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The Texans and fantasy players' playoff hopes rest on the legs of Arian Foster this week as Houston faces the Colts. If you rolled the dice and drafted Foster in the first or second round of your fantasy draft, you're probably still alive in the fantasy playoffs now. Foster has been a workhorse when in the lineup, and Sunday will be no different. The Texans face a Colts' run defense that Football Outsiders ranks 27th-best in league. Indianapolis has held teams to less than a hundred yards rushing in in seven out of thirteen games this season and allowed an average of 108.3 rushing yards per game (20th in the NFL). In their last meeting, Foster ran for 136 yards when these two teams met in October.
Foster will be the key to balancing the offense to free up space for DeAndre Hopkins and the receiving corps.
Starts
RB: Arian Foster - Foster returned to practice after missing some time earlier this week with a groin injury that has been nagging him for the past several weeks. Foster looks ready to go, and he will be the bellcow the Texans live and die by once again on Sunday. Either way, the Foster will be a top-five running back play in fantasy.
WR: DeAndre Hopkins - Hopkins will be the Texans' number one receiving target on Sunday with Andre Johnson possibly on the shelf. The Colts' top cornerback, Vontae Davis, returns to the lineup, but Hopkins will have enough targets to have value.
Sits
QB: Ryan Fitzpatrick - Yes, Ryan Fitzpatrick has played his way into a top-20 status as fantasy quarterback this week. Yes, Fitz will need to keep the Texans in what most likely be a shootout with the Colts. But Fitzpatrick will more than likely be down a starting wide receiver and tight end. Not the ideal situation for a spot start.
WR: Andre Johnson - Johnson has yet to pass the concussion test required for his return to action. There still is time for that to happen on Sunday, so he will be a gametime decision. If Johnson does go, he'll be Fitzpatrick's security blanket.
TE: Garrett Graham - Garrett Graham, like Johnson, is still day-to-day with an ankle injury. If he can't go (and he probably won't), Ryan Griffin and C.J. Fiedorowicz will fill in. At best, both are shots in the dark as touchdown vultures.
DEF: Texans Defense and Special Teams - The Texans will be without pass rushers Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus this week (and for the rest of the season in Clowney's case), which will only compound the Texans issues stopping Andrew Luck and T.Y. Hilton.
Summary: Arian Foster and DeAndre Hopkins will get enough touches to be a must-start in any league. Outside of that, there is too much risk involved with the remaining Texans in a fantasy aspect.
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Texans vs Colts coverage