Indianapolis

Colts

It was McGowan’s first real taste of snaps with Jonathan Taylor, as he had 11 to Taylor’s 60 while the Colts were trying to grind clock with a lead against a hapless Texans offense. We doubt there’s much to this extra usage, it was likely just Taylor managing something minor on the sideline.

With Alec Pierce gone, the targets heavily concentrated to Warren and Josh Downs. Warren, still an extension of the run game, just doesn’t look like he’s going to generate much yardage on his catches unless he breaks a tackle. But the PPR points all count the same, and nine catches at tight end is nine catches at tight end. He’ll remain on the TE1 line against the Commanders next week.

His touchdown was the kind of touchdown Allen has been making for years, creating just enough space in front of a zone linebacker in the red zone for the catch-and-run score. Nine targets will play in a Shane Steichen offense, even if we don’t think there’s a lot left in the Allen reserve tanks at this stage of his career. Allen is on the FLEX radar against the Commanders in Week 4.

This target boost brought to you by Alec Pierce’s heel injury. The Colts didn’t really land any deep targets but they pounded the Texans’ middle-of-field zone coverages and Downs was a main beneficiary. He’ll be in the WR3 ranks next week against the Commanders.

The Texans focused first and foremost on stuffing Taylor, and outside of a stretch in the middle of the second half when Azeez Al-Shaair was pulled off the field for injury, they mostly did just that. Taylor did have a 24-yard scamper pulled off the scoresheet by a holding call. He’ll be back in the RB1 ranks next week against the Commanders.

He added three fumbles, two of which were recovered by the Texans on Will Anderson Jr. strip sacks. It wasn’t pretty, and expectations should be held in check for the Colts passing game given the lack of relevant options, but Jones held on to help snap Indianapolis’ nine-game losing streak dating back to last season. His most impressive play was probably a middle-of-field ball to Laquon Treadwell that put the Colts in field-goal range for Spencer Shrader’s go-ahead kick with less than 30 seconds remaining. The Colts have a better matchup next week against the Commanders, but Jones would be tough to trust as more than a bottom-rung superflex QB2.

Latu tried to return briefly after suffering the injury, but went into the locker room. It seems unlikely he’ll return. A pectoral injury is probably the main concern at this point.

Rigoberto Sanchez will supposedly handle kicking, Shrader appears to have been injured in pre-game workouts.

Ward was the only questionable Colts player, but got in a full practice on Friday. Ashton Dulin (ankle) was ruled out on Friday. The other Colts inactives, all healthy scratches, are RB DJ Giddens, DE George Gumbs Jr., QB Riley Leonard, WR Darius Slayton and G Dalton Tucker.

Laquon Treadwell prayer starts are officially on the menu for Week 3.