Jonathan

Taylor

Taylor didn’t dwell on the question for more than a word, but he did confirm that no trade request has been made. The team’s desire to trade him is ultimately about rebuilding the roster after going all in on the ill-fated “Daniel Jones era.” With several teams reportedly interested and the Colts strongly motivated to recoup draft capital for the coming years, we expected a deal to get done before Tuesday’s deadline. For now, fantasy managers can keep Taylor in their lineups, as there’s been no indication that Taylor will be put on ice to protect his trade value.

Long story short, the Colts are trying to wring every last ounce of draft capital out of their roster and think teams will up their offers after Sunday’s games. Schultz named Jonathan Taylor, Josh Downs, and Grover Stewart as players who could be on the move. Daniel Jones’s name has also come up, though it’s hard to imagine another team paying even a late-round pick for his services given how dreadful he has been this year. All signs point to Taylor being moved early next week, but it’s clear the Colts are going to play hardball in trade talks. We still suspect he’s playing for a new team by Week 10.

Steichen mostly dodged questions about why the Colts would play Taylor in Week 9 if the team was in talks with contenders who might want to acquire the star running back before the NFL’s trade deadline. “Teams call all the time,” Steichen told reports. He said the team was focused on the Cowboys, their opponents in Week 9. Taylor seems more than likely to be dealt to another team in the coming weeks. That could be the Vikings, Bengals, Seahawks, or another contending team in need of backfield help.

Stevens said that this trade “could happen at any moment,” telling Broncos Country that they “might not want to go to sleep.” While this could be hyperbole, it sounds like Stevens is saying the trade could go down tonight. Stevens said he’s had conversations with multiple people on the matter, and the Broncos “know that this is not the time to wait and develop” young running backs. Stevens closed by reminding viewers that the Broncos were very interested in Breece Hall at one point, and added that there are likely other backup plans that the Broncos could be considering.

With the Colts losing 28-0 at halftime and 42-7 going into the fourth quarter, there simply wasn’t any run to be established. Daniel Jones also short-circuited two drives with interceptions, further limiting volume in a game where it was already exceedingly difficult to come by. You could question why Taylor even played at all as trade rumors swirl ahead of the Nov. 10 deadline, but that will be a bigger question mark in Week 9 against the Cowboys. That’s a far better matchup than the Jaguars, so even if Taylor remains in limbo, you will have no choice but to fire him up for what could be his final game in a Colts uniform.

The Vikings dots have been getting connected for a while now, so it’s not surprising to see something of a confirmation they are interested. The Giants and Bengals also make all the sense in the world. Green Bay would be a fit, as well, though it would be a bit surprising to see the Broncos add to their running back surplus. Taylor, of course, would blow their other backs out of the water. There’s enough smoke here to believe a fire might break out, but the Colts can probably be taken at their word that it would take an overpay to pry away what amounts to their franchise player right now.

The Panthers netted second-, third-, fourth-, and fifth-round picks for McCaffrey when they sent him to San Francisco in 2022. Indy reportedly turned down an offer of a second-round selection plus another pick for Taylor, meaning they have their eyes set on the full compensation that Carolina landed. The fact that the Colts abruptly changed their stance on trading Taylor at all this weekend suggests it’s only a matter of time before a deal gets done. They have until November 10th, the Tuesday after Week 9, to find a trade partner.

Multiple teams are interested in acquiring the 27-year-old Taylor and talks are active and ongoing, according to Schefter. The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero reported that the Colts already turned down an offer for Taylor that included a 2027 second-round pick and another pick. While previous reports stated the Colts weren’t interested in trading Taylor, who signed an extension before the season, Indianapolis appears to be holding out for the best offer they can get. Taylor would see a slight boost in fantasy value if acquired by another team while Seth McGowan would likely take over the Colts’ backfield.

Steichen said Taylor will see a full workload despite being the subject of trade rumors for a Colts team that will clearly be sellers at the deadline. Taylor is healthy and not on the injury report, so this is strictly an update to inform fantasy managers they can start him with confidence this week. Taylor remains a high-end RB1 as long as his normal workload remains intact.

The Colts this week dealt DeForest Buckner to the 49ers and Quenton Nelson to the Seahawks in what looks like a fire sale ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline. Taylor could be next if the Colts are ready to go all in on a rebuild in 2027 and beyond. A contender would likely have to part with a second round draft pick if they want Taylor in the coming weeks. Teams that could be suitors for Taylor include the Bengals, Vikings, and Seahawks, all of whom have backfield issues.