Indianapolis Colts DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) is back on the practice field on Thursday after logging a limited session on Wednesday. The former second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft has missed each of the last three games with an ankle injury but could be trending toward a Week 8 return against the Houston Texans. Although Houston has surrendered the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs, Taylor's potential usage makes him worth starting if he's active. If he's out again, backups Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson will likely split touches, and neither would have high ceilings in a tricky matchup. So far this season, Taylor has rushed 72 times for 349 yards and four touchdowns in four games.

Indianapolis Colts wide receivers Michael Pittman Jr. (back) and Josh Downs (toe) were both not seen at practice on Wednesday. Pittman and Downs were also rested last Wednesday, so as long as they return to practice on Thursday or Friday, it seems likely they'll both be active for Week 8 against the division-rival Houston Texans after they both played in the Week 7 win over the Miami Dolphins. Pittman nearly went on Injured Reserve initially after sustaining a back injury, so it's an injury that he could be playing through for a while. He played 89% of the offensive snaps last Sunday and caught three passes for 63 yards in quarterback Anthony Richardson's return. Downs had just one catch for three yards. Given Richardson's inconsistency as a passer early in his career, both Pittman and Downs figure to be more volatile from a fantasy standpoint.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) will return to practice on Wednesday, according to head coach Shane Steichen. The Colts said on Monday that they were optimistic that Taylor would resume practicing this week, which could put him on track to return to play this Sunday against the division-rival Houston Texans. The 25-year-old has not practiced or played the last three weeks after suffering a high-ankle sprain. Taylor returning to practice this week doesn't make him a lock to suit up in Week 8, but it's an encouraging sign for the Colts and fantasy managers. Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson have split the backfield the last three weeks, but with Taylor nearing a return, their usefulness as short-term flex options in fantasy is about to run out. If Taylor is active against Houston, he'll be a must-start in fantasy lineups.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson has struggled as a passer early on in the season. Richardson saw his struggles continue on Sunday when he completed 41.7 percent of his passes for 129 yards in the win over the Miami Dolphins. Despite his struggles, head coach Shane Steichen is showing faith in his young-signal caller and even said he needs to put Richardson in better positions to succeed. In parts of five games, Richardson has thrown for 783 yards with three touchdowns and six interceptions. The Colts are sticking with Richardson, but fantasy managers might want to look for another viable option given his struggles.

As reported by Kevin Bowen of 'The Fan,' Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen is "very optimistic" that running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) will return to action in Week 8. It's excellent news for the Colts and fantasy managers, as Taylor has been shelved since Week 4 when he picked up an ankle sprain in the team's 27-24 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. It'd be nice to see him return to practice -- something he hasn't done in quite some time -- but it's an encouraging statement from his head coach. Steichen noted that defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (ankle) will also return this week. Even if Taylor is active, it's fair to wonder about his workload and effectiveness coming off an injury that can sap a player's juice for a bit. However, he is one of the most dynamic backs in the league and should immediately slide back in as the Colts' RB1. Indianapolis will take on their division-rival Houston Texans this Sunday, and the 25-year-old struggled against them back in Week 1, averaging three yards per carry on his 16 rush attempts (48 yards) and scoring a touchdown.