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Fantasy owners have much to consider after a week of carnage knocked out a few mainstays in leagues of all formats. Additionally, with the Panthers and Cowboys on byes, setting lineups for Week 7 gets even more tricky.
But before hitting the “submit lineup” button, there are fantasy implications in each game that have to be carefully considered. The Colts-Titans matchup on Sunday is just one of 15 that do.
Indianapolis Colts
Start ‘em
The opportunities that keep coming T.Y. Hilton’s way have to make his fantasy owners ecstatic. Hilton has long been a difficult receiver to project due to the boom-or-bust nature of his game, but now that he is being force-fed the ball at astonishing rates, Hilton can remain in the WR1 conversation even in a middling matchup against the Titans. Hilton is second in the NFL in targets and can be started as usual, as can Andrew Luck, in leagues of all formats.
Dwayne Allen is considered week-to-week, which leaves Jack Doyle in an advantageous situation. Doyle caught his third touchdown pass of the season after Allen exited in the first quarter in Week 6, and as long as Allen and Donte Moncrief remain out of the lineup, Doyle has streamer appeal. He’ll do in a pinch for Greg Olsen or Jason Witten owners in need of a replacement during their bye weeks.
Start ‘em?
No one watching the Colts’ loss to the Texans on Monday night could have done so without hearing that Frank Gore was the first Colts running back to gain 100 yards on the ground since 2012. Against a stout Titans run defense, Gore will probably start another drought of rushers without 100 yards. He remains a high-floor, low-ceiling, touchdown dependent RB2.
Tennessee Titans
Start ‘em
Demarco Murray doesn’t get to be benched. As the fourth highest-scoring running back, one who has capitalized in terms of both volume and efficiency, he could make quick work of a Colts defense that has been absolutely gashed on the ground in 2016. The Colts are averaging 4.8 yards per rush and 117 yards on the ground per game. Take away a fluky game where they allowed just 37 rushing yards to the Chargers, and that average skyrockets to 133. Murray is an RB1 as usual.
Delanie Walker inexplicably disappeared, posting a 1-21-0 line against the Browns, who had been gashed by tight ends all season. After being heavily targeted in previous games, Walker’s dream-matchup-turned-nightmare is likelier to be an outlier than a trend. He could bounce back against a Colts defense that allowed a 9-116-1 line to the Texans’ tight ends in Week 6.
Sit ‘em
Kendall Wright burst out of the fantasy shadows for a 133-yard output last week, but played just 22 snaps. It’s difficult to trust he will replicate that yardage if his workload doesn’t increase, and fantasy owners wouldn’t be blamed for benching him. He can join Tajae Sharpe, Rishard Matthews and Derrick Henry as well.