
Another big fantasy weekend kicks off tonight. Unlike last week’s Thursday night game, tonight’s matchup between the Colts and Jaguars features several fantasy football studs.
Peyton Manning, Maurice Jones-Drew, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark and Joseph Addai all will take the field for fantasy owners tonight. But owners of these players and a few others have a few questions heading into the game, including the No. 1 question of them all:
1. Will the Colts’ starters play the entire game?
The Indianapolis coaching staff maintains that the starters will play the entire game barring injury. But fantasy owners certainly are a little on edge when it comes to the Colts’ stars in their starting lineups. No owner wants to tune in during the third quarter to see Curtis Painter handing off to Mike Hart and chucking the ball downfield to Hank Baskett, catch my drift?
2. Is Maurice Jones-Drew wearing down?
MJD has not topped 100 yards rushing since week 10 and has only two touchdowns in the Jags last five games. If you do not think that is significant, consider the fact that he scored 12 times during the first 10 weeks of the season — an average of more than one touchdown per game. Interestingly enough, as well, MJD has not scored a single receiving touchdown this year.
3. What injuries will affect fantasy owners tonight?
Few, actually. The main players in tonight’s game are relatively healthy. Donald Brown will not be active for the Colts, so Chad Simpson and Mike Hart will split time behind Joseph Addai. Peyton Manning, Dallas Clark, Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie are all good to go. For the Jags, Mike Sims-Walker nearly missed last Sunday’s game but appears on track to play tonight. Maurice Jones-Drew and David Garrard are good to go as well.
4. Will the real Reggie Wayne make an appearance for fantasy owners?
I, for one, really hope so. Wayne has anchored fantasy lineups at the wide receiver position most of the 2009 season, but his last few weeks have been a little underwhelming (zero double-digit fantasy efforts since week 10). Of all the players on the Colts’ roster, fantasy owners should be most concerned about Wayne getting the hook early tonight.
5. Speaking of wide receivers, what happened to waiver wire wonder Mike Sims-Walker?
MSW has almost completely disappeared recently. It is like he dropped himself from fantasy leagues or something. After posting three consecutive double-digit fantasy weeks and four-out-of-five, Sims-Walker has fallen off the fantasy map the last three weeks. Any fantasy owners out there rolling the dice with MSW tonight?
Start ‘em
Peyton Manning, Joseph Addai, Reggie Wayne & Dallas Clark, Colts
The Colts say the starters are going to play, and play to win at that. Fantasy owners have to trust that will happen at least this week.
Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars
Slowing down or not, MJD still is the main man in Jacksonville. And fantasy owners got this far in large part because of his contributions this season.
David Garrard, QB, Jaguars
If you play in a two-quarterback league, Garrard should be a good second starter this week. The Colts’ D can be passed on, especially after the offense gets the team out to a big lead.
Sit ‘em
Mike Sims-Walker, WR, Jaguars
MSW — man the Jags have two players with three-letter abbreviations, how cool — is too inconsistent for fantasy owners to use during the fantasy postseason.
For more great fantasy roster advice this week, including a plethora of Start & Sit links and consensus rankings, head over to the Fantasy Football Librarian. Don’t forget to grab your library card.







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