Jonathan Taylor DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor was held in check in Week 9 against a stout Vikings rush defense, but Week 10 brings a much more favorable matchup. The Buffalo Bills have allowed the second-most fantasy points to the RB position, and it hasn't just been on the ground. Running backs have scored four receiving TDs against them as well, in addition to the six rushing TDs they've yielded. Taylor is certainly a capable receiver, even receiving a season-high five targets in Week 9 with Joe Flacco under center. Although the 25-year-old missed a few weeks with an ankle injury, when he returned in Week 8, Taylor eclipsed 100-plus rushing and receiving yards for the fourth consecutive week. With Flacco struggling through the air last week and the Bills tougher against the pass, along with the expected absence of WR Michael Pittman Jr., the Colts could lean a bit heavier on the ground game in Week 10, which sets Jonathan Taylor up as a back-end RB1 on Sunday with some upside.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor was held to just 48 yards on 13 carries in Sunday night's 21-13 loss to the Vikings while adding three receptions on five targets for a paltry 11 yards. It was projected to be a tough assignment coming into the contest and the Vikings' rush defense lived up to its billing, although the Indy offense as a whole never really got anything going, as it accounted for just six of the total points (two FG) with the lone touchdown coming on a defensive scoop-and-score. On the bright side, Taylor draws a Bills rush defense in Week 10 that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to the running back position, with De'Von Achane gaining 121 total yards and two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) against them in Week 9. The 25-year-old is probably a mid-range RB1 in that matchup.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor returned in Week 8 after a three-game absence, going over 100 yards rushing with a touchdown, and does not have an injury designation heading into Week 9. Unfortunately for Taylor, it will be hard to keep the momentum going against a stout Minnesota rush defense. The Vikings have held running backs to 83.9 rush yards per game and 3.9 yards per rush attempt, both third-best in the NFL. However, seven different backs have recorded three or more receptions against the Vikings through seven games and Taylor is a capable receiver. In the only game in which he and Joe Flacco played together this season, Taylor garnered four looks from the veteran QB, hauling in three of them for 20 yards. Still, with Minnesota allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, the Colts may prefer to attack with their top wideouts, leaving Taylor as a back-end RB1 for Week 9.

After missing three weeks due to injury, Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) looked like his old self on Sunday, rushing 20 times for 105 yards (5.3 YPC) and a score while adding one catch for 12 yards in the 23-20 loss to the Texans. Neither Tyler Goodson nor Trey Sermon received a single carry in the contest as Taylor monopolized the rushing duties. The 25-year-old now has five touchdowns in five games played and has gone over 100 total yards rushing and receiving in four straight games he's participated in. The former second-round draft pick will probably be an RB1 again in Week 9, although Minnesota has limited backs to just three rushing touchdowns (two through the air as well) thus far.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) is officially off the team's injury report ahead of their Week 8 matchup. The Wisconsin product returned to practice on Wednesday in a limited fashion and was able to upgrade his participation to full on Thursday and Friday. It's excellent news for the Colts, as Taylor -- who has been out since Week 5 -- should resume handling RB1 duties for the team in their road outing against the Houston Texans. While it will be hard to bench him, fantasy managers will want to temper expectations for the fifth-year RB coming off a high-ankle sprain in a difficult matchup. The 25-year-old rushed for 48 yards and a score on 16 carries back in Week 1 against their division rivals.