Kamar Aiken Daily Fantasy News, Rankings, Projections

Alshon Jeffery is unlikely to play in Week 3, per Schefter. This isn't a real surprise as it's been the prevailing thought most of the week. It affirms Zach Ertz as a top two TE play on the main slate and should continue to lock Nelson Agholor into 7-10 targets a week. Kamar Aiken, Shelton Gibson and the newly acquired Jordan Matthews (who isn't available on either FanDuel or DraftKings) will help fill in behind Agholor.

Aiken was absent last game as he rehabbed a hamstring injury. It appears the bye week treated him well as he was able to practice all week and will be able to play this Sunday against the Titans. He should replace Chester Rogers in the slot where he'll see plenty of Logan Ryan, PFF's 35th-ranked cover corner. Ryan is allowing a friendly 0.34 fantasy points per route defended but it's doubtful Aiken picks up a high enough volume to exploit the matchup - he hasn't caught more than three passes all season. Simon hasn't played since Week 7. His return would be a boost for their run defense as he's the 22nd-ranked edge defender in the area. The Colts are currently 20th in adjusted line yards and giving up the seventh-most PPR points to RBs. DeMarco Murray seized control of the Titans backfield over the past two games, playing 77% of the snaps but he bombed last week, picking up just 10 rushing yards on eight carries. Although he popped off in Week 10 for three TDs, it was a bit flukey and he hasn't averaged more than 3.3 yards per carry in any of the past five games. It's possible Derrick Henry picks up more playing time this weekend.

Aiken was absent last game as he tended to a hamstring injury. It appears the bye week treated him well as he was able to practice in a limited fashion Wednesday and appears on track to return this Sunday against the Titans. He should replace Chester Rogers in the slot where he'll see plenty of Logan Ryan, PFF's 35th-ranked cover corner. Ryan is allowing a friendly 0.34 fantasy points per route defended but it's doubtful Aiken picks up a high enough volume to exploit the matchup. He hasn't caught more than three passes all season. Simon hasn't played since Week 7. His return would be a boost for their run defense; he's the 22nd-ranked edge defender against the rush. The Colts are currently 20th in adjusted line yards and giving up the seventh-most PPR points to RBs. DeMarco Murray has seized control of the Titans backfield over the past two games, playing 77% of the snaps but he bombed last week, picking up just 10 rushing yards on eight carries. Although he popped off in Week 10 for three TDs, it was a bit flukey and he hasn't averaged more than 3.3 yards per carry over the past five games. It's possible Derrick Henry picks up more playing time this weekend.

Hilton has been limited in practice after suffering a groin injury this week. If he's able to play Sunday, he'll have a tough matchup with the Steelers, whose defense ranks fifth in pass DVOA (per FO) and has limited receivers to the second-fewest PPR points per game. He'll mainly line up across from Joe Haden, who's posted the fifth-best yards per cover snap since Week 2 (0.57, per PFF). When he slips into the slot, he'll see Mike Hilton, who's allowed the third-fewest yards when lined up inside among full-time slot CBs (96). With the added injury risk, it may be best to not chase his big game against a much weaker Texans pass defense. Aiken's absence opens up 4.1 targets per game that will be split up among Hilton, Jack Doyle, Donte Moncrief, and Chester Rogers, who will step into the WR3 role. Doyle has been a go-to for QB Jacoby Brissett, averaging 10.0 targets per game over the past four weeks. Pittsburgh has been similarly proficient shutting down tight ends though, ranking second in DVOA while allowing the tenth-fewest PPR points to the position.

With S Malik Hooker out for the year, Green and Butler could rotate at safety.The Colts are already going to be without Rashaan Melvin against A.J. Green and the Bengals, if they have to dig further into their bench for safety support, it could spell serious trouble.

The tight end is in the concussion protocol and he's been limited all week. A Friday downgrade is a very bad sign for his chances of suiting up this weekend; he appears to be on the doubtful side of things now. If he's out, it'll provide Darrell Daniels and Brandon Williams more snaps, both of whom have been targeted five or fewer times through four games and will have a tough draw against a 49ers defense that ranks first in TE DVOA. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett has displayed a real connection with Doyle, targeting him the second-most on the team, and the tight end's absence may hurt Brissett's chances of success against the 49ers. On paper, the matchup looks solid as San Francisco ranks 26th in pass DVOA and has allowed the tenth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. However, it may be a tough matchup for Brissett's personnel. Without Doyle, T.Y. Hilton should pick up more looks but the 49ers have allowed just 49.9 yards per game to WR1s this year (9th-fewest, per FO). SF ranks 29th in WR2 and other WR DVOA but Brissett has only completed 50% of his passes to Donte Moncrief across his three starts and 33% to Kamar Aiken for just 44 yards. The 49ers are also allowing the most passes to RBs this season (10.1) while the Colts have hardly used their backs in the passing game - Frank Gore, Robert Turbin, and Marlon Mack have combined for 2.5 receptions per game. Perhaps Hilton can overcome the 49ers' trend against WR1s like Sammy Watkins did in Week 3 (6/106/2); he'll get plenty of run against Rashard Robinson on the outside and K'Waun Williams in the slot. The former has allowed two scores and the latter has given up the fourth-most yards after catch (111). Both have allowed passer ratings of 97.5 or higher. On top of that, his market share should shoot through the roof as Doyle's absence leaves 20.7% of the Colts' targets unaccounted for.

That makes it two practices in a row for Aiken after he suffered a concussion on Sunday. Mack was inactive in Week 3, but his return to a limited session is a step in the right direction. Aiken hasn't had too much of an impact this season, catching just five passes for 43 scoreless yards. If he clears the concussion protocol in time to play Sunday, he won't be a very strong fantasy option as quarterback Jacoby Brissett will continue to look for T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief, and Jack Doyle ahead of him. If Mack returns, he'll return to his backup role behind Frank Gore.

Aiken exited early in Week 3 after suffering a concussion. Quan Bray ended up playing 50% of the offensive snaps while tight end Jack Doyle played 100% and the Colts added a second tight end on 50% of their plays. Doyle has now played on 97.3% of their offensive snaps this season and with Aiken sidelined against the Browns, he ran a route 95.3% of the time. It didn't lead to a big stat line (2/5/16/0) this time around as T.Y. Hilton was doing most of the damage, but he would continue to run a ton of routes if Aiken is out in Week 4. Plus, quarterback Jacoby Brissett may need to rely on him like he did in Week 2 (8/8/79/0) if the Seahawks corners give T.Y. Hilton more trouble than the Browns did.