Colts Try to Put the Brakes on Brady

Facing a healthy Tom Brady in January often spells disaster for AFC foes

By Ian Stone:

After upsetting the Denver Broncos, the Colts will look to do so again as they head to New England to take on the Patriots. The Pats were nearly beaten by a surging Ravens offense a week ago, and will be tested once again by Andrew Luck and his high-powered offensive attack.

The Patriots seem destined to make it to the Super Bowl once again and it’s hard to see the young and inexperienced Luck getting in their way. The former number 1 overall pick has gone 0-3 against the Pats in his career, losing by a combined score of 144-66 in those contests. The two teams only met once this season, and the Colts lost 42-20 at home as Jonas Gray rushed for 214 yards and 4 TDs. Expect to see a similar outcome in the final score, but the means of scoring should differ greatly.

The Colts defense finished the season ranked 18th in allowing 113.4 rushing yards per game, and the Pats should be able to run them into the ground. Earlier in the season, Gray exploded in a breakout performance, but his role has been reduced significantly since that Week 11 meeting. LeGarrette Blount has begun to receive more of a workload, and should be able to find the end zone, in addition to around 50 rushing yards.

As for the passing game, Indy was more successful in giving up just 229.3 passing yards per game this season, ranking 12th in the category. However, Tom Brady’s postseason experience should allow him to find success against this difficult opponent.

Expect Brady to overcome this tough matchup through use of his TE Rob Gronkowski, as well as his lesser targets in Brandon LaFell, Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola. Gronk should be a lock for at least 10 targets, turning that into 90-100 yards and at least 1 touchdown.

In addition to Gronk, hopefully Amendola can keep up his high level of play as he erupted for 81 yards and 2 TDs on 5 receptions in last week’s victory. He should see plenty of action in slot routes across the middle, and secure at least a few catches for around 40-60 yards. QB Tom Brady should turn in another solid performance of at least 300 yards and 2-3 TDs in an easy win.

The toughest part for the Patriots will be limiting Andrew Luck and company, as their defense was not too good against the pass this season. New England finished the season ranked 17th in allowing 239.8 passing yards per contest, and they will really have to be on their game to slow down the Colts. Luck has solid targets in Reggie Wayne, T.Y. Hilton, Dwayne Allen, Hakeem Nicks, and former college teammate Coby Fleener at his disposal, and it will be more than difficult to shut them all down at once.

Luck has shown the ability to extend plays outside the pocket with his legs, so New England will have to be diligent in its approach to stopping them even after it seems as if the play is over. The Colts have been pretty successful in running the ball through use of tailback Boom Herron, and they will also have to try and limit his impact, as he gets it done when it counts. The Patriots ranked 9th this year in allowing 104.3 rushing yards per game, and should be able to limit his effectiveness.

Expect Andrew Luck to have a solid game in terms of yards and touchdowns, but to also turn the ball over a couple times in a hostile Foxborough environment, against a well-experienced Patriots football team.

NFL Week 14 Wide Receiver Sit and Start Report

Bowe has a great Week 14 matchup against a porous Redskins defense

Week 14 is upon us and most fantasy leagues are likely beginning their playoffs. It is now more important than ever to make sure you get your matchups right. In today’s pass-happy NFL, receivers now have the ability to post huge numbers.

Start:

Dwayne Bowe- Kansas City Chiefs receiver Dwayne Bowe has not been having an eye-opening season, however, his Week 14 fantasy matchup makes him a favorable starter. The Chiefs will travel to Washington to take on a struggling Redskins secondary, which is allowing an average of 265.2 yards per game through the air. Fantasy owners can expect a lot of targets for Bowe on Sunday.

Harry Douglas- Ever since fellow receiver Julio Jones’ season ending injury, Harry Douglas has been an every week fantasy starter. Douglas has 50 receptions and three 100+ yard receiving games since stepping in for Jones. The Falcons will be taking on the struggling Green Bay Packers on Sunday, a team who’s pass defense ranks 11th worst in the NFL. Keep Douglas in a starting role in Week 14.

Sit:

T.Y. Hilton- Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton started the season off as one of the hotter receivers in the league, recording four 100+ yard receiving games through the first 10 games. However, Hilton has slowed down as of late, not eclipsing the 50-yard receiving mark in each of his last three games. His matchup is again less than favorable, as the Colts will be taking on the league’s 8th best pass defense in the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Sit Hilton in Week 14.

Michael Crabtree- San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree was one of the hottest names after last season. Unfortunately due to a torn Achilles in the off-season, Crabtree has not been able to make an appearance until last week. When healthy, Crabtree is a must start, however given the circumstances and the opponent, the Seattle Seahawks, fantasy owners should look else where for receiver help.

T.Y. Hilton Sees Favorable Matchup Against 49ers

T.Y. Hilton is one of this year’s most talked about sleepers. With second year quarterback Andrew Luck playing at a high level, Hilton will be targeted quite frequently. Hilton has the speed and elusiveness to have a breakout game this week against the 49ers.

Last week Hilton saw a dozen targets and was able to reel in six of those for 124 yards against Miami. Hilton has another favorable matchup this week against the 49ers.

During Week 1 when the Niners played against the Green Bay Packers, wide outs were able to catch 14 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns. The Colts figure to air the ball out against a sometimes vulnerable 49ers pass defense.

The new addition of stud running back Trent Richardson can only help Hilton’s production. The chemistry between Hilton and Luck is growing from week to week as are his targets. Fantasy owners should have faith in Hilton this week and give him the start.

4 Wide Receivers that Should Make Your Fantasy Radar PING

Josh Gordon will be back for Week 3 at Minnesota

Building depth at wide receiver during your fantasy draft is a critical component in getting off to a fast start. Here’s a list of four players with true breakout potential, who you could potentially score very late in your fantasy draft.

T.Y. Hilton, IND, (ADP: 73): As last year’s 21^st ranked wide receiver, Hilton recorded 861 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. He showcased his 4.34 speed and great catching ability as he made huge plays throughout the season.

With 5 plays for over 40 yards, Hilton is a “highlight-reel” player who can rack up points for your team very quickly. Though the Colts are looking to run a more “West Coast” style offense and throw the deep ball a little less, Hilton should still be able to get it done. He will be “feast or famine” kind of player from week-to-week, but is still worth the 7^th round pick for his talent and upside.

Josh Gordon, CLE, (ADP: 98): In Gordon’s rookie season in 2012, he racked 50 catches for 805 yards and 5 touchdowns. At 6’4”, 225 pounds, with good hands and speed, Gordon is made to be a deep threat.

As Brandon Weeden’s clear-cut number one option in Cleveland, he should be able to score some serious points. Though he has a 2 game suspension to serve to start the season, it shouldn’t hurt his value too much. You’ll likely plan to have your number one and two receivers in your lineup at the beginning of the season anyway, so having him on your bench for two games shouldn’t be a huge issue.

Chris Givens, STL, (ADP: 105): Givens saw limited action for the Rams during his rookie season in 2012, but was still able to show off many of his talents. Although he wasn’t a starter for about a quarter of the team’s games, he made his presence known by racking up 5 receptions for more than 40 yards.

Givens showed that he has big play ability, and as a starter, he should get more opportunities like this. With last year’s starter Brandon Gibson out of the picture, a better O-line for Sam Bradford and slot receiver Tavon Austin joining the team, there should be enough team improvements to help Gibson shine. He’s a sneaky-but-good option as your third or fourth receiver.

Michael Floyd, ARI, (ADP: 110): Though the 6’3” speedster did not put up incredible numbers during his rookie season with the Cardinals (562 yards and 2 touchdowns) it’s important to realize that this year’s offense should look a lot different. A change at quarterback will bring in Carson Palmer, who was on pace for around 4,200 yards last season.

With Bruce Arians running the offense, there will plenty of yards to go around in 2013 and Floyd will be one of the beneficiaries. It will also help that he will be lining up across from Larry Fitzgerald who always draws a crowd.

Draft Zone: 9th Ranked Quarterback – Colts Andrew Luck

Indianapolis Colts Andrew Luck is the 9th ranked quarterback in this year’s 2013 fantasy draft standings. With an Average Draft Position (ADP) of 62, he’s likely to be taken sometime in the fifth or sixth round of most fantasy drafts.

Luck had an unbelievable rookie season in 2012 throwing for a record-breaking 4,374 yards and 23 touchdowns. With changes to last year’s offensive scheme, it’s a major question of whether or not Luck can repeat his incredible fantasy numbers.

Last season, the young QB relied heavily on deep throws down the field. Former coach Bruce Arians’ offense attempted more passes of 20 yards or more than any other offense in the NFL. This allowed Luck to rack up sky-high yardage numbers. In turn, this also forced him to throw a miserable 18 interceptions, and record a completion percentage of just 54.1%.

As new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton implements his offense in Indianapolis, the team will likely rely on a more efficient, short passing attack to march down the field. As a result of this, Luck’s numbers may change for both the better and the worse.

For one thing, it’s possible that there could be a considerable drop off in yards, due to many less attempts down the field. The team will still focus a great deal on passing, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Luck record around 4,000 yards again. However, his amazing 4,300 yards from last year may be just out of reach.

Luck’s fantasy value may not improve much from last season, but it also may not decrease either. All things considered, he’s definitely a startable quarterback option. If you draft him, just try and find a solid backup to take in the later rounds as a safety net, like Josh Freeman or Carson Palmer.

Colts Coby Fleener Sustains Another Concussion

The Indianapolis Colts up and coming tight end Coby Fleener was diagnosed with a concussion Tuesday, and will be held out of practice as a part of the NFL’s concussion protocol.

Couple this setback with Dwayne Allen’s foot injury and the Colts are left without both starting tight ends for this Sunday’s preseason game with the Giants. Coach Chuck Pagano did not specify when Fleener may have suffered the concussion, but it might have happened last week against the Bills.

Fleener now has a history of head injuries dating back to 2011 at Stanford. Last year during his rookie campaign, Fleener sustained another concussion heading into a bye week. In today’s NFL and with what science has determined about head injuries, the league will definitely keep a close eye on Fleener’s health.

Despite this week’s injury, Fleener has been excelling in training camp and has very high expectations this season with quarterback Andrew Luck. His combination of size, speed, and athleticism poses a difficult matchup for opponents. Coach Pagano even predicted that Fleener would double his reception total of 26 in 2012. Assuming he can keep his head up and healthy, Fleener might become a major component in the Colts passing attack this season.

Draft Zone: 20th Ranked Wide Receiver – Colts Reggie Wayne

Production expected to dip for Reggie Wayne in 2013

Indianapolis Colts Reggie Wayne is the 20th ranked wide receiver in this year’s 2013 fantasy draft standings. With an Average Draft Position (ADP) of 54, he’s likely to be taken sometime in the sixth round of most fantasy drafts.

Wayne hauled in 106 receptions for 1,355 yards and scored 5 touchdowns in 2012.  He was the 15th highest scoring wide receiver in standard fantasy leagues last season, and was a force in PPR leagues as he finished 6th in the NFL in receptions.

Last season, Wayne finished 2nd in the NFL in targets with 194. Quarterback Andrew Luck attempted to get Wayne the ball at every possible opportunity. Unfortunately, that may not still be the case this season.

This year Andrew Luck and Coby Fleener will reunite with former Stanford offensive coordinator, Pep Hamilton, in Indianapolis. Fleener was one of Luck’s favorite targets at Stanford, so expect Hamilton to try to reinforce this connection once again.

With wide receiver T.Y. Hilton emerging last season and showing the Colts that he can make big plays, the team might try to get the ball in his hands more often. The Colts also acquired another solid wide out in Darrius Heyward-Bey in the offseason, giving another reason for Luck to spread the ball around.

As the Colts attempt to get the ball to Fleener, Hilton, Heyward-Bey and others, this could very well eat into Wayne’s targets. Less targets will mean less yards and receptions for the veteran receiver. He will still line up as the Colts number one receiving option, but he’s not going to put up such great numbers.

Though Wayne will turn 38 years old this season, he’s still a talented wide receiver who can get it done. He has played in every Colts game since 2002, and is not much of an injury risk. Though he’s no longer a number 1 receiver in fantasy, Wayne can be a solid number 2 or a safe flex option this season.

Wideout T.Y. Hilton Ready to Impress in Indy

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Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton is a possible breakout candidate going into the 2013 NFL season. Hilton finished 21^st in standard fantasy football scoring among wide receivers last season and will likely line up opposite Reggie Wayne as the Colts #2 receiver this season.

Last year, Hilton went under-the-radar with a very solid rookie season, racking up 861 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns in 15 games. Hilton recorded 50 receptions with 12 noteworthy drops, despite being targeted 91 times.

Hilton’s absurd speed and great hands allowed him to make plenty of huge plays in 2012. The young receiver was tied for 3^rd in the NFL with 5 receptions for more than 40 yards, while also recording 13 receptions for over 20 yards. It’s normally tough to rely on huge plays like these, but Hilton certainly has the skills to continue this trend.

His top-of-the-line agility is his greatest asset which always makes him a threat after catching the ball. Hilton silently averaged 7.9 yards after catch last season, ranking him 2^nd in the NFL behind only Percy Harvin in that category.

Hilton’s ability to create separation and burn defensive backs down the field was on full display last season. With more opportunities to catch passes next season, Hilton has the potential to put up excellent numbers.

Hilton spent 2012 as the Colts third receiver, behind Reggie Wayne and Donnie Avery. Avery is long gone to the Kansas City Chiefs and Wayne is pushing 35-years-old. Wayne was targeted 194 times, which ranked him second in targets behind only Calvin Johnson. If Wayne slows down this season, Hilton will certainly steal some of his targets.

This season Hilton should be the Colts starter opposite Reggie Wayne, but will have recently signed wide out Darrius Hewyard-Bey close on his tail. Hilton should go around the 8^th round in most fantasy drafts. If he’s available, snag him while you can because he definitely has the potential to improve upon last season’s already impressive numbers.

 

Wideout T.Y. Hilton Ready to Impress in Indy

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Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton is a possible breakout candidate going into the 2013 NFL season. Hilton finished 21^st in standard fantasy football scoring among wide receivers last season and will likely line up opposite Reggie Wayne as the Colts #2 receiver this season.

Last year, Hilton went under-the-radar with a very solid rookie season, racking up 861 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns in 15 games. Hilton recorded 50 receptions with 12 noteworthy drops, despite being targeted 91 times.

Hilton’s absurd speed and great hands allowed him to make plenty of huge plays in 2012. The young receiver was tied for 3^rd in the NFL with 5 receptions for more than 40 yards, while also recording 13 receptions for over 20 yards. It’s normally tough to rely on huge plays like these, but Hilton certainly has the skills to continue this trend.

His top-of-the-line agility is his greatest asset which always makes him a threat after catching the ball. Hilton silently averaged 7.9 yards after catch last season, ranking him 2^nd in the NFL behind only Percy Harvin in that category.

Hilton’s ability to create separation and burn defensive backs down the field was on full display last season. With more opportunities to catch passes next season, Hilton has the potential to put up excellent numbers.

Hilton spent 2012 as the Colts third receiver, behind Reggie Wayne and Donnie Avery. Avery is long gone to the Kansas City Chiefs and Wayne is pushing 35-years-old. Wayne was targeted 194 times, which ranked him second in targets behind only Calvin Johnson. If Wayne slows down this season, Hilton will certainly steal some of his targets.

This season Hilton should be the Colts starter opposite Reggie Wayne, but will have recently signed wide out Darrius Hewyard-Bey close on his tail. Hilton should go around the 8^th round in most fantasy drafts. If he’s available, snag him while you can because he definitely has the potential to improve upon last season’s already impressive numbers.