Jonathan Taylor's Workload Gives Him RB1 Upside In Week 16
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has 21 or more carries in four of the last five contests with virtually no competition for touches from the other running backs on the team. That is, except for Anthony Richardson who has scored four times on the ground over the last four weeks while Taylor hasn't scored via the rush since Week 8. The 25-year-old nearly had one last week but dropped the ball in celebration before crossing the goal line, resulting in a lost fumble instead. Expect the former second-round draft pick to get a healthy dose of touches again in Week 16 against Tennessee, especially given how good the Titans' pass defense has been, allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing receivers compared to a rush defense yielding the 13th-most points to opposing backs. The fifth-year pro falls to a high-end RB2 in this week's matchup, who should get plenty of work and comes with RB1 upside if he's able to find the end zone.
Jonathan Taylor's Blunder Prevents A Strong Fantasy Day In Loss
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor handled a heavy workload in Sunday's 31-13 loss to the Broncos, rushing 22 times for 107 yards and adding one reception for four yards. However, it could have been a great day had he not celebrated a would-be touchdown too early, dropping the ball before he crossed the goal line which ended up being a fumble, not six points on the board. Nevertheless, it was the fourth time in five games that the 25-year-old handled more than 20 touches and the seventh time in 11 games he's gone over 100 total yards rushing and receiving. Next week's home matchup versus the Titans should offer another chance to score, as the Titans have allowed four rushing TDs over the last three weeks, and there aren't many backs who garner as many weekly opportunities as Taylor. Still, the former second-round draft pick is likely a borderline RB1/2 again with the threat of Anthony Richardson taking away a chunk of the goal line work and killing drives with turnovers.
Jonathan Taylor Falls To The Ranks Of RB2 In Week 15
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor received 25 carries in Week 13, even with Anthony Richardson logging nine rush attempts of his own, nearly topping the century mark in rush yards with 96. It was the sixth time this season that the 25-year-old was given 20 or more carries in the 10 games he's played, however, he's been almost entirely phased out of the passing attack. Even though the former second-round draft pick caught a touchdown pass in Week 13, it was his only target in the contest after not receiving even a single target the prior week. Without consistent receiving work, the former Pro Bowler is reliant on high volume in the running game as Richardson has monopolized the goal line work, tallying three rushing touchdowns and a two-point conversion on the ground over the last three weeks since being reinserted as the starting QB. High volume is not a given in Week 15 against a Denver defense that has allowed the 12th-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs and with the Colts as five-point road underdogs, they may be in catch-up mode for the latter part of this game. As talented as he is, the fifth-year pro projects only as a mid-to-low-end RB2 this week.
Jonathan Taylor Eclipses 100 Total Yards, Catches TD In Victory
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor rushed 25 times for 96 yards and caught his lone target for a seven-yard touchdown in Sunday's 25-24 win over the Patriots. After posting duds in three of his last four games, the 25-year-old got back on track in Week 14, eclipsing 100 total yards for the fifth time this season and scoring for the first time since Week 8. It was encouraging to see that he could still log a full workload even with QB Anthony Richardson rushing nine times in the contest as well, and his lone pass target was one more than he had last week. The former second-round draft pick may get a chance to keep rolling when they take on a strong Denver pass defense after they come out of the bye, but the Broncos are allowing just 3.8 yards per rush, fourth-lowest in the NFL, so it could be a challenge for the Indy offense no matter which way they attempt to attack.
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has had less than 60 yards rushing in three of his last four contests and bottomed out in the passing game last week, not having garnered even a single target. The 25-year-old will face the Patriots on Sunday, a defense that has been middle-of-the-pack against the run. While cold conditions at Gillette Stadium might warrant going to the ground game a bit more this week, the problem for Taylor is that quarterback Anthony Richardson has eaten into his workload, with the QB rushing 20 times over the last two games. Last week that meant that Taylor was left with just 11 rush attempts, although that was also partly due to the fact that the Colts were playing catch-up from the start. Richardson also scored twice on the ground two weeks ago, taking away potential touchdowns for the fifth-year back, which further diminishes Taylor's upside. As such, the former second-round draft pick projects as a borderline RB1/2 this week.
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor was held to just 35 scoreless yards on 11 carries in Sunday's 24-6 loss to the Lions, and he was not targeted in the passing game. The former second-round pick hasn't really been involved in the passing game anyway, but with Anthony Richardson being reinserted under center, the mobile quarterback has negatively impacted Taylor's role in the offense. Richardson totaled 61 yards on 10 carries on Sunday, and last week, it was Richardson who scored twice on the ground -- not Taylor. It hasn't helped that the Colts have played the Jets and the Lions, two teams that have been good against the run. Things should get a bit easier next week against the Patriots, but with the reemergence of Richardson's legs and with Taylor a non-factor through the air, the 25-year-old will likely get bounced from the ranks of RB1 status.
Jonathan Taylor A Back-End RB1 Versus Detroit In Week 12
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor was held to under 100 total yards rushing and receiving last Sunday for the second time in three weeks. While Week 12's showdown with the Lions looks like another tough matchup on paper, with the Lions allowing the fifth-fewest rushing yards per game thus far and the fourth-fewest fantasy points to running backs, if the Colts wish to keep this game close then they will have to run the ball to kill the clock and limit Detroit's opportunities, which in turn should benefit the 25-year-old. If the game gets out of reach, however, the Colts will find themselves in catch-up mode using the passing game, which Taylor has not been heavily involved in to this point, averaging less than two receptions per game for less than 14 yards per contest. Nevertheless, the talented former second-round draft pick projects as a back-end RB1 this week.
Jonathan Taylor Held In Check By Jets Defense In Week 11
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor was bottled up by the Jets defense on Sunday, allowing the 25-year-old to gain just 57 yards on 24 carries, good for only 2.4 yards per carry. He added one catch for three yards as well, but was unable to find paydirt on the ground or through the air. Nevertheless, the Colts were able to pull out the 28-27 victory in the Meadowlands anyway. The Jets hadn't been as strong against the run in recent weeks but reasserted itself on Sunday, with the exception of allowing quarterback Anthony Richardson to score twice on the ground. Taylor will have another tall task on tap in Week 12 against the Lions, a top-five defense against the run, but the former second-round draft pick likely still slots in as an RB1 again.
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has been highly effective when healthy this season, playing in seven of the Colts' 10 games and averaging 88.0 YPG rushing while adding 12 catches for 108 yards receiving. Along with five TDs on the year, the 25-year-old has been one of the lone bright spots on offense in 2024. With Anthony Richardson back at QB in Week 11, the Colts will likely lean more heavily on the ground attack versus the Jets who have been weak against the run over their past four contests, allowing a pair of 100-yard rushers and five scores during that time. Even so, with the uncertainty at quarterback and the Colts as four-point underdogs in a game with a low expected total, Taylor figures to be more of a fringe RB1 in Week 11.
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor rushed 21 times for 114 yards in Sunday's 30-20 loss to the Bills, tacking on two receptions for eight yards. While it was an overall good day for the 25-year-old back, 58 of his rush yards came on a single play with five minutes left in the first quarter, so he was held somewhat in check afterward. Also, to the dismay of fantasy managers, running back Tyler Goodson -- not Taylor -- was on the receiving end of a Joe Flacco touchdown pass despite not receiving a single carry in the contest. Nevertheless, it was the fifth time in the last six games Taylor has played that the former second-round pick has gone over 100 total yards. He'll be an RB1 again in Week 11 against a Jets defense that has yielded five rushing touchdowns in their last four games, including allowing James Conner to go over 100 total yards and a score in Week 10.
Jonathan Taylor
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Colts
