Jonathan Taylor

Not too long ago, Zack Moss was a top 5 fantasy Running Back while Jonathan Taylor sat out the beginning of the season with a contract dispute. Those days seem to be set to make a return as soon as this weekend with the latest news that Taylor will miss at least the next 2 weeks after undergoing thumb surgery. Fantasy managers who held on to Moss as a handcuff are set to be rewarded as he immediately regains his status as the fringe RB1 he was at the beginning of the year as the Colts’ bell cow.

Colts owner, Jim Irsay, told reporters there isn’t confidence in Taylor’s hand strength or ability to control the ball, leading to the decision to have his thumb surgically repaired. While the hope is that it will only be a 2 week absence for Taylor, it’s clear there is potential for Taylor to be sidelined longer.

Contending fantasy managers rostering Taylor should make immediate plans to replace Taylor’s production. For those rostering Moss, he becomes a near “must-start” from now until Taylor returns, including this Sunday against a stout Tennessee run defense. Trey Sermon is expected to assume backup duties until Taylor returns, but only warrants being added in deep leagues based on his limited usage this season.

Fantasy Managers who took a chance on Jonathan Taylor can now breathe a massive sigh of relief. Not only is Taylor set to play in week 5 after being activated from Indy’s PUP list, but it also appears the drama between him and the Colts will soon become a distant memory with the news of him receiving a massive contract extension that puts him among the highest paid running backs in the NFL. Taylor now slots in as an RB1 you can confidently start the rest of the season.

While some expect Taylor to be eased into action in week 5, it’s worth emphasizing that he should be in your lineups this weekend if he’s on your roster, even in a tough matchup against the Titans. It’s apparent that the Colts have been keeping their cards close to their chest and have immediate plans for Taylor, as the contract extension comes as a surprise to most who have been closely monitoring situation. It should be expected that Taylor immediately returns as a focal point of the Colts offense, as the Colts have made it clear they want their star running back on the field.

For Fantasy Managers who are rostering Zack Moss, this isn’t what you were hoping for. While you can’t drop Moss quite yet, he shouldn’t be in lineups for week 5. It will become clear soon that Moss will be nothing more than a handcuff to Taylor, at which point Moss will be safe to drop.

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.