Thus far in the season, the Indianapolis Colts are 4-1 on the road, while the Arizona Cardinals are 4-1 at home. Something's got to give Sunday, as the Colts travel to face the Cardinals in a 4:05 p.m. game in Arizona. The game could feature significant fantasy contributors as well:
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 12: Colts vs. Cardinals
The Cardinals have ridden a three-game winning streak right back into the playoff hunt, while the Colts are just looking to hold onto their spot.
Frederick Breedon
Colts
Start in every league: Andrew Luck, T.Y. Hilton, Coby Fleener, Adam Vinatieri
Start if you're desperate: Donald Brown, Defense/special teams
Bench: Trent Richardson, Darrius Heyward-Bey
It's reasonable to say that Luck has played himself into must-start territory among quarterbacks; he ranks fifth in fantasy points at the position and, the awful game against the St. Louis Rams two weeks ago aside, has at least 18 fantasy points in three of his last four weeks. ... Hilton struggled a week ago at Tennessee, but that came on the heels of 43 fantasy points in his previous two. He's the Colts' top wide receiver, and it isn't particularly close. He'll be fine in fantasy. ... Last week was the biggest yardage game of Fleener's young career, his first 100-yard game. There were questions, in the wake of the injury to Reggie Wayne, who would step up in the Colts' offense, but so far it's been Fleener. This week, he gets to face a Cardinals' defense that has been worst in the NFL against opposing tight ends. ... Vinatieri ranks seventh in kicker fantasy points, and would be higher if not for the team-wide implosion two weeks ago vs. St. Louis.
If Richardson ends up out for Sunday’s game -- he’s a question mark with injury -- Brown becomes a must-start. As it stands, he’s still a fairly solid play, with consecutive double-digit fantasy games, as he has pretty solidly surpassed Richardson on the team’s depth chart. ... The Colts’ defense has been average at best this season, but the Cardinals have been pretty generous to opposing defenses. It has struggled against the pass, so this is a play that could blow up, as well, but there’s a chance.
Anyone still starting Richardson hasn’t been paying attention, but hey, you do you, guys. Keep making bad choices. ... Heyward-Bey is not worth much of anything at this point.
Cardinals
Start in every league: Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd, Defense/special teams
Start if you're desperate: Carson Palmer, Rob Housler, Jay Feely
The Colts have allowed 36 or more fantasy points to wide receivers in three of its last four games; that can only herald good things for Fitzgerald and Floyd. Both stand to have strong games. ... The Cardinals’ defense rank fifth in the NFL in fantasy scoring, with at least nine fantasy points in three straight games.
Palmer has his best game of the season Sunday, with his best yardage total, fewest interceptions, and most fantasy points. He ranks only 20th among quarterbacks in fantasy scoring on the season, but he’s averaged almost 15 points a game in his last five after nine per game in his first five. ... Speaking of improving over the course of the season, Housler had 12 fantasy points total through Week 9, and has scored 18 in his last two. He’s still hard to rely on, but things are looking up. ... Feely has scored at least nine fantasy points in four straight games.
Talent-wise, Ellington deserves a fantasy start, but until he gets a more decisive split of the touches over Mendenhall, neither one is usable. Frustrating to watch for those who bought in on Ellington after his huge Week 8, but overall, until the Cardinals pick one, hold off. ... While Floyd and Fitzgerald should be fine against the Colts, Roberts has only managed double-digit fantasy points once all season. There aren’t enough touches to go around in Arizona.
• Week 12 fantasy football position rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST
• Week 12 fantasy football waiver wire advice: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST
