2024 RTSports Outlook

Taylor held out to start the year in search of a new contract and finally got one, but missed four games before getting on the field in Week 5. And he started the season really slow, having fewer than 20-rushing yards each of his first two games. Taylor also missed three games because of injury, starting in Week 13. Taylor ended the year on a high note, showing why the Colts gave him a big contract. He had touchdowns three straight games to end the season and ran 30 times for 188 yards his last game of the year. Taylor ended the season with 894 total yards and eight touchdowns in 10 games. If he plays a full year, he gets 1,520 total yards and 14 touchdowns. And Taylor had the best yards after contact average (2.7) for running backs, showing he was very hard to bring down. And his numbers before contact were not good, averaging just 1.7 yards per carry before contact. So the Colts offensive line didn't make many big holes for him. If that unit can get better, look for Taylor's rushing numbers to go way up. Taylor is going to be the starting back for the Colts for years to come. He is just 25 years old and has plenty of good years left. Last season was his first as a pro failing to hit 1,000 total yards. Taylor is a complete back that can play three downs. He is a top athlete that can carry the load. He catches the ball well and can make plays between the tackles. Taylor also has very good speed and the ability to make plenty of plays on the outside.

FANTASY OUTLOOK: Taylor is a good buy-low candidate after last season. He can get it going again, showing that late last season. You have to remember he missed all of training camp last year, going into the season a little cold. The only concern for him is Anthony Richardson taking rushing touchdowns from him. That is a possibility. But even with that said, Taylor is a top-five fantasy back. Taylor can get around 1,700 total yards, 15 total touchdowns and 45 receptions.

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RotoBaller's Outlook

Jonathan Taylor was known as an iron-man type of player, having never missed a game or a practice in his career, including high school, however, his last two seasons in the NFL have been riddled with nagging injuries that have limited him to 21 games over that span. This could be very concerning to some, and it has resulted in Taylor being a tremendous value in fantasy leagues this upcoming season. The injuries Taylor dealt with were in his ankle and his thumb, so there should be no lingering effects heading into 2024, and he is still one of the best pound-for-pound running backs in the league. At full strength, Taylor has break-away speed to house every touch, elite contact balance to break through tackles and create yards on his own, and bruising power to get the tough yards on critical downs and at the goal line. He will also enter this season having had a full offseason with the team after holding out last year for a new contract. Further, Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is a Lamar Jackson-esque running threat which will open up a ton of running lanes for Taylor, an element the team lacked entirely with Gardner Minshew under center. When you add it all up, Taylor is the perfect recipe for league-winning upside because fantasy managers are sleeping on the truly elite player that he can be. He has been paid, he is fully healthy, and the team is hungry. His current ADP sits at the top of the second round at RB5, and I think you are getting a player who could easily finish as the RB2 behind Christian McCaffery. It doesn't sound like much of a jump, but when you can pair him with an elite WR, which you will not be able to do with McCaffery, everyone else in the league will be playing catch-up.

Jonathan Taylor was known as an iron-man type of player, having never missed a game or a practice in his career, including high school, however, his last two seasons in the NFL have been riddled with nagging injuries that have limited him to 21 games over that span. This could be very concerning to some, and it has resulted in Taylor being a tremendous value in fantasy leagues this upcoming season. The injuries Taylor dealt with were in his ankle and his thumb, so there should be no lingering effects heading into 2024, and he is still one of the best pound-for-pound running backs in the league. At full strength, Taylor has break-away speed to house every touch, elite contact balance to break through tackles and create yards on his own, and bruising power to get the tough yards on critical downs and at the goal line. He will also enter this season having had a full offseason with the team after holding out last year for a new contract. Further, Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is a Lamar Jackson-esque running threat which will open up a ton of running lanes for Taylor, an element the team lacked entirely with Gardner Minshew under center. When you add it all up, Taylor is the perfect recipe for league-winning upside because fantasy managers are sleeping on the truly elite player that he can be. He has been paid, he is fully healthy, and the team is hungry. His current ADP sits at the top of the second round at RB5, and I think you are getting a player who could easily finish as the RB2 behind Christian McCaffery. It doesn't sound like much of a jump, but when you can pair him with an elite WR, which you will not be able to do with McCaffery, everyone else in the league will be playing catch-up.