Zack Moss

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.

Anthony Richardson was having a great start to Week 2, rushing for 2 touchdowns in the first half. He exited the game in the 2nd Quarter when he slammed his head on the turf after his 2nd touchdown, and did not return. He hasn’t practiced at all this week and has been ruled out for Week 3.

Enter the return of Minshew-mania. Gardner Minshew will be starting in place of Richardson this Sunday against a somewhat stingy Ravens D that has allowed only 16.5 ppg through the first 2 weeks. Minshew should be left on waivers in most single QB redraft leagues, and is only a desperate streaming option in 2QB Leagues this weekend.

For the other Colts position players, you can expect a slight bump in production for their main Wide Receiver, Michael Pittman, who demonstrated good chemistry with Minshew last week catching 8 passes. While you shouldn’t be in a rush to start any of the other receiving weapons for the Colts this week, you can  expect Zack Moss to see increased production as they won’t be able to lean on Richardson to run the ball near the goal line. If you’re a Fantasy Manager who owns Richardson, you’re quickly noticing his style of play may lead to missed time, and you should try to secure an insurance QB that you can rely on as needed throughout the rest of the season.

If we learned anything from the Colts backfield in Week 1, it’s that you shouldn’t be overly-hyped for tremendous production from Deon Jackson. Jackson handled 71% of the snaps as the lead Running Back, but only rushed for a miserable 14 yards on 13 attempts. Sure, he had 5 catches for 14 yards to go with that, but the 2 lost fumbles he had almost guarantee he will be in the Colts doghouse for Week 2.

To make matters worse, Rookie Evan Hull has a knee injury that has him set to miss at least the next four games on Injured Reserve. The Colts elevated Jake Funk from their practice squad to their active roster in a corresponding move. This leaves Funk, Jackson, and Moss as the three active Running Backs for the Colts going into Sunday.

Moss is back to being a full participant in practice after missing the past few weeks recovering from a fractured forearm. He’s shown flashes of talent throughout his career, rushing for 114 yards in week 18 of last season. He’s expected to take on a bulk of the work in the backfield this Sunday and warrants a start as a flex in deeper leagues. That said, don’t be overly surprised if it’s Anthony Richardson who ends up falling in the endzone for a Touchdown instead of Moss.

The Colts landed the former 3rd Round pick and a conditional 6th in exchange for RB Nyheim Hines at last year’s trade deadline. In 8 games as a Buffalo Bill, Moss helped fill in for Jonathan Taylor to the tune of 3 starts, 76 carries, and 4 receptions for 377 yards and a touchdown.

With Moss out and Jonathan Taylor holding in on the PUP, the Colts will turn to 2021 UDFA Deon Jackson and this year’s 5th-Rounder Evan Hull to work with the 1st Team. This also leaves QB Gardner Minshew as the only player in Colts practices with over 100 carries.