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NFL.com News fantasy football takes on Jonathan Taylor

Every source-backed article insight STACKED has extracted from NFL.com News about Jonathan Taylor.

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All NFL.com News insights about Jonathan Taylor

NegativeRoleAug 1, 2026
Taylor is in the final year of his contract with the Colts at age 27. The situation is far less contentious than the last time he sought a new pact, which saw him conduct a hold-in until he got paid. When asked about his contract this summer, Taylor was cordial but made it known he'd like to continue getting paid in Indy. The source raises the question of whether the situation could turn sour again if no extension comes before camp, or if Taylor might ratchet things up. The source also notes that when Jones was out last season, defenses could sell out to stop JT, and it wasn't pretty. If Taylor is going to be asked to keep carrying a hefty load with little aid, he might want commensurate compensation into the future.
NegativeProjectionNo date
Not trading Taylor at the deadline is risky for the Colts; Taylor's age and contract don't align with the direction of the organization, so getting a second-round pick at the deadline might have been the team's best-case scenario. Taylor's value could diminish over the next two months due to underperformance or injury. Taylor's addition to a contending team could have significantly altered the Super Bowl picture; the source notes it's hard to imagine too many teams that would have looked better than the Vikings with a backfield of Cousins and Taylor, along with Jefferson and that defense. The Giants also could have become runaway division favorites with Taylor in the mix. The Patriots, chasing the Bills in the AFC East, would have improved with Taylor in the backfield after injury concerns with Rhamondre Stevenson and Treveyon Henderson.
NegativeRoleNo date
Coach Shane Steichen confirmed he is not limiting Taylor's workload despite trade rumors and injury risk concerns ahead of Week 9 against the Cowboys. Steichen stated: 'he's on our football team and he's excited for this opportunity to play. He wants to go win this game.' Taylor remains the Colts' most valuable trade asset, under contract control through an extension, and at peak performance as one of the NFL's best running backs; however, at 27 approaching 28 in January, he is not guaranteed to be part of the team's future amid the ongoing roster teardown.
NegativeBustNo date
Despite Taylor's elite individual production—rushing title in 2021, 1,431 yards in 2024, 1,585 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2025—the Colts have failed to make the playoffs in five consecutive seasons; the source argues Taylor is no longer the starting piece for a rebuilding franchise but rather the finishing piece for a contender, and that the Colts' dysfunction at quarterback (Daniel Jones regressed after injury), offensive line (weakened further by Nelson's trade), and wide receiver depth (Alec Pierce out with heel injury) have wasted his talent.
PositiveValueNo date
The source identifies Jonathan Taylor as the prize of the running back trade market, ranking third in rushing yards since the start of the 2024 season. The Giants are among a handful of teams heavily interested in acquiring him. Taylor is under contract through 2028 with $16 million due in 2027 and $18 million in 2028, fitting the Giants' criteria for a player who helps beyond this season. However, the Colts are seeking a trade package similar to what the 49ers gave the Panthers for Christian McCaffrey (2023 second-round, 2023 third-round, 2023 fourth-round, and 2024 fifth-round picks), which would significantly deplete the Giants' draft capital.
PositiveProjectionNo date
Taylor has rushed for 587 yards and a league-leading eight touchdowns through the 2024 season, demonstrating elite production. Over his seven-year career, he has amassed 9,832 total yards and 84 touchdowns. He signed a two-year, $44 million extension in August, making him the third-highest-paid running back at $22 million per year, and remains under contract through 2028 at age 27, meaning he's in his prime and would not be a rental for an acquiring team.
NegativeValueNo date
Despite signing a two-year, $44 million extension in August through 2028, Taylor is positioned as the Colts' 'hottest commodity' ahead of the Nov. 10 trade deadline because he is more than a half-year rental compared to recently traded All-Pro teammates Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner, who were in final contract years. Taylor acknowledged his future in Indianapolis 'isn't rock solid' and that 'circumstances may cause otherwise,' though he has not heard trade rumors directly.
NegativeRoleNo date
Taylor confirmed he has not requested a trade and denied changing his mind, stating the Colts need to rally together amid a 2-5 record and 11-game road losing streak against Jacksonville. He pushed back on the notion the team is rebuilding, emphasizing the competitive mindset: 'We're going out there trying to win' and 'Every time you go on the field, you want to dominate and show that you're the best,' despite the Colts trading All-Pro left guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner for draft picks.
NegativeDepth ChartNo date
The Colts are destined to be sellers at the trade deadline, and the possibility of moving on from Jonathan Taylor has been bandied about as part of a potential roster overhaul. Taylor's wife made social media posts about the possibility of the RB being traded to a contender, though Taylor himself downplayed the significance, saying 'You know everybody's on TikTok these days. So, you just have to come into work and stay focused.' The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. ET.
PositiveUsageNo date
Taylor carried the Colts to victory in London with 20 carries for 95 yards and two touchdowns (5-yard scores in Q2 and Q3), powering an offense that got off to a slow start. He now ranks first all-time in international rushing yards (408) and touchdowns (six) across three games, and third all-time in scrimmage yards with 458 (behind Justin Jefferson's 491 in four games and Travis Etienne Jr.'s 472 in five games). His 75 career rushing touchdowns reached that threshold in 88 games, tied for the fifth-fastest mark in league history.
PositiveUsageNo date
Taylor dominated the Colts' Week 4 win over Washington with 95 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground, pacing the NFL with 86 carries on the season entering Sunday's later slate. He now holds the record for most rushing yards in international game history (408 yards) and is the first player in NFL history to have multiple international games with multiple touchdowns scored, previously recording three TDs in Berlin in 2025. With the Colts struggling through the air (poorly), Taylor figures to continue shouldering the offensive load going forward.
NegativeProjectionNo date
Taylor is off to a career-worst start in efficiency, averaging fewer than 4 rushing yards per attempt and failing to record 100 ground yards in any game through three weeks; he's tied for the league lead in rushing attempts (66) but posted just 68 yards and no TD in Week 3's win over Houston. He faces a Washington run defense ranked third in the NFL (246 yards allowed through three weeks) with the league's best run stuff percentage (25%) and tied for third in limiting 10-plus yard runs (5 allowed). Despite his international pedigree—244 rushing yards and 286 yards from scrimmage in last year's Berlin game—Taylor must break his efficiency slump or the Colts risk falling behind Jacksonville in the AFC South.