Fantasy Player Projections

Andrew Luck

Luck is a popular pick for Rookie of the Year honors, and now fans are chanting M-V-P. He already broke Cam Newton's rookie record for most passing yards in a game; now he's aiming for Newton’s single-season passing mark. This matchup should help.

Vick Ballard

Ballard's window of service has closed. He's sharing the work with Donald Brown on a team hell-bent on throwing when it can, which means Ballard's potential as a fantasy starter has withered away.

Donald Brown

Last week Brown saw more carries than Vick Ballard, but gained a full yard less per carry. Fantasy owners should expect a split backfield moving forward. Translation: Neither back is worth starting right now.

Reggie Wayne

Last week, four Bills players caught passes for 20 or more yards against the Patriots. Consider that a good indicator for the number of big plays Wayne will make this week.

Donnie Avery

Next to Reggie Wayne, Avery has been the Colts' steadiest receiver this season. That's been especially lately, as he's delivered three solid performances in a row.

T.Y. Hilton

Hilton made absolutely no dent in the passing game last week. He should fare better this week, as New England ranks 29th in pass defense, allowing 285.3 passing yards per game. That's more than enough yards to go around.

Dwayne Allen

With Coby Fleener nursing a bad shoulder, Allen will again be asked to serve as Indianapolis' top tight end. The rookie has shown he can help as a blocker and receiver, and he has averaged 54.0 yards receiving over the past three games.

Adam Vinatieri

Vinatieri returns home and should receive a warm welcome from the fans. The conditions and the defense will not be as gracious.

The Colts are starting to play better on defense, and they notched four sacks in their last game. Too bad the Patriots have the fewest giveaways in the league (seven).

Tom Brady

Is anyone having a quieter season than Brady? He is on pace to pass for close to 5,000 yards and 32 touchdowns with just five interceptions, yet he has taken a back seat in the quarterback debate. Brady's fantasy owners aren't complaining.

Stevan Ridley

So much for Bill Belichick splitting up the work: Ridley has averaged 19.1 carries per game so far. New England will probably feed him a lot in this game, too, as the Colts give up 4.7 yards per carry.

Danny Woodhead

As seen last week, Woodhead's role in the Patriots' offense can expand at any time. Some weeks they just need him to do more. Not this week, though.

Wes Welker

A year ago, Welker caught all 11 balls thrown to him for 110 yards in a win over Indianapolis. It'll once again be just another day at the office for the league's best short-range weapon.

Brandon Lloyd

It's not that Lloyd is being ignored -- he has caught 42 passes -- but rather that he has done little with the balls thrown to him. He averages 11.4 yards per catch and has scored in two of nine games so far.

Rob Gronkowski

Gronkowski leads all tight ends in touchdown receptions, thanks in large part to the five he's caught in the past three weeks. He should add to that total this weekend against a Colts defense that has surrendered 15 passing scores.

Aaron Hernandez

Hernandez was supposed to start last week but was held back due to a nagging ankle injury. There is no reason to think it will hold him back another week, but there is reason to think New England will limit his snap count.

Stephen Gostkowski

Gostkowski has scored 10 or more points in six of nine games this season, and he hasn't missed a field goal in New England's last five outings. He's money.

Don't look past the Colts. Andrew Luck has shown he can handle his own, even against the best defenses, and the Patriots are by no means one of the league's best defenses.