Jonathan Taylor vs Christian McCaffrey

“$39M guaranteed The #Colts and star RB Jonathan Taylor have agreed to terms on a big-time 2-year, $44M extension, per me and @AdamSchefter”

“QB Health This season, the upside cases for Jonathan Taylor and Kenneth Walker III largely depend on the health and production of their QBs, who are coming off significant lower-body injuries.”

“Top-12 Drafted RBs in 2025 RB 2025 ADP 2024 Finish 2025 Games Played Bijan Robinson RB1 RB3 17 Saquon Barkley RB2 RB13 16 Jahmyr Gibbs RB3 RB4 17 Christian McCaffrey RB4 RB1 17 Derrick Henry RB5 RB7 17 Ashton Jeanty RB6 RB12 17 Josh Jacobs RB7 RB15 15 De’Von Achane RB8 RB6 16 Jonathan Taylor RB9 RB2 17 Bucky Irving RB10 RB33 10 Chase Brown RB11 RB8 17 Kyren Williams RB12 RB9 17 2025 RB Health Last season, nine out of 12 top RBs drafted finished as an RB1, resulting in a mostly chalky season at the top for RBs.”

“Taylor is heading into a contract year, likely his last massive one, after turning 27 this offseason. He’ll be motivated, have his quarterback returning, who might need to lean on the run game more, and once again has virtually no competition for touches. There’s a very real world where Taylor is a top-two back this season.”

“Jonathan Taylor (RB – IND) Jonathan Taylor was absolutely dominant for the first half of last season. Had Daniel Jones not gotten injured, Taylor most likely could have stayed effective throughout the whole season.”

“Yes, Jonathan Taylor is the bellcow for Indy, and I don’t see that changing, but the RB2 spot is up for grabs in Indy.”

“Taylor was the fantasy RB4 in points per game, but from Week 12 onwards, he was the RB21, with an explosive run rate of 0.7% (41st), and he ranked 36th in yards after contact, while scoring only three rushing touchdowns.”

“Colts running back Jonathan Taylor ranks second in the NFL with 626 rushing attempts since 2024, as well as a snap share over 80%. He also led the league with 323 carries and took a whopping 46% of his team's offensive touches last year. Taylor's workload has led to elite production: 3,016 yards and 29 touchdowns in the last two seasons, both top-three numbers at his position.”

“Jonathan Taylor was averaging 25.9 points per week, Alec Pierce was finally coming alive, ending his 1000-yard season with an average 21.3 yards per reception, and it looked like Tyler Warren was all he was cracked up to be.”

“Taylor was the catalyst for the Indianapolis offense last season, turning 369 touches into 1,963 yards from scrimmage and a league-high 20 touchdowns. Taylor led the NFL in rushing attempts (323), rushing scores (18), and first downs on the ground (84). He also handled a league-high 84.4% of Indy's backfield touches.”

“Jonathan Taylor's current workload is completely unsustainable. Taylor recorded a massive 327-carry workload last season, and we already know what happens when he crosses that 300-touch threshold. The last time he did it, his body broke down for the next two seasons.”

“The entire Colts offense runs through Jonathan Taylor, with DJ Giddens and incoming seventh-round rookie Seth McGowan as his backups.”

“Fantasy Football Research & Advice Fantasy Football Expert Rankings 2026 Fantasy Football Draft Kit Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: Pick 1.04 Players to Consider at 1.04 Fantasy Football Draft Pick These players will likely be available when you make your selection: Ja’Marr Chase (WR – CIN) Puka Nacua (WR – LAR) Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR – SEA) Christian McCaffrey (RB – SF) It’s fair to assume at least one of Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs will be gone, if not both, as they’re the consensus top two picks.”

“Plenty of people have been hurt by fading Christian McCaffrey over the years, and it feels like a dangerous prospect when CMC was the RB1 in PPR points per game, scored 24.5 last year, 2.5 more than Bijan Robinson.”

“McCaffrey fell to 1.95 YAC/A (41st among 51 running backs with at least 90 carries) and -0.54 RYOE/A (47th). Given his age and injury history I’d bet heavily against McCaffrey turning the tides on his declining rush efficiency. Fortunately, he showed absolutely no sign of decline as a receiving threat.”

“McCaffrey is coming off a season where he touched the ball 400+ times and finished all but one week of the season as a top-24 RB. The biggest “if” with CMC is his health, but when he is on the field, he is a fantasy league winner.”

“Now, there are outliers — guys like Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry continue to defy the odds and crush it.”

“He's scored 20 TDs twice including last season when he finished as the RB2 overall behind Christian McCaffrey”

“Mason was the RB9 in week’s 1-7 in 2024 while filling in for Christian McCaffrey and found himself as a popular zero RB target a year ago after a trade to the Vikings”

“2 running back in San Francisco behind Christian McCaffrey”

“6 | Diff: +22 Kaelon Black looks to have an early edge to climb into the clear RB2 spot on the 49ers’ depth chart behind Christian McCaffrey , with Jordan James now dealing with a rib fracture.”

“2 Something to note is that while Christian McCaffrey did not reach the total rushing attempts needed to hit this criterion last season, he did have 311 carries, along with 102 receptions, putting his total workload at a similar number.”

“Top-12 Drafted RBs in 2025 RB 2025 ADP 2024 Finish 2025 Games Played Bijan Robinson RB1 RB3 17 Saquon Barkley RB2 RB13 16 Jahmyr Gibbs RB3 RB4 17 Christian McCaffrey RB4 RB1 17 Derrick Henry RB5 RB7 17 Ashton Jeanty RB6 RB12 17 Josh Jacobs RB7 RB15 15 De’Von Achane RB8 RB6 16 Jonathan Taylor RB9 RB2 17 Bucky Irving RB10 RB33 10 Chase Brown RB11 RB8 17 Kyren Williams RB12 RB9 17 2025 RB Health Last season, nine out of 12 top RBs drafted finished as an RB1, resulting in a mostly chalky season at the top for RBs.”

“The last time McCaffrey had over 400 touches in a year, the superstar missed 69.7% of the games over the next two seasons because of injury.”