Analysis
7/30/23
4 min read
Fantasy Football: Good Fits for RB Jonathan Taylor If He's Traded
There was a report late Saturday that Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor asked for a trade. Taylor had an injury-marred 2022 campaign, but he was the Offensive Player of the Year runner-up in 2021 behind 1,811 yards rushing and 18 rushing touchdowns.
Although Colts owner Jim Irsay said there is no way the team would trade Taylor, things can change.
NFL running backs are having a tough time getting paid this offseason, but 24-year-old Taylor could impact a number of teams. Here are the conditions we are looking for in potential trade partners:
- Need at the RB position
- Enough cap space to get Taylor
- A rookie contract discount at a premium position
- Ideally, a zone-heavy blocking scheme
>> READ: Finding Taylor's Trade Value
Taylor's Potential Fantasy Fits, Impact
Miami Dolphins
When the Minnesota Vikings released Dalvin Cook, the Miami Dolphins were among the most logical fits for his services as a contending team with a need at running back. Mike McDaniel just so happens to run a zone-heavy scheme, too. During Taylor’s monster 2021 season, he was second in the league in snaps (498) behind zone blocking.
Taylor would be a strong scheme fit and a massive upgrade as the headliner of Miami’s running back room. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has not been extended, creating cap room for Miami to extend a player like Taylor in the short term. Taylor’s fantasy stock could mildly rise with a trade to Miami.
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears make a ton of sense as a landing spot due to their available cap space, zone-heavy scheme and lack of a true headliner at running back. Adding wide receiver DJ Moore and Taylor could further support quarterback Justin Fields in Chicago’s quest to make some noise in a vulnerable NFC.
Fields is still on his rookie deal, making extending Taylor possible. The Bears led the league in yards rushing last season, making Chicago a strong landing spot for Taylor in fantasy.
Philadelphia Eagles
Howie Roseman is the king of buying low on great players. The Philadelphia Eagles are a title contender with an elite offensive line and a zone-heavy scheme. Quarterback Jalen Hurts has been extended, but Philadelphia has wide receiver DeVonta Smith and several first-round defensive linemen still on rookie deals.
They aren’t an organization that pays running backs premium deals, but they theoretically could. The Eagles already have an interesting collection of talent at running back, but Taylor could be an absolute monster in this environment.
Baltimore Ravens
Quarterback Lamar Jackson received a big extension this offseason, and the Baltimore Ravens already have gone out of their way to better support their former MVP. J.K. Dobbins is an early no-show at training camp, which could make Baltimore seek an upgrade.
New offensive coordinator Todd Monken ran a lot of zone concepts with the Buccaneers and Browns, making Baltimore a solid scheme fit for Taylor. This would be a neutral move for Taylor from a touches standpoint, but this would put him in a much better offense, which could lead to more touchdowns.
Dallas Cowboys/Los Angeles Chargers
Both teams are in similar situations as contenders that could use a complementary runner to add to their current headliners in Tony Pollard and Austin Ekeler. Both teams have enough cap space, top-10 offensive lines and run zone-heavy schemes. Additionally, neither team is committed to their lead runner long-term.
Neither spot would be great for Taylor in fantasy this season, as he’d split carries with another premium runner. However, both the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Chargers would be long-term upgrades for Taylor, which could make him more valuable in dynasty leagues.
Cincinnati Bengals
From a pure football standpoint, Taylor makes a ton of sense for a title contender like the Cincinnati Bengals.
Unfortunately, the Bengals already have a tight cap situation with a need to extend quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase in the near future. That has already made signing difference-makers such as safety Jessie Bates (who they lost in free agency) and wide receiver Tee Higgins a challenge for the Bengals.
Kansas City Chiefs
Taylor would be an upgrade over promising second-year runner Isiah Pacheco, but the Kansas City Chiefs have no cap room to spare.
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