Fantasy football season is in the air and the unique offseason is causing more questions than answers as we enter our fantasy football drafts. Today we focus on Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor and his fantasy football potential this year.
Jonathan Taylor’s fantasy football ADP
Average Draft Position on MyFantasyLeague: 38.23 (12 teams, PPR redrafts)
Reasons to draft Jonathan Taylor
- Taylor was highly productive in all three seasons for the University of Wisconsin, rushing for 6,174 yards and 50 touchdowns in 41 career games.
- At the NFL Combine, Taylor tested like an elite athlete, running a 4.39 40-yard dash at 226 pounds. He’s got ideal size and explosiveness as he projects as a workhorse back in the NFL.
- Not only will the Colts return all five of their offensive linemen this season, but they continue to be one of the best run-blocking units in the NFL.
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Reasons not to draft Jonathan Taylor
- Despite an incredibly productive college career, Taylor caught only 42 career passes at Wisconsin. And with passing-down specialist Nyhiem Hines on the Indy roster, it seems unlikely Taylor will see many targets as a rookie.
- Taylor will open up the season behind veteran RB Marlon Mack, who rushed 1,091 yards and eight touchdowns in 14 games last season. Even if Taylor is eventually named the starter, Mack will see touches, as well.
Where should I draft Jonathan Taylor in fantasy football drafts?
Coming into the 2020 NFL Draft, Taylor was widely regarded as the best pure running back in the draft. Taylor was a superstar at Wisconsin, finishing inside the top 10 in Heisman voting in all three of his collegiate seasons.
Taylor wound up as the second RB drafted in his class, landing in an ideal situation with the Indianapolis Colts. Playing behind one of the league’s best offensive lines, Taylor could quickly become one of the favorites to lead the league in rushing if given a full workload. However, that is the rub with Taylor.
He is currently expected to split snaps with veterans Mack and Hines, who were both effective last year with the Colts. While Taylor could eventually win the starting job in time, he will likely be part of a committee for most of the season.
Taylor is currently being drafted at the bottom of the third round in 12-team leagues with his ADP rising by the day. He is currently the 17th running back off the board and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he surpassed players like Todd Gurley and Leonard Fournette in the upcoming days.
While Taylor could be stuck in a committee to start the season, the upside is enormous. If given 18 to 20 touches per game, it’s not hard to see him having a Josh Jacobs-like rookie season with even more touchdown potential. And if the Colts embrace him as a full-time lead back, it’s not inconceivable that he could finish the season as a top-five running back.
Given that his price tag is still relatively cheap considering his talent level and the situation, don’t be afraid to spend a third-round pick on Taylor in your drafts. He could easily outproduce his ADP by midway into the season.
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