Vick Ballard is expected to start Sunday's game at New England. As we found out last week, it doesn't matter which back gets the ball first for the Colts. Ballard and Donald Brown will work in an equal timeshare, leaving both backs as mere flex options as opposed to RB2 possibilities. Delone Carter is the goal-line horse.

Vick Ballard rushed for 48 yards on 12 carries and caught two passes for 11 yards in the Colts' Week 10 win over the Jaguars on Thursday night. Ballard got the start for the Colts, but he and Donald Brown were in an even timeshare role out of the Indianapolis backfield. Brown got most of the clock-killing work in the fourth quarter, too. Owners that took the plunge and played Ballard with Brown (knee) ailing likely aren't thrilled with the decision, but it was a tough one to predict with all of the uncertainty surrounding Brown. Neither player offers much game-breaking ability and shouldn't be any more than bye week filler options for Week 11 against the Patriots.

Vick Ballard started Thursday night's game against the Jaguars over Donald Brown. Both Mike Mayock and Brad Nessler were also told that Brown was going to draw the start, so the Colts obviously had a change of plans prior to kickoff. It's safe to say that Ballard should dominate the backfield touches. Brown may just be an insurance policy tonight.

Interim coach Bruce Arians confirmed that rookie Vick Ballard's emergence in the passing game was a major factor in Mewelde Moore's release. "It was originally Mewelde, and Vick has now grown into that spot," said Arians. Ballard isn't locked into the third-down role going forward, however, as Arians suggested Donald Brown would have played on passing downs had his knee not flared up last weekend. Once Brown is back to full health, the two backs are expected to split time.

Vick Ballard rushed 20 times for 84 yards and caught a 19-yard pass in the Colts' Week 7 win over Cleveland. The Colts rotated in Delone Carter (11 carries) and Mewelde Moore (3) throughout the game, but Ballard was the lead back in the three-man committee. His 26-yard fourth-quarter run was the icer in Indianapolis' 17-13 win. Donald Brown's (knee scope) status for Week 8 against the Titans is uncertain. If Brown doesn't come back, Ballard should maintain one more week of RB2/flex value. A pedestrian runner lacking big-play ability, Ballard offers minimal upside but is capable of fantasy-viable production on voluminous workloads.

Beat writer Mike Chappell is skeptical that Vick Ballard is the answer to the Colts' running-game woes. We noticed that Ballard missed the few open holes that his underwhelming offensive line provided last week, and Chappell pointed out that he was "indecisive and slow to the hole." Even in a plus matchup versus the Browns, Ballard is just Rotoworld's No. 27 fantasy back for Week 7.

The Colts will start rookie Vick Ballard at running back in Week 6 against the Jets.

Vick Ballard rushed six times for 11 yards in Indy's Week 5 win over the Packers. Ballard has rushed at least four times in each of Indianapolis' first four games, but has accumulated a putrid 42 yards on his 21 totes. That, of course, comes out to a horrendous 2.0 yards per carry. Colts starter Donald Brown is a non-factor between the tackles, but Ballard hasn't given any indication he's ready to push him.

Rookie RB Vick Ballard is expected to enter the season as the primary backup to Donald Brown. Brown will start, but the Colts are expected to rely on a committee approach throughout the season. Ballard has already shown adequate blocking and receiving ability, and NFL Films analyst Greg Cosell opined that the fifth-rounder was clearly the Colts' best runner in preseason action. Ballard is worth stashing at the end of the roster in 12- and 14-team leagues.

Colts rookie RB Vick Ballard rushed seven times for eight yards in Saturday's preseason game against the Redskins. The Colts' offensive line was manhandled by the Redskins' front seven, providing very little in terms of running lanes. As poor as Ballard's line looks, note that, as a team, the Colts combined for just 51 yards on 26 carries (2.0 YPC). Ballard is up to 23 carries for 70 yards (3.0 YPC) this preseason. He also has an 11-yard reception. With Delone Carter and Mewelde Moore struggling with injuries, Ballard leads the No. 2 running back competition as Week 1 approaches.