Three tomatoes are walkin’ down the street.
Papa Tomato, Mama Tomato and Baby Tomato.
Baby Tomato starts lagging behind, and Papa Tomato gets really angry.
Goes back and squishes him and says: “Ketchup.”
Ketchup.
– Mia Wallace, Pulp Fiction
On Thursday night, the Titans defense was Baby Tomato and Nyheim Hines squished them into ketchup as he racked up 12 carries for 70 yards, 5 catches for 45 yards and his 5th and 6th touchdowns. It was a great game for Papa Tomato, and also his third two touchdown game of the season, but Hines has been wildly inconsistent. While he sees 3-6 targets in the pass game each week, this was his first game with double digit carries. In fact, over the four previous games Hines only received a total of 10 carries. All this to say, don’t get overly excited about Papa Tomato. Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday for fantasy football:
Philip Rivers – 29/39 for 308 yards and his 11th passing touchdown. The Philip Rivers Shot Put Academy is churning out Olympians left and right, so it’s surprising Rivers still has time to make it as a mediocre NFL quarterback. Fun fact: Pigskinonator projected the Colts QB for 293 passing yards in this game. Not bad for a brainless pig-bot!
Michael Pittman Jr. – 7 catches for 101 yards, 1 carry for 21 yards. The rookie also saw a team high 8 targets which isn’t the pitts. I told you he was worth grabbing last week as an upside WR3.Â
Jonathan Taylor – 7 carries for 12 yards, 2 catches for 25 yards. As one of the JT bandwagon drivers I’m horrified by how that Colts backfield has panned out in the absence of Marlon Mack. The only silver lining was that Jordan Wilkins (8 carries for 28 yards) had an equally bad game—yeah, I’m grasping at straws here. This situation reminds me of the Lions and Patriots dumpster fire fantasy backfields, I want out. Seriously, I locked myself in a closet, someone let me out! Â
T.Y. Hilton – 4 catches for 40 yards. Hilton passed the eye test, which reminds me I still have to go to the DMV for license renewal water boarding. I mean an eye exam. I’d grab T.Y. if he was dropped, a late season surge could be in store.
Derrick Henry – 19 carries for 103 yards, 1 catch for 6 yards. The tough Colts defense neutralized the Predator’s thermal vision but he still rumbled for 100+ yards while being vultured. You’d think the Predator would just eat vultures.
A.J. Brown – 1 catch for 21 yards. My drawers turned brown after A.J. dropped that first quarter bomb. Pretty sure that would’ve been a touchdown. He’s still an elite WR1, these things happen.
Ryan Tannehill – 15/27 for 147 yards and his 20th passing touchdown. This line would look a little better with a 70 yard A.J. Brown touchdown tacked on, eh? Tannehill is halfway thru a 4-week gauntlet, he’ll have to face the Ravens next week and then the Colts again the following week. But the playoff schedule is weaker than Philip Rivers’ arm. Â
Corey Davis – 5 catches for 67 yards. Very sad to hear about the passing of Davis’s 27 year old brother this week. Stupid cancer! But good to see Corey out there balling and taking his mind off things. I’ve said it a few times, I think Tannehill and this Titans off can actually sustain two startable fantasy receivers—at least in friendly matchups.
Jonnu Smith – 2 catches for 14 yards, 1 carry for 1 yard and his 7th touchdown. A rushing touchdown nonetheless. Is any player more touchdown dependent than Jonnu?
D’Onta Foreman – 7 carries for 18 yards, 1 catch for 5 yards and his 1st touchdown. D’Onta the D’Vulture! If you’re a Henry owner looking to handcuff the big man for your stretch run, Foreman appears to be your huckleberry.