The Houston Texans have Arian Foster back healthy and heading into Week 5 he should have a bigger workload along with DeAndre Hopkins after the blowout loss last week. Nate Washington and Cecil Shorts will be out Week 5 on Thursday and that makes Keith Mumphery a sleeper option for starter Ryan Mallett against the Colts.
Foster comes in after making his return in Week 4 following groin surgery earlier in the summer. Foster did not get the chance to do much, as the Texans went down big early and had to abandon their game plan. Foster likely was not going to get a heavy workload anyway since it was his first game back and now he could be in line with his usual stats on Thursday night. According to the Houston Chronicle, Foster will have an "increased role" against the Colts and Aaron Wilson writes that it could "dramatically increase" depending on how the game develops.
Ryan Mallett is getting another start for the Texans over Brian Hoyer and the way the passing game has been rolling, it could mean a big day for Foster. The Texans have been struggling on offense and with two of the top wide receivers out for the game, Foster may be relied on quite a bit on Thursday. According to Pro Football Talk, both Nate Washington and Cecil Shorts have been ruled out for the game. Shorts is dealing with a shoulder injury, while Washington has a hamstring injury and also will not play.
Mumphery is a sleeper pickup option for the Texans and players like Chandler Worthy and Jaelen Strong could get some work behind Hopkins. Those players being out means Hopkins will be getting the bulk of the targets and he is facing off against a banged up Colts secondary. While the Colts could focus in on Hopkins, he has been getting doubled up quite a bit this season and has still been able to put up solid numbers. Even with Mallett struggling overall, Hopkins is worth starting.
Strong is not worth starting yet, as he has not proven that he can get anything done and has not made it on the field yet, but he likely will play this week. The Texans are also going to be playing without Jonathan Grimes and Quintin Demps and Grimes being out could mean some extra work for Alfred Blue behind Foster, but expect Foster to get the bulk of the offense on Thursday.
Mallett is getting another chance to start over Brian Hoyer this week, as head coach Bill O'Brien said that "it's important to stay with Ryan right now" despite putting Brian Hoyer in last week. Mallett has three touchdowns and three picks this season and is completing just 51 percent of his passes in four games played. Mumphery comes in with six catches this season and he is going to get a chance to step up against the Colts on Thursday night and is worth a look for deep league teams.