In the wake of the season-ending ACL injury to star wide receiver Reggie Wayne, the Indianapolis Colts have to hope the rest of the team's receiving corps can pick up the slack in order for the team to continue its hot start to the season. Perhaps the most important pass-catcher to that goal is second-year receiver T.Y. Hilton, who takes over the de facto lead receiver role starting Sunday against the Houston Texans.
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 9: T.Y. Hilton
The Colts wide receiver becomes the team’s No. 1 with Reggie Wayne lost for the year. Can he replace the star’s production? We break down the fantasy implications.
Patrick McDermott
Hilton has been up and down this year; he has two games of more than 100 yards, including a 140-yard, two-touchdown game in Week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks, but has not exceeded 45 yards in any of the team's other five games.
Fantasy impact: On the plus side, Hilton is on pace for almost 950 yards on the season. On the down side, the two scores he had in Week 5 are his only two touchdowns of the season. Fantasy owners and the Colts will need the numbers to rise in both of those categories in order for Hilton to live up to his preseason hype.
With Wayne out, Hilton's targets -- which have only reached double digits twice -- should rise, as should the targets of Darrius Heyward-Bey and LaVon Brazill. No receiver is going to be what Wayne was to that offense, but there's no reason to expect Hilton to shy away from his increased responsibilities. He ought to be a fine wide receiver play in Week 9.
• Week 9 fantasy football rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST
• Week 9 fantasy football waiver wire: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST
