DraftKings Week 12 Thursday Night Showdown: Picks, advice for Texans vs. Colts NFL DFS

Billy Heyen

DraftKings Week 12 Thursday Night Showdown: Picks, advice for Texans vs. Colts NFL DFS image

Texans vs. Colts on Thursday Night Football gives us a prime-time opportunity to appreciate Deshaun Watson. The Colts will have an interesting test at putting together a competent roster around Jacoby Brissett because the injury bug has bit them left and right. That gives a great opportunity for value in DraftKings Showdown contests because NFL DFS players love to find cheaply priced injury replacements.

With more Colts healthy than expected, we're fading Indy and going with a Houston-heavy lineup. Hopefully using Jacoby Brissett means we don't miss out on the Indy offense entirely, but otherwise, we're counting on the Texans' passing game to carry us.

Note: This lineup has been updated to reflect the health of Jordan Wilkins and T.Y. Hilton.

WEEK 12 NON-PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

DraftKings Showdown Picks: Texans vs. Colts

Captain (1.5x price, 1.5x points): WR DeAndre Hopkins, Texans ($16,500)

Will Fuller's health isn't a certainty, and even if he plays through a hamstring injury, it's not obvious whether he'll get a full allotment of snaps. We might as well just play the top wideout Houston has in a guaranteed heavy volume spot. 

FLEX: QB Deshaun Watson, Texans ($11,600)

I find it nearly impossible to ever fade the stud quarterback in one of these prime-time slates. The Colts' defense isn't good enough to give me any pause about playing Watson. 

WEEK 12 PPR RANKINGS: Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end

FLEX: QB Jacoby Brissett, Colts ($10,400)

Brissett hasn't been as good as he was early in the season, but we're trying to lock down touchdowns in this game and Houston can be thrown against no matter which Indianapolis receivers are healthy enough to take the field.

FLEX: Houston Texans D/ST ($4,200)

With Brissett the only Indianapolis representative in our lineup, we'll buy in to the Houston defense despite its struggles against the pass. Hopefully they can limit a team with no strong running game.

FLEX: K Kai'imi Fairbairn ($3,800)

We've gone all in on the Houston offense, so might as well play the kicker, too.

FLEX: TE Darren Fells, Texans ($3,400)

Fells has been a touchdown machine this season, and it's odd that he's priced below both Eric Ebron and Jack Doyle. It's a great way to stack the Houston passing attack and avoid the secondary receiver mess that there could be for the Texans.

Billy Heyen