Injury Update: Colts place guard Joe Haeg on IR www.thecoltsfootballauthentic.com , hopeful he can return Just when they finally start to get their offensive line sorted out on the interior, the Colts run into a slew of injuries at the tackle position that leave them scrambling. The loss of Anthony Castonzo for the early part of the season has left the Colts shuffling players around to fill in. Joe Haeg played week one at left tackle with J’Marcus Webb holding down the right tackle spot.Week two saw Haeg shift to the right side and Le’Raven Clark did his best to hold down the left side after Webb was lost for the season. Now it looks as though Haeg will be going to injured reserve with the hope that he can return in November when his ankle is healed.The return of Denzelle Good as well as the hopefully impending return of Anthony Castonzo means that the picture might not be as bleak in the near future, but right now, the Colts enter Sunday’s game with just two healthy offensive tackles and guard Braden Smith, who has practiced at right tackle, as a potential backup should someone need to leave due to injury.Having Joe Haeg healthy on this roster has been invaluable, as he has proven a capable backup at just about every position across the line. His loss for a significant amount of time makes it even more critical that the Colts get Castonzo back and healthy. Until then, the offense is likely to struggle as they have made it their primary goal to keep Andrew Luck healthy, which has meant getting the ball out quickly. Without better blocking, they will continue to be a very limited offense. A majority of fantasy football research tends to focus on running backs, wide receivers and quarterbacks. But the other three positions are equally as crucial and can ultimately help you win your league. Knowing the right time to grab a tight end and when to keep waiting is key, as is your weekly strategy for defenses and even kickers.Tight end is deep, with more than 20 players that could realistically finish the season inside the top 10 at the position. However, there are a few sharp drops in talent that make it better to consider drafting tight ends based on tiers.The upper echelon is clear with Rob Gronkowski of New England, Travis Kelce of Kansas City and Zach Ertz of Philadelphia. In order to grab one of them, though, you need to be prepared to burn an early pick. Gronkowski offers upside that is head and shoulders above everyone else, but he also hasn't played a full season since 2011. Kelce is coming off back-to-back years with over 1,000 yards and 80-plus receptions, along with a career high eight TDs. He was locked in with Alex Smith, so the QB change to Patrick Mahomes could hurt his outlook. Zach Ertz has been a consistent threat with at least 70 catches and 800 yards in three straight seasons. He doubled his career high in TDs and further red zone attention could push him past Gronkowski and Kelce this year.The second tier has more uncertainty and not quite as much upside, but will still get you a "set it-and-forget it" type of player. Jimmy Graham switched from one great QB to probably the best in the game with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. He should continue to see a massive amount of red zone work but his production between the 20s will ultimately decide whether he's an elite weekly option this year or a TD-reliant back-end starter. Giants tight end Evan Engram took advantage of Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall injuries to turn in an impressive rookie season with 64 catches, 722 yards and six touchdowns. He could end up the second receiving option this season for New York.Tennessee's Delanie Walker has been as solid as they come over the past four years, especially in point-per-reception leagues. Carolina's Greg Olsen is coming off an injury-riddled season, but do not forget about the consistent TE1 production he provided in previous seasons. Minnesota's Kyle Rudolph should be one of Kirk Cousins' favorite targets, particularly in the red zone.If you wait on the TE position, you can target potential breakout candidates Trey Burton (Chicago), George Kittle (San Francisco) Indianapolis Colts T-Shirt , David Njoku (Cleveland) or O.J. Howard (Tampa Bay). Washington's oft-injured Jordan Reed is more name than game at this point but he could be a viable weapon for Alex Smith. The same can be said about Tyler Eifert in Cincinnati.Veterans Jared Cook (Oakland), Charles Clay (Buffalo), Ben Watson (New Orleans) and Austin Seferian-Jenkins (Jacksonville) may not be exciting, high upside selections, but they all could finish as starting-caliber options. Jack Doyle could as well in Indianapolis, if Eric Ebron doesn't eat into his upside. Streamers and deep leaguers that waited too long can also consider Ricky Seals-Jones (Arizona), Vance McDonald (Pittsburgh), Hayden Hurst (Baltimore), Nick Vannett (Seattle) and Austin Hooper (Atlanta). That's a good amount of upside for going almost 30 players deep at the position.DEFENSEStreaming defenses based on matchups is a strong method if you are active on the waiver wire. This is a great way to exploit weak offenses and cycle through available defenses on an as-needed basis. You should know going in that there is more legwork required if you go this route. It is also a great strategy that allows you to focus your draft capital on position players while waiting until the final rounds before investing in a defense. The Saints are home for two games against the Buccaneers (sans Jameis Winston) and the Browns to open the season. The Lions, Titans and Ravens also have attractive opening weekend matchups, though you may need to grab the latter two units before the last round.If you feel more comfortable riding one consistently good defense throughout the year regardless of matchup, you may be forced to consider taking a top option earlier than the 15th round. The Jaguars defense rose to prominence last season and they should be just as dominant in 2018. The Vikings and Eagles also have the personnel to stay among the league's elite fantasy defenses. The Texans should rebound after an injury-filled season and the Packers beefed up their defense with impact veteran and draft day additions. The Patriots are expected to rebound from a mediocre season to be a top 10 defense. Green Bay and New England are not quite in the same grouping as the others mentioned here and can be nabbed if you pass on the very elite defenses.KICKERSWhile it is often debated whether kickers should be eliminated from fantasy rosters, a majority of leagues still require owners to start one each week. There is too much variance from week to week in what becomes a gamble to determine which kicker to play. The best way to address the position is to wait until the last round before drafting one. Better yet, take a high upside position player in the last round and then cut someone from your roster prior to Week 1 for a kicker — if it's allowable under your league rules. Depending on when your draft occurs, this buys you more time with your roster before deciding who needs to go.When selecting your kicker for the year (or the week), a general rule is to focus on high-powered offenses. Yes, there will be outliers to this, but it will help you more often than not. If you are looking for the cream of the kicker crop, Greg Zuerlein, Stephen Gostkowski, Justin Tucker, Matt Bryant and Will Lutz are great bets. Robbie Gould, Matt Prater, Jake Elliott and Chris Boswell are viable options as well. Otherwise, start streaming with a kicker that plays against a weak defense and cycle through the waiver wire as needed.ROTOEXPERTS TOP 15 TIGHT ENDSRob Gronkowski, New England PatriotsZach Ertz, Philadelphia EaglesTravis Kelce, Kansas City ChiefsEvan Engram Indianapolis Colts Hats , New York GiantsJimmy Graham, Green Bay PackersJack Doyle, Indianapolis ColtsGreg Olsen, Carolina PanthersDelanie Walker, Tennessee TitansGeorge Kittle, San Francisco 49ersKyle Rudolph, Minnesota VikingsJordan Reed, Washington RedskinsRicky Seals-Jones, Arizona CardinalsCameron Brate, Tampa Bay BuccaneersTrey Burton, Chicago BearsAustin Hooper, Atlanta FalconsTOP 15 DEFENSESJacksonville JaguarsPhiladelphia EaglesLos Angeles RamsLos Angeles ChargersMinnesota VikingsPittsburgh SteelersDenver BroncosBaltimore RavensSeattle SeahawksNew England PatriotsKansas City ChiefsCarolina PanthersDetroit LionsChicago BearsNew Orleans SaintsTOP 15 KICKERSStephen Gostkowski, New England PatriotsJustin Tucker, Baltimore RavensAdam Vinatieri, Indianapolis ColtsJosh Lambo, Jacksonville JaguarsChris Boswell, Pittsburgh SteelersWil Lutz, New Orleans SaintsJake Elliott, Philadelphia EaglesMason Crosby, Green Bay PackersCaleb Sturgis, Los Angeles ChargersMatt Bryant, Atlanta FalconsKai Forbath, Minnesota VikingsMatt Prater, Detroit LionsRobbie Gould, San Francisco 49ersPhil Dawson, Arizona CardinalsRyan Succop, Tennessee Titans
