weeks avg.: 22.0-of-30.7 passing (71.7%), 215.3 yards, 4.3 carries, 12.7 yards, 7 total TD, 2 total TO — 21.9 FP
- FantasyPros Week 4 Position Rank: QB15
- Raiders vs. QBs: 21st (19.6 FPPG)
Brissett has been consistently productive and efficient so far this season, increasing his fantasy points each week, culminating with a 300-yard game last week. While he's only had one game over 200 passing yards, he's had multiple touchdowns in each game. His ability to spread the ball around and not rely on just one target (has completed a pass to 12 different players) means his productivity should stay alive.
The Raiders' pass defense appears vulnerable, as it ranks near the bottom of the league in overall pass defense (tied-24th, 286.3 YPG), opponent passer rating (28th, 118.6), pass plays of 20-plus yards (32nd, 17) and 40-plus yards (tied-26th, four), and it is yet to record an interception.
RB Marlon Mack
- Last week: 16 carries, 74 yards (4.6 avg), 2 catches (3 targets), 14 yards (7.0 avg), 1 total TD — 15.8 FP
- Last three weeks avg.: 20.3 carries, 99.7 yards (4.9 avg), 1.3 catches (2.0 targets), 8.7 yards (4.3 avg), 2 total TD, 1 total two-pointer — 16.2 FP
- FantasyPros Week 4 Position Rank: RB9
- Raiders vs. RBs: 20th (18.5 FPPG)
Mack has become an every-week starter as he traverses into RB1 territory and currently ranks as fantasy's seventh running back. He is averaging 21.7 touches for 108.3 yards of offense per game and has scored two touchdowns. He has had a stranglehold on the Colts' backfield presence and gets the lion's share of the goal line touches, so he is a threat to score in any game.
The Colts should be able to do some damage to Oakland on the ground, especially if you look at last year's matchup in which Mack gashed the Raiders for 149 yards of offense and two touchdowns on 27 touches. Looking at this year's game, the Raiders have a banged-up linebacker corps that'll be tasked with attempting to stop Mack. They are currently dealing with injuries to linebackers Vontaze Burfict, Marquel Lee and Nick Morrow.
The Raiders have given up some nice team performances to opposing backfields so far, as the Denver Broncos' Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman combined for 127 yards on 26 touches, and the Minnesota Vikings' Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison combined for 201 yards and two touchdowns on 32 touches just last week.
WR T.Y. Hilton
- Last week: 8 receptions (10 targets), 65 yards (8.1 avg), 1 total TD — 16.5 FP
- Last three weeks avg.: 6.7 receptions (8.3 targets), 65.0 yards (9.8 avg), 4 total TD — 17.8 FP
- FantasyPros Week 4 Position Rank: WR52
- Raiders vs. WRs: 27th (31.0 FPPG)
*First and foremost, monitor Hilton's status throughout the week, as he's been out of practice with a quad injury. If he were to play...
Like Mack, Hilton is a set-it-and-forget it player to have in your lineup throughout the season. He has already formed productive chemistry with Brissett which has resulted in four touchdowns in the first three games. Perhaps the most telling part of Hilton's touchdown numbers is that all four have come in the red zone, and three of them have come inside the opponent's five-yard line. At 5-10, 183 pounds, Hilton is known around the NFL as one of its most dangerous downfield threats, but he has also become just as dangerous inside the opponent's 20.
So far this season, Oakland has surrendered decent performances to receivers Emmanuel Sanders (5 catches, 86 yards, 1 TD), Courtland Sutton (7 catches, 120 yards), Demarcus Robinson (6 catches, 172 yards, 2 TD), Mecole Hardman (4 catches, 61 yards, 1 TD) and Adam Thielen (3 catches, 55 yards, 2 total TD).
If Hilton is unable to play then it's more likely that the ball be spread around to several different pass-catchers rather than just one player stepping up.
TEs Eric Ebron and Jack Doyle
- Last week: Ebron — 3 receptions (4 targets), 47 yards (15.7 avg) — 6.2 FP | Doyle — 4 receptions (4 targets), 46 yards (11.5 avg) — 6.6 FP
- Last three weeks avg.: Ebron — 2.3 receptions (3.7 targets), 26.7 yards (11.4 avg), 1 total TD — 5.8 FP | Doyle — 2.3 receptions (3.0 targets), 29.0 yards (12.4 avg) — 4.1 FP
- FantasyPros Week 4 Position Rank: Ebron TE12 and Doyle TE16
- Raiders vs. TEs: 24th (8.7 FPPG)
The Colts' tight ends dominated in this matchup last year, as Doyle, Ebron and Mo Alie-Cox combined to catch 10-of-11 targets for 133 yards and three touchdowns. This year the Raiders have had the benefit of facing two rookie tight ends in Week 1 and Week 3, but when they faced a veteran in Week 2, it went poorly for the defense. Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce put up 107 yards and a touchdown on seven catches.
Although neither Doyle or Ebron has had a big performance this year statistically, we know they're both capable of doing it any week, and it looks like it's especially possible this week. If Hilton doesn't play, it just boosts Doyle and Ebron's stock even more, and they become the Colts' top two fantasy pass-catching options. Those red-zone targets have to go somewhere, right?
Even if Hilton does play, you can't go wrong with having either tight end in your lineups.
Colts Defense/Special Teams
- Last week: 397 yards allowed, 24 points allowed, 0 sacks, 1 takeaway
- Last three weeks avg.: 358.3 yards allowed, 23.7 points allowed, 8 total sacks, 3 total takeaways
- FantasyPros Week 4 Position Rank: DST10
- Raiders vs. DSTs: 13th (6.0 FPPG)
The Colts are dealing with some injuries to cornerback Pierre Desir (hamstring), safety Malik Hooker (knee), linebacker Darius Leonard (concussion), defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis (ankle) and defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad (neck), so their availability will likely have an effect this contest. Regardless, Oakland's offense shouldn't be taken lightly. The Colts have had some struggles against the run game, and Raiders rookie first-round running back Josh Jacobs is due for a breakout performance anytime now. The Raiders also have some talented pass catchers in tight end Darren Waller and wide receivers Tyrell Williams, Hunter Renfrow and J.J. Nelson being thrown to by quarterback Derek Carr, who is completing 73.5 percent of his passes.
The Raiders have some of their own injuries on offensive in critical spots, as starting right guard Gabe Jackson (knee) and starting right tackle Trent Brown (ankle/knee) are both banged up. The Raiders have given up seven sacks and turned the ball over three times in the last two weeks alone. The Colts have eight sacks on the season and three takeaways so they are proven to be a capable play this week.
