Colts' Injuries are Fantasy Football Gains

This weekend's AFC South showdown appeared, at the beginning of the week, to be one of those strength vs. strength matchups. The Colts have the NFL's seventh-ranked pass defense and they have only allowed three passing touchdowns all season (making them the stingiest in the NFL). The Houston Texans are the NFL's third-best passing team and have thrown 16 touchdown passes in eight games.

Things this week, have, uh, changed a bit.

We have learned the Colts will be missing three of their top five defensive backs. Kelvin Hayden is out for a month while both Bob Sanders and Marlin Jackson will miss the remainder of the season. It should be noted that the Colts have been able to survive without these guys all on different occasions, but to lose all three in one week is a big blow.

One thing these injuries don't impact is the Colts' pass rush. Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis are relentless in pursuit of the quarterback from the outside and only four teams have more sacks than the Colts (20) this season. If Houston can find a way to protect Matt Schaub, though, there will be holes in the Indy secondary.

Expect lots of zone, but Jerraud Powers will likely get the assignment of guarding Andre Johnson any time the Colts play man coverage. Though he's started seven games this season -- due to the massive injuries to the defensive backfield -- Powers is only 5-foot-9 and a rookie. He's not equipped to deal with the know-how of 'Dre -- much less his athleticism or 6-foot-3 frame.

Opposite Powers, rookie Jacob Lacey will make his second start of the season. The Colts will rotate in Tim Jennings and T.J. Rushing. Simply put: safeties Melvin Bullitt and Antoine Bethea will need to provide lots of support in the pass defense. In turn, this should also open up running lanes, as the Colts' front seven usually relies on safety help to effectively stop the run.

On the opposite side of the football, I do not believe the Texans' mediocre pass defense can do anything to stop Peyton Manning and the NFL's top passing offense.

Add it up and we have a veritable fantasy football paradise. The scoreboard operator is going to be busy in Indy this weekend, thus, your fleaflicker live scoreboard should as well -- so long as you own some Colts and Texans.

I expect Manning and Schaub to both be among the top five quarterbacks.

Johnson and Reggie Wayne could easily be the top two receivers.

Dallas Clark should always be started anyway.

I'd get Austin Collie and Kevin Walter in as WR3 or flex plays. If you are desperate for a bye-week fill-in, take a look at Pierre Garcon and then Jacoby Jones.

You already know I love a bounce-back game for Steve Slaton, but with the safeties in Indy needing to lend so much more help to the pass defense, I like him even more. Ryan Moats is a viable flex play in deep leagues as well. For the Colts, they won't find running lanes easy, but Joseph Addai is still an RB2 as he'll find good enough work through the air.

As I said, it's a whole lotta fantasy football fun in Indy this Sunday. Enjoy.