Jonathan Taylor DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) is "tracking very well" to play on Sunday according to Jake Arthur of Sports Illustrated. This is a great sign for the 25-year-old as he has been sidelined since suffering a high-ankle sprain during Week 4. Taylor also logged a full practice on Thursday after being limited on Wednesday. Fantasy managers should expect Taylor to return to action on Sunday against the Houston Texans. Taylor should be viewed as a high-end RB1 on Sunday as he averaged an impressive 18.1 PPR points per game during the first four weeks of the campaign.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) returned to full participation during Thursday's practice. This is a great sign for his potential status for this Sunday's game against the Houston Texans. The star running back has been sidelined since suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 4. Fantasy managers should pay close attention his status during Friday's practice as he may carry an injury designation into the weekend. If Taylor suits up, he should be viewed as an RB1 in all formats facing a tough Houston Texans defense. If he misses his fourth-straight game, Tyler Goodson and Trey Sermon will likely share backfield duties once again.

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 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.

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.