X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Thursday Night Football Matchups Analysis - Week 5

Thursday Night Football starts/sits and matchups analysis for Week 5 of the NFL season. Which Colts and Patriots to start or sit for fantasy football lineups.

Finally, football fans got the Thursday night shootout they were looking for! The Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings put up over 1,000 yards in total offense during their Thursday Night Football game in Week 4.

Fantasy owners who started most offensive pieces on either team were rewarded with a bevy of points to kick off the week, but it was those who started quarterback Jared Goff (465 passing yards, five touchdowns) and Cooper Kupp (162 receiving yards, two touchdowns) who were especially rewarded.

For this iteration of Thursday Night Football, the Indianapolis Colts are looking to rebound from a disappointing overtime loss while the New England Patriots will look to repeat their blowout win against the Miami Dolphins. Which players are worth slotting into your fantasy lineup? In not wasting any more time, let's dive into Thursday Night Football matchup analysis!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Indianapolis Colts @ New England Patriots

Date and Start Time: Thursday, October 4 at 8:20 PM ET

Notable Injuries and Status:

  • Marlon Mack (RB, IND) - Hamstring - Out
  • T.Y. Hilton (WR, IND) - Chest/Hamstring - Out
  • Jack Doyle (TE, IND) - Hip - Out
  • Darius Leonard (LB, IND) - Ankle - Questionable
  • Quincy Wilson (DB, IND) - Concussion - Out
  • Kenny Moore II (DB, IND) - Concussion - Out
  • Nate Hairston (DB, IND) - Various - Questionable
  • Josh Gordon (WR, NE) - Hamstring - Questionable
  • Rob Gronkowski (TE, NE) - Ankle - Questionable

 

Offensive and Defensive Rankings:

Colts Patriots
Passing Yards 16th 22nd
Rushing Yards 29th 12th
Pass Defense  18th 8th
Run  Defense  17th  26th

 

Must Starts

Top Performers That Have To Be In Your Lineup

Eric Ebron (TE, IND)

Assuming fellow tight end Jack Doyle sits this game out, Ebron gains a significant boost as arguably the Colts' No. 1 receiving option with wide receiver T.Y. Hilton expected to be out on a short week. While he hasn't been particularly effective at converting his boatload of targets into fantasy points, Ebron has scored in a touchdown in three of his last four games and will undoubtedly dominate red zone work.

Sony Michel (RB, NE)

The spike from 11 touches to 15 to 25 all but signals the Patriots' plans for their first-round rookie. With Rex Burkhead on injured reserve and out of the picture, Michel rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown in Week 4 and should be incredibly effective with his volume on Thursday night with the Colts defense hobbled by numerous injuries.

Rob Gronkowski (TE, NE)

If Gronkowski is able to play through his ankle injury, I shouldn't have to tell you he is a must-start at a position with a great deal of scarcity for prolific fantasy assets. With at least four catches across his last two games and the Colts top-three cornerbacks hobbled by injuries, Gronk should be able to bully his way to the end-zone at some point in this game.

 

Consider Sitting

Players To Avoid Putting In Your Lineup If Possible

Andrew Luck (QB, IND)

While Luck performed admirably in Week 4 with his favorite target T.Y. Hilton coming in and out of the game and has attempted at least 40 pass attempts in every game this season, it is hard to imagine the Colts having much success through the air considering their overall lack of weapons. Fantasy owners should consider Luck to be outside of the QB1 conversation for Thursday and look for better options if they are available.

Chester RogersZach Pascal (WRs, IND)

In accordance with quarterback Andrew Luck having a difficult hill to climb, the success of his No. 2 and No. 3 wide receivers will be highly unpredictable. Neither Chester Rogers nor Zach Pascal is a standout athlete, and making projections about who will draw enough targets to be fantasy-relevant may be an exercise in throwing darts. In deeper PPR leagues with roster crunches, these players could be worth a look. But this is a risky situation for fantasy owners to rely upon for their lineups.

Josh Gordon, Chris Hogan (WRs, NE)

Pending tight end Rob Gronkowski's availability in Week 5, one of Gordon or Hogan could experience a marked increase in touchdown upside considering the number of holes the Colts have in their secondary at present. Gordon's snap count is likely to remain severely limited as he learns the nuances of the playbook while Hogan has yet to top three catches or 50 receiving yards in a game this season. For fantasy purposes, it is a good idea to monitor Gronkowski's health leading up to the game if owners are in a must-start situation for Gordon or Hogan.

 

Solid Options/Sleepers

Which Players Will Have Solid Games and Which Could Surprise?

Solid Option: Nyheim Hines (RB, IND)

Amid the inconsistent rotation of Colts running backs, Hines has successfully carved out a role as a receiver out of the backfield. The rookie rusher is averaging the fifth-most pass routes per game among running backs and is undoubtedly going to be involved in a game where the Colts could be trailing for a great deal of time.

Solid Option: Tom Brady (QB, NE)

The future Hall of Famer hasn't been quite so stellar in fantasy football, having yet to throw for over 300 yards in a game this season. Fortunately, Brady gets an exceptional bounce-back opportunity against a depleted Indianapolis Colts secondary. If his favorite target, tight end Rob Gronkowski, is able to play, most projections should slot Brady in as a QB1.

Solid Option: Julian Edelman (WR, NE)

Edelman returns from his four-game suspension ready to slide back into his role as a go-to slot receiver for the Patriots, meaning he draws immediate appeal in PPR formats despite the fact that he will need time to get used to being back on the field. He should see an immediate bump to his targets if tight end Rob Gronkowski is unable to play.

Solid Option: James White (RB, NE)

While the emergence of rookie running back Sony Michel is in the limelight, his backfield-mate has quietly accounted for an astonishing 26-percent of the New England fantasy production for skill players. The Colts defense at full strength has also been prone to giving up receptions to running backs, meaning White could be a sneaky play on Thursday.

Sleeper: Ryan Grant (WR, IND)

For fantasy owners in PPR leagues desperately looking for a plug-and-play option, Grant’s name should definitely be on your radar. While he hasn’t been able to come close to repeating a strong Week 1 performance where he led the team with eight receptions on nine targets, it is undeniable that he will be the most likely of the Colts wideouts to be peppered with targets now that T.Y. Hilton is confirmed to be sitting.

Sleeper: Phillip Dorsett (WR, NE)

Dorsett has probably been relegated to a lot of leagues' waiver wires now that the Patriots wide receiver room is looking awfully crowded. While it’s true that’s Josh Gordon is getting more comfortable with the playbook and Julian Edelman is returning from his suspension, it might be possible to squeeze one last ounce of fantasy production from Dorsett in a revenge game against his former team. His sure hands have resulted in quarterback Tom Brady targeting him at least seven times in three of his last four games and even with a decreased workload, Dorsett could be a WR3/4 play in deeper leagues before he fades into obscurity.

More Lineup Prep




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Trey Yesavage

Heading to Big Leagues
Will Smith

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
NHL

Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
Samuel Girard

Skates With Non-Contract Jersey
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dealing With Injury Ahead of Training Camp
Brock Bowers

Officially Questionable for Monday Night
Spencer Knight

Signs Three-Year Extension With Blackhawks
Chris Buescher

May have Another Solid Run at Bristol
Corey Perry

Out 6-8 Weeks Following Surgery
Kyle Busch

Should DFS Players Roster Kyle Busch At Bristol?
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. too Risky to Consider Rostering At Bristol?
Michael McDowell

Could be A Solid Value Option For Bristol DFS Lineups
Chase Elliott

Consistent Enough to Advance in Playoffs, but Probably Won't Factor for Bristol Win
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not as Strong at Bristol as Other Short Tracks
Alex Bowman

Needs to Win to Make Round of 12 but Might Be Able to Do It
Ross Chastain

Has Never Led at Bristol, but Has Been Pretty Consistent
Austin Dillon

Richmond Speed Unlikely to Carry Over to Bristol
Josh Berry

Might Run Well at Bristol, but Almost Certainly Won't Win to Advance
Justin Haley

Bristol One of Justin Haley's Few Recent Bright Spots
Ryan Preece

Seems Slower on Concrete Than on Asphalt
NASCAR

Legacy Motor Club's Short Track Speed Will Likely Hold John H. Nemechek Back
Erik Jones

Definitely Faster This Year, but Short Tracks Still a Liability
Daniel Suarez

Despite Poor Qualifying Run, Daniel Suarez Might Not Be a Great Choice for Place Differential Points
Noah Gragson

Unlikely to Be Fast at Bristol but Still Might Be Worth Considering for DFS
Tarik Skubal

Avoids Serious Injury, Expected to Make Next Start
Xavier Worthy

Officially Ruled Out for Week 2
Austin Ekeler

Suffers Torn Achilles
Quinshon Judkins

Expected to Play Against Ravens
CFB

Austin Simmons Listed As Game-Time Decision Against Arkansas
CFB

Nico Iamaleava Struggles In Fourth Straight Loss
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Dealing With a "Tweak"
BUF

Alexandar Georgiev Joins Sabres on One-Year Deal
Corey Perry

Injured During Pre-Camp Skate
Kyle Larson

Can Kyle Larson Dominate at Bristol Again?
Denny Hamlin

One of the Best at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

All Eyes on Ryan Blaney at Bristol
Chase Briscoe

Whiffs in Qualifying, Will Start 31st in Bristol Night Race
Ty Gibbs

Could Contend at Bristol
Tanner Bibee

Fans 10 in Two-Hit Shutout
Zach Neto

Dealing With Wrist Soreness
Masyn Winn

Shut Down for Rest of Season
Tarik Skubal

to Undergo Imaging on Saturday
Jacory Croskey-Merritt

RapSheet: Jacory Croskey-Merritt Expected to Be Lead Back Moving Forward
Tyler Soderstrom

Scratched on Friday With Groin Tightness
Tarik Skubal

Exits with Side Tightness
CFB

Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
Ketel Marte

Scratched From Friday's Lineup
Brock Purdy

Officially Ruled Out Against Saints
Jauan Jennings

Given Questionable Tag for Week 2
CFB

CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
CFB

Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
Dallas Goedert

Officially Ruled Out for Week 2
Xavier Worthy

Listed as Doubtful to Play in Week 2
Jayden Reed

Hopes to Return in November Following Surgery
Jean Silva

A Favorite At Noche UFC 3
Kyle Tucker

"Unlikely" to Return When Eligible on Tuesday
Diego Lopes

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Event
Ketel Marte

Expected to Return on Friday
Rob Font

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
David Martinez

Set For Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
Quinshon Judkins

Questionable to Make NFL Debut in Week 2
Rafa Garcia

An Underdog At Noche UFC 3
Jared Gordon

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Dustin Stoltzfus

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Kelvin Gastelum

In Dire Need Of Victory
Diego Ferreira

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Alexander Hernandez

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Quang Le

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Card Opener
Santiago Luna

Set For His Debut At Noche UFC 3
Malcolm Brogdon

Heading to Knicks on One-Year Deal
CFB

David Sanders Jr. Won't Play Against Georgia
Landry Shamet

Staying with the Knicks
CFB

Dylan Edwards Slated to Return on Friday
Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Sees Little Usage in Week 2, Outlook Still Trending Upwards?
Deebo Samuel Sr.

Leads Commanders in Catches, Scores Touchdown Again
Tucker Kraft

Posts Huge Performance on Thursday
Joe Mixon

Lack of Joe Mixon Injury Updates Sparking Concern for Fantasy Managers?
Jayden Reed

Fractures Collarbone, Headed for Injured Reserve
Austin Ekeler

Commanders Fear Austin Ekeler Tore his Achilles
Jesús Luzardo

Jesus Luzardo Strikes Out 10 in Win
Aaron Judge

Matches Yankees Legend with Two-Homer Game
Austin Ekeler

Injured, Carried Off Field with Non-Contact Injury
Jayden Reed

Ruled Out with Shoulder Injury
Quinshon Judkins

Browns Insider Expects NFL to "Come Down Heavy" on a Quinshon Judkins Suspension
Jayden Reed

Questionable to Return on TNF With Shoulder Injury
Anthony Volpe

Playing Through Partially Torn Labrum in his Shoulder
Adam Lowry

Aims for Early-Season Return
Charles Oliveira

Not Eyeing Retirement
CFB

Ryan Williams Expected to Play Against Wisconsin
CFB

Billy Edwards Jr. Unlikely to Play on Saturday
P.J. Washington

Officially Signs Contract Extension
CFB

David Sanders Jr. Questionable to Make Debut Against Georgia
Lauri Markkanen

Big at Both Ends as Finland Books Place in EuroBasket Semis
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Notches 39 Points in Losing Effort
NBA

Cam Reddish Expected to Move to Europe
NBA

Trey Lyles Joins Real Madrid
Charles Bassey

Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Hawks
Sacramento Kings

Terence Davis Waived by Kings
Will Smith

Scratched With Hand Soreness on Wednesday
Ketel Marte

has Foot Contusion, Expected to Play Friday
Shohei Ohtani

Won't Pitch This Weekend
MacKenzie Gore

to Start on Thursday
Ketel Marte

Exits Early on Wednesday
Matthew Knies

Ready for Bigger Role With Maple Leafs
Jack Eichel

Unbothered by Lack of Extension
Sidney Crosby

Not Thinking About Leaving Pittsburgh
SJ

Michael Misa Signs Entry-Level Contract With Sharks
Rutger McGroarty

Nursing an Injury
Anthony Rizzo

Retires
Cameron Champ

the Ultimate Wild Card at Procore
Cameron Young

Looks to Extend Momentum in Napa
Davis Thompson

Searching for a Spark at Procore
Sahith Theegala

Looking to Reignite Form at Procore
Mackenzie Hughes

Aims for Another Strong Showing at Procore
Luke Clanton

Brings Ball-Striking Upside to Napa
Seamus Power

Looking to Overcome Poor Course History at Procore
Joe Highsmith

Hoping to Find Form in Napa
Kristaps Porzingis

Reportedly Still Not Completely Healthy
Kelly Oubre Jr.

Reportedly on the Trade Block
Andre Drummond

Future in Philadelphia in Doubt
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Helps Greece Reach Semis at EuroBasket
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Posts Historic Triple-Double
Joel Dahmen

Finishes Tied For 15 at Wyndham Championship
Bud Cauley

Finishes Tied for 33rd at BMW Championship
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied for Seventh at Tour Championship
J.J. Spaun

Finishes Tied for 25th at Tour Championship
Collin Morikawa

Finishes Tied for 19th at Tour Championship
Keith Mitchell

Misses Cut at Wyndham Championship
Ben Griffin

Finishes Tied for 10th at Tour Championship
Patrick Cantlay

Finishes Tied for Second at Tour Championship
Gary Woodland

Could Hang Around at Procore Championship
Karl Vilips

Ready for Napa Valley This Weekend
Taylor Montgomery

Heating Up at the Right Time
Jackson Koivun

May Be a Little Rusty at Procore Championship
Doug Ghim

Looking to Rise Up at Napa Valley
Josh Giddey

Re-Signs With Bulls for Four Years
Shakir Mukhamadullin

Joins Informal Skate
William Eklund

Skates With Sharks
Owen Power

Back at 100 Percent
Tyler Seguin

Cleared for Action
Mathew Barzal

Good to Go for Season Opener
Dustin Wolf

Signs Seven-Year Extension
NBA

Mason Jones Takes His Talents to Australia
NBA

Talen Horton-Tucker Joins Reigning EuroLeague Champions
Malcolm Brogdon

on Knicks' Radar
Andrew Wiggins

Attracting Interest From Lakers
Miami Heat

Heat Interested in Reunion With Precious Achiuwa
New York Knicks

Ben Simmons Reportedly Declined Knicks' Contract Offer
Caio Borralho

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Nassourdine Imavov

Extends Win Streak
Mauricio Ruffy

Gets Submitted
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Taps Out Mauricio Ruffy
Paul Craig

Retires After UFC Paris Loss
Modestas Bukauskas

Scores First-Round Knockout
Bolaji Oki

Suffers Second-Round TKO Loss
Mason Jones

Scores Comeback Win

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP