The Colts are releasing Deon Jackson and elevating Trey Sermon to their active roster this weekend in a subsequent move.
Indianapolis has been going through a revolving door at Running Back while they wait for Jonathan Taylor to return from IR. Deon Jackson had the lead duties in week 1 but was very unimpressive and lost two fumbles. This led the Colts to lean heavily on Zack Moss in Week 2, where he amassed over 100 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown.
With Jackson being released, Moss is set to be the clear lead back for the Colts over the next 2 weeks until Taylor is first eligible to return in week 4. Moss played 98% of the snaps last week and should be expected to see similar volume, even with the news of Trey Sermon being elevated to the Colts active roster. With their Rookie Running Back, Evan Hull, set to miss the rest of the season with a torn meniscus, it was a no brainer for the Colts to bring Sermon in for some additional depth.
For Fantasy Managers, Zack Moss is someone you can feel comfortable starting this week, as their isn’t much competition for touches in the backfield. With Anthony Richardson also ruled out, it helps improve the likelihood that Moss will be the rushing weapon of choice near the goal line. Fantasy Managers should be in no rush to pick up Sermon, and Deon Jackson is safe to drop at this time.
Former Cleveland Browns running back Deon Jackson has been ...
Indianapolis Colts running back Deon Jackson will ...
Indianapolis Colts running back Deon Jackson is expected to...
Deon Jackson is slated to be the starting running back for the Colts in week one.
Deon Jackson is set to be the starting running back for the Indianapolis Colts in week one against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Running back Jonathan Taylor is on the PUP list and won’t be eligible to return until week 5. Additionally, the presumed No. 2 running back, Zach Moss, is still recovering from a broken arm. This leaves third-year running back Deon Jackson as the next man up in the Colts’ backfield.
After seeing minimal playing time in his first year in the NFL, Jackson stepped into a much larger role last season with Taylor battling injuries. He made several notable appearances and performed as a top 36 running back in all three games he received over a 50-percent snap count. Jackson’s standout performance was against the Jacksonville Jaguars in week six, where he delivered an RB1 overall performance. He caught 10 passes in that game and totaled 30 receptions on the season despite limited playing time.
Jackson should be considered a flex option in PPR leagues, leaning toward the lower end of the RB3 spectrum. Given the limited talent at the skill positions and an inexperienced rookie quarterback in Anthony Richardson, the Indianapolis offense may face some challenges. Consequently, Jackson’s value primarily lies in PPR leagues where he can provide upside as a checkdown option for Richardson. With Moss expected to return in the near future, Jackson isn’t a high-priority target in fantasy football drafts or on waiver wires.
Jonathan Taylor is set to miss at least the first four games of the season, following the Colts failing to find a trade partner and keeping him on PUP after today’s 4pm deadline to determine 53-man rosters.
Fantasy Managers who have invested in Jonathan Taylor are in ruins right now as this is the worst possible scenario that no one saw coming. By keeping him on PUP, (for what everyone assumes is because of a contract dispute) the Colts will be paying Taylor to not play the first 4 weeks of the season. That certainly isn’t something that has happened previously with other players who have held out due to contractual issues.
While a trade isn’t completely out of the question, a source close to the situation said the Colts were looking for a 1st round pick in the deal, and they didn’t even get a 2nd round pick in any of the offers they received. A trade would be the quickest and best scenario to get Taylor back producing for Fantasy Managers, but Colts Owner Jim Irsay said a few months ago it was “a certainty” Taylor wouldn’t be traded now, or in October. As the dust settled on these trade talks, it’s seemed more and more like the press around a deal being close may have been the result of some strong campaigning from Taylor’s camp.
Fantasy Managers shouldn’t be worried regarding a long-term injury, as nearly every bit of knowledge out there on his ankle says it should be fully healed by now. It seems like Taylor is suffering from “Contract-itis” and doesn’t want to play until he gets a new deal, but we are still trying to understand the Colts angle in leaving him on PUP and not designating him for the NFI list where they could dispute paying him anything at all while he doesn’t play. Fantasy managers shouldn’t be afraid to pass on Taylor in the early rounds of redraft leagues, as it’s clear this is a situation where no one can predict what will happen next. For the other Colts RBs, you can expect a solid bump in Deon Jackson & Evan Hull’s value for the moment, but it wouldn’t be shocking if the Colts bring in a Veteran RB to compete for a starting role in the next few days.
