Jonathan Taylor fantasy outlook: Should you draft Colts RB in 2024?

Jonathan Taylor was a risky selection in 2023. The Indianapolis Colts running back had injuries and a contract dispute, both of which kept him off the field quite a bit. When he was on the field, he reminded everyone why he was drafted so high to begin with. What's his outlook for 2024?

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Should you draft Colts RB Jonathan Taylor in 2024?

If you can, you should probably draft Jonathan Taylor this year. He showed last year that he's still one of the most talented running backs in the sport when he's healthy, which he is now. He was excellent on the field and should be again in 2024.

Furthermore, Taylor doesn't even have to contend with Zack Moss anymore. Moss forced the Indianapolis Colts to consider a more committee approach to their backfield with how well he played in Taylor's absence, but Moss is gone. It's Taylor's backfield once more.

Finally, a full season from Anthony Richardson should provide Taylor with a lot of options. Richardson draws defensive attention on the run, so Taylor could have wide-open lanes on read-option plays. He will also see passes out of the backfield.

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Jonathan Taylor 2024 fantasy outlook, ADP and 2023 stats

Jonathan Taylor projects to be one of the best running backs in football this season. Assuming he plays all 17 games, he's a lock for at least 1,200 yards and probably eight or more touchdowns.

Because of all the injuries, Taylor finished 2023 as the 97th overall player. This is because he played in just 10 games and made only seven starts. In that short amount of time, he ran for 741 yards (4.38 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns. He also added 153 yards and a score through the air.

Jonathan Taylor is healthy (Imagn)

He's currently being drafted at the 10th pick, which makes his ADP (average draft position) a fringe first-round player. He will likely not fall past the 14th pick in most leagues depending on how things shake out.

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Is Jonathan Taylor a good pick in fantasy football this year?

Jonathan Taylor is a good pick in fantasy football this year. To rank in the top 100 of points scored among all NFL players while starting just seven games and playing in 10 is incredible. If he played 17 games, his stats would be: 1,260 yards, 12 touchdowns, 260 receiving yards and two more touchdowns.

That kind of stat line would likely rank among the league leaders, so Taylor figures to be a really safe pick this year. He'll also get a full year of Shane Steichen's playcalling and Anthony Richardson drawing defensive attention.

With those two things in mind, it's easy to predict that the above stat projections, which are very good, might actually be conservative. Taylor might blow those out of the water and run for 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns.

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Where should you draft Jonathan Taylor this year?

As with every player, the place you draft them matters significantly. Jonathan Taylor would be an excellent addition and a great draft pick, but not first overall over Tyreek Hill, CeeDee Lamb or Christian McCaffrey.

He is a first-round pick, but a latter-half one. He really shouldn't be taken before the sixth pick, and that might be pushing it a little bit. Based on ADP, this is a similar range for Kyren Williams since he had such a good year last year.

Pick Jonathan Taylor over Kyren Williams

If it comes down to these two, pick Taylor. Our fantasy analyzer believes he will be the better selection and score more points. Just don't overdraft him and try to wait till the back end of the first round if you can.