As we all know, there has been plenty of controversy surrounding Jonathan Taylor. But let’s view this situation from a dynasty perspective, keeping in mind we are only a few short weeks away from the start of the season and teams have decisions to make.
Before 2021 Taylor was strong enough for a contender to make a push but also young enough to justify having him on a rebuilding team. This was especially true after a weak 2021 that saw him injured.
So, is Jonathan Taylor someone you should trade for, trade away, or hold on your roster? Let’s go through it from a contending point of view and a rebuilding point of view to cover all bases.
Contender
Unless you snagged Bijan Robinson in your rookie draft or have one of the older running backs, it is likely that Jonathan Taylor is your top option at running back. So, now let us evaluate your options.
- You can keep him on your roster with the intention and hope that he plays this season, in Indianapolis or elsewhere (medium-to-high reward, low-to-medium risk).
- You could trade him if you believe this situation will carry on (medium reward, high risk).
In a scenario where he is your RB1, I suggest keeping him on your roster.
Taylor is still the talented football player he was in 2021. If you want to compete, you will need high-end production from your running backs. I know it is widespread in the fantasy community to trade running backs away at their peak, and Taylor has supported this claim himself. However, you already missed the boat. It was for a good reason though; you were trying to win championships. And that’s okay. I will never fault a manager for going for it.
Now, if you are a contender that does not have Taylor on their roster, I would send that manager a trade to test the waters. Maybe a tier down at the position plus a second-round pick will help mitigate the risk. That would be my go-to offer to start. For example, sending Rhamondre Stevenson and potentially even Javonte Williams fit that bill. I imagine you would have to tack on more to Javonte, but it is still a starting point. At the receiver position, tacking on a plus to a receiver in the Christian Watson tier would be my first move.
Overall, I think Taylor is a hold if he is on your team and a sneaky trade target if another manager is getting worried. I don’t blame them for it, but it makes Taylor a fence-swing candidate at a lower acquisition cost.
Rebuild
This is where it gets tricky, as your team is in a rebuild and a resolution to this situation is unknown. Jonathan Taylor could hold out and ultimately help your rebuild, though tank his value in the process. He could also get a dream landing spot, such as Kansas City, and then you will feel like a genius.
There are so many different ways this could end, but now it appears that he’ll play for the Colts or not at all. Jim Irsay has stated that will be the case. If the message is different behind closed doors, we won’t find out until it happens. Out in the open, Irsay has already put out things like this:
NFL Running Back situation- We have negotiated a CBA,that took years of effort and hard work and compromise in good faith by both sides..to say now that a specific Player category wants another negotiation after the fact,is inappropriate. Some Agents are selling ‘bad faith’..
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) July 26, 2023
On a rebuilding squad, Jonathan Taylor is a hold as he is still a top running back in the league. In dynasty, you should always trust the talent. However, I would not fault you if you wanted to trade away Taylor at 75% value.
That is the beauty of fantasy football: everyone gets to evaluate differently. I am here to give you multiple points of view and what I would do in your situation. With Taylor on multiple teams, I am standing pat and hoping to see him on the field in week 1. However, there are no wrong ways to handle this situation at the current moment. The scenario is quite unique, with public comments by the owner. The recent controversy surrounding his back injury also impacts his value.
We are only four weeks away from the start of the season, and my gut says we see him on the field in 2023. That will allow the team to accrue the year on his contract, and eliminate additional distractions for their rookie quarterback.
