DJ Giddens Fantasy Stats

Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens was a popular selection in rookie drafts last year because of his role behind Jonathan Taylor. Managers saw that Taylor had missed 16 games over the last three seasons and believed that Giddens could end up starting some games if the star running back missed time. The logic was sound, but Taylor ended up having one of the healthiest and most successful seasons of his career, logging 1,963 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns without missing any games. Giddens had 12 carries for 41 yards in Week 1, but he was limited to just six touches over the next six weeks as Taylor played the vast majority of the snaps. The rookie ended up being a healthy scratch for roughly half the season, as Indianapolis rotated him, Tyler Goodson, and Ameer Abdullah in depth roles. Giddens got back into action in Week 18, rushing for 30 carries on eight yards. In games where he played at least one-quarter of the snaps, Giddens averaged 10 touches and 3.55 yards per carry. He wasn't amazing by any means, but he flashed enough upside to suggest that the Colts could turn to him as Taylor's primary backup in 2026. Now, we're back in a familiar situation, with Giddens' fantasy value hinging on Taylor's availability. The Kansas State product should be viewed as an encouraging buy-low option in dynasty leagues this offseason, especially for managers who roster Taylor and want to also add his handcuff.

A fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens failed to make much of an impact in his rookie season. Across nine games played, the 23-year-old recorded 26 carries for 96 yards and failed to reach the end zone. Giddens struggled to crack the Colts' active roster on game days for a sizable portion of the season, with veteran backs Tyler Goodson and Ameer Abdullah serving as the team's primary backups behind star running back Jonathan Taylor. As long as Taylor remains healthy, it will be difficult for any other Colts running back to see the field consistently. Giddens also did not record a single reception and earned just two targets in his rookie season, so he may not be positioned to play a complementary third-down role alongside Taylor. Giddens could be given a larger opportunity to prove himself in his second NFL season, but his dynasty value is trending in the wrong direction after his quiet rookie year.

Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens is a healthy scratch ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Giddens won't be active for the third straight game as he hasn't played since Week 7. The Colts will ride with Tyler Goodson and Ameer Abdullah as the backups to Jonathan Taylor. So far this season, Giddens has rushed the ball 18 times for 66 yards with zero touchdowns. He could be worth stashing in dynasty leagues, but doesn't need to be rostered outside of that.

Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's Week 9 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Giddens opened the year as the primary backup and handcuff behind Jonathan Taylor, but he seems to have fallen out of favor as the season goes on. Now, the rookie will watch from the sideline for the second week in a row. Ameer Abdullah and Tyler Goodson have both surpassed Giddens on the depth chart and will occupy depth roles behind Taylor once again this Sunday.

Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens was quiet in a Week 6 win over the Arizona Cardinals as he did not receive a touch while playing just two snaps on offense. The Colts surprisingly turned to Ameer Abdullah in the game as he notched two touches behind workhorse Jonathan Taylor. Giddens will look to get back in the stat sheet in a Week 7 road matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Colts are one of the few teams that lean heavily on just one running back in Taylor, which doesn't leave much work for his backups. That being said, Giddens is still worth keeping an eye on as a handcuff option in case Taylor is forced to miss time at any point, although that could change if he plays behind Abdullah again in Week 7.

Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens was busy in a Week 5 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Giddens saw his largest workload since back in Week 1 as he took five carries for 22 yards and failed to corral his lone target in a 40-6 blowout win over Las Vegas. The rookie running back will now get ready to take on the Arizona Cardinals at home in Week 6. The Cardinals are allowing the 12th-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs through five weeks, although it will be Jonathan Taylor, not Giddens, who likely gets to enjoy that matchup. That being said, Tyler Goodson (groin) will miss a second consecutive game, which will allow Giddens to operate as Taylor's main backup. This makes Giddens a very valuable handcuff in all fantasy leagues in case Taylor is forced to miss time at any point this season.

Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens will look to see a larger role in a Week 5 home matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Giddens has been quiet since a Week 1 win where he saw 12 carries. The Colts have leaned heavily on starter Jonathan Taylor since the season opener, which has cut into Giddens' workload. That being said, fellow backup running back Tyler Goodson (groin) has been ruled out for a Week 5 home matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, which will leave Giddens as the team's main backup running back behind Taylor. Giddens should not be in starting lineups in fantasy, but he remains a top handcuff option in case Taylor is forced to miss time at some point this season.

Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens has been quiet so far in his rookie season. The rookie did not receive a touch nor draw a target while playing on just 7% of the snaps in a Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. That being said, fellow backfield mate Tyler Goodson injured his groin during the loss to the Rams and could be in line to miss some time. If that happens, Giddens would stand to benefit as the team's clear-cut RB2 and would gain some fantasy value as a handcuff to star running back Jonathan Taylor. Giddens sets up as a must-roster for those with Taylor on their fantasy squads heading into a Week 5 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens has become an afterthought in his team's offense. The rookie saw 12 carries in Week 1 but has handled just one touch in the two games since, as Indy has leaned heavily on starter Jonathan Taylor. The return to health of Tyler Goodson has also cut into Giddens' workload as the former is now over a preseason elbow injury. It appears that Goodson is still behind Giddens for now, as he saw four snaps to Giddens' eight in Week 3, but his return to health muddies the backup running-back role in Indianapolis. For now, Giddens remains the better stash in case of injury to Taylor, but neither he nor Goodson is a must-roster heading into a Week 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.

Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens was minimally involved in a Week 2 win over the Denver Broncos. Giddens did not receive a carry and was unable to haul in his lone target while Jonathan Taylor hogged most of the backfield work, totalling 27 touches. The Colts will head on the road to face off against the Tennessee Titans in Week 3, a team with a run defense that is allowing the 10th-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs through two weeks. That being said, Giddens is unlikely to see much work this weekend unless the Colts get out to a big lead, leaving him as nothing more than a backend roster stash as a handcuff in fantasy leagues.