Fantasy Football Player Notes

Jonathan Taylor is going to miss the first four weeks of the season on the PUP list, after the Colts failed to find a trade partner prior to 4 PM ET on Tuesday 8-29-2023. The disgruntled running back is still recovering from offseason ankle surgery but will undoubtedly be in a no rush to return to the franchise that had been reluctant to give him a long-term deal. Even after the first four weeks are up, there's no guarantee JT is even ready to go by October. It's a very tricky situation that could still very well put Taylor on a new team if the trade demands change in the Colts' building after games are played. For those drafting now, he's an extremely risk pick in the early rounds. I'd only feel "comfortable" taking a shot at him in Round 6.

Zack Moss' status as the Colts RB2 is in jeopardy after he broke his arm in training camp. He will likely miss the next 6 weeks, which will put him right on the cusp at the start of the season. Moss was traded to the Colts last season in exchange for Nyheim Hines, and he started the final four games after Jonathan Taylor got injured. Moss was decent in relief, tallying 4.8 yards per carry as PFF's 14th-highest-graded RB over the final four weeks. He showcased his tackle-breaking elusiveness that he excelled at in college, breaking 20 tackles (29% missed tackle rate). When healthy, Moss should be viewed as the handcuff to Jonathan Taylor as the team's primary rusher and goal-line back. But that grip on the No. 2 job will be tested with him slated to miss time. His 6-week injury time frame will place his first eligibility prior to Week 2.

Evan Hull was a draft-day steal for the Colts on Day 3. The Northwestern product spent the past two seasons owning his team's backfield as a mega-producer posting back-to-back seasons with a 35% dominator rating. The 5-foot-10 and 209-pound back hauled in 87 passes for 800 receiving yards as a full-blown three-down back while forcing over 100 missed tackles.

With a decorated production profile and desirable athleticism - 78th percentile or better tester in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump and 3-cone drill - Hull rising the ranks in Indy's backfield should surprise nobody. He led all FBS running backs in receptions and receiving yards in 2022. Hard to not view him as the best long-term bet in the Colts backfield with Zack Moss sidelined due to a broken arm and JT out the first four weeks of the season on the PUP list. As a Day 3 rookie, he likely won't start in Week 1, but could easily see his role grow based on his talent and preseason play.

Before the Colts traded for Zack Moss in 2022, Deon Jackson was used as the team's No. 2 rusher to Jonathan Taylor. He filled in admirably from Weeks 5, 6, and 9 when Taylor was unable to play. The former 2021 UDFA drew the start in two of the contests while averaging over five catches per game. The third-year pro also led the backfield in targets over the final four weeks of the season. Considering the team's efforts to add more RBs to the roster after they saw Jackson play in 2022 - draft Evan Hull, and trade for Zack Moss - he is likely their last-ditch effort to address their RB room. But given Taylor's PUP status and Moss' broken arm (projected to miss Week 1 based on the 6-week recovery timetable), Jackson could be in line for starting RB duties based on his back-to-back starts in the team's last two preseason games.