NFL Draft: Fantasy football impact of Jonathan Taylor to the Indianapolis Colts

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With the 41st pick in the NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected running back Jonathan Taylor out of Wisconsin. Find Taylor's 2020 Fantasy outlook below:

Jonathan Taylor (RB) Wisconsin

Height: 5'11"
Weight: 221
Age: 21.2
Dynasty Ranking: 1.10 (RB4)
Redraft Ranking: RB41

16-game projection for the 2020 season as a member of the Indinapolis Colts: 

Rushing: 132 carries for 646 yards and 5 touchdowns
Receiving: 10 catches for 66 yards

Fantasy Outlook in Indianapolis:

Like many Wisconsin backs before him, Taylor boasts some ridiculous college production. He rushed for over 1,900 yards in all three seasons and scored 55 touchdowns in 41 games. If there are any concerns about his college profile it is the fact that there is a lot of tread on the tires already, and that Taylor was minimally involved in the passing game. Taylor carried the ball at least 299 times in each of his three seasons at Wisconsin, but he failed to even reach double digit receptions in two of the three seasons.

Still, that type of production as a rusher combined with a blazing 4.39 40-time was enough to make Indy feel the need to trade up and secure the sliding Taylor with the 41st pick. With Marlon Mack on the final year of his contract, the Colts secured an early down back capable of wearing opposing defenses down over the course of a game or breaking loose for a long run on any given play. Taylor displayed excellent patience and vision as a rusher at Wisconsin and is legitimately up there with Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook among the best rushers to be drafted over the past few years.

Unless he makes unforeseen strides as a pass-catcher, Taylor's success at the NFL level is going to be dependent on playing with positive game scripts in an offensive system conducive for rushing success. I don't expect Taylor to step in and immediately  supplant Mack, so this will probably be a frustrating time in 2020 share for Fantasy purposes. Because of the poor landing spots for Taylor and D'Andre Swift, Clyde Edwards-Helaire stands out as the clear RB1 from this class. For dynasty purposes, I have Edwards ranked as the 1.01, while Taylor is now a mid first-round selection.

So which players are poised for breakouts, which sleepers do you need to jump on, and which busts should you avoid at all costs in your Fantasy football league? Join SportsLine now to get early 2020 Fantasy football rankings, plus see which WR is going to come out of nowhere to crack the top 10, all from the model that out-performed experts big time last season.