Things to know before Thursday Night Football: Week 9

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November. The month of the season where teams separate themselves from one another, both in real life football and in fantasy football. The month where you see what teams are going to be competitors, who are the fakes, and who have just had either great or bad luck so far.

The opening game is far from appealing as far as NFL games go, but I think there might be some surprises as far as fantasy football points scored goes. The Jets (2-5) head into Indianapolis to take on the Colts, who are currently 3-5, but I think they’re better than their record shows.

Carson Wentz has been serviceable, and I think he is a decent play despite the Jets being the 9th best fantasy defense against quarterbacks. If Wentz and the Colts were not at home, this would be a different story for me. Wentz has an up and coming wide receiver star in Michael Pittman who has been on fire as of late, Wentz can still use his legs, and they’re at home in the dome. Projections for Wentz roll around the 17 point line, but I would be willing to bet that he hits 20. ($10,800 or $16,200 as Captain) (All dollar amounts will be for “Showdown” formats on Draft Kings.)

If anyone thought that Mike White was going to come in last week and throw up 26 fantasy points I would’ve told them they have screws loose up top. But hell, he did it, and against a solid Bengals defense. This week his match up with the Colts is surprisingly favorable, who rank as the 26th defense against fantasy quarterbacks. He won’t have Corey Davis the way it sounds, so it’ll again be the Mims, Crowder, Cole, and Moore quad show. Which for him, it could be worse. I don’t have the balls to throw him in my lineup for normal fantasy formats, unless I had no choice, but he could be a sneaky little pick in DFS tonight. ($9,800 or $14,700 as Captain) 

Michael Carter had the best game of his short career last week against the Bengals, the rookie had 15 attempts for 77 yards and a touchdown. Then added in 9 catches on 14 targets for 95 yards receiving. 32.2 points in a PPR format, absolutely gorgeous. Now. Beware. Don’t expect that same target share or result this week. Where the Colts struggle in passing defense, they make up for at the line of scrimmage against the run. They’re currently 5th best against fantasy running backs, and makes them a top 5 overall fantasy defense. Crazy right, they’re 26th against the pass, but a top 5 overall defense because of their rushing defense, it’s that good. I’m not saying that Carter doesn’t have a good game, and Tevin Coleman won’t be around to spell him, but it won’t be as fantastic as last week. In deep leagues I say give it a shot, because you probably have to, but make sure your expectations for him tonight is a RB2 point total. ($8,600 or $12,900 as Captain)

Jonathon Taylor. What do I honestly need to say? You’re smashing that start button week after week. Since week 4 he hasn’t had a game with less than 18 fantasy points. He’s elusive, powerful, and just gets the job done for the Colts on the ground. It was only a matter of time honestly, he is 2nd in rushing yards in the league, and is averaging nearly 5.5 yards per carry. Now, sprinkle in the fact he takes on the worst rushing defense in the league tonight for fantasy football, and you are looking at what could be the RB1 of the week on Thursday Night Football. ($11,600 or $17,400 as Captain)

Jamison Crowder had his 2nd best fantasy week of the season against the Bengals last Sunday, and tonight he could have another good one. The Colts suck at defending the pass, especially wide receivers in fantasy football. The fact Corey Davis will be absent tonight is also eye appealing for fantasy owners. Crowder should see an increased target market share yet again. With Davis out last week, Crowder saw 9 targets, and caught 8 of them for 84 yards. I like Crowder a lot as the Jets’ WR1 tonight, especially in DFS. ($7,800 or $11,700 as Captain)

Elijah Moore goes in the same category as Crowder tonight, and I like him to make a big play against this porous Colts passing defense. The absent Davis effect is relevant here too. With him out, Moore saw his best fantasy game of the season last week. 6 catches on 6 targets for 67 yards, an easy 15 fantasy PPR points with an added run in there. Play him tonight as a flex in normal fantasy football, and a great dart throw with major upside if he gets past the defense in DFS. ($6,200 or $9,300 as Captain)

Michael freaking Pittman season is finally here! As a shareholder of his I couldn’t be more excited. What he has done the last 3 out of 4 games is exactly what you drafted him to do. 20.5 points, 20.9 points, and a whopping 30.6 points last week. The Colts are finally figuring it out, and you should start him granted the Jets good passing defense. If Carson Wentz once again wants to shut up the haters, he needs to get his best receiver the damn ball, because him and JT are their only hope of salvaging their season. Start him, weekly. ($10,200 or $15,300 as Captain)

I’m going to throw Mo Alie-Cox in here as a dart throw to fill your lineup tonight in “Showdown” formats, because if I’m being honest, you will not be able to fill it with all the players I just mentioned or you’d be over the cap limit. If you don’t know much about Alie-Cox, I’ll write you a short story. He’s freaking gigantic, and is a solid red zone threat. He was goosed last week, but that’s because Michael Pittman had a breakout game. There’s a chance the Jets key on Pittman and Taylor tonight, and if they get stuck inside the 10, there’s a chance Wentz lofts it up to his 6’5” 267 pound tight end that will make your corner back look like a 1st grader. ($5,200 or $7,800 as Captain)

I do my absolute best game after game to NOT throw a defense in my “Showdown” game format, but sometimes there is a lot of upside to do so in a bind. One may be because they’re definitely cheaper than almost all skill position players. The other may be because they have a solid match up. Tonight, the latter might be the case. You will run out of cap space filling those lineups, and the Colts defense might be a solid play. Lets think, shall we? Mike White’s second career start, without his WR1, against the Colts top 5 fantasy football defense. I like it. ($5,000 or $7,500 as Captain)

I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween, I hope your kids (if you have any) got their candy buckets filled, and you got to have a Halloween adult bevie while watching them.

Here’s to high floors and scores!

Colts 28, Jets 13

SKOL

- JD