Stampede Blue
Jonathan Taylor drops out of the Top 5 but remains in the Top 10.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Indianapolis Colts veteran running back Jonathan Taylor once again cracked the NFL’s top 10 running backs in an annual survey of league executives, coaches, and scouts—at the 7th overall spot:
7. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: unranked
Age: 26 | Last year’s ranking: 5
Taylor’s dropping two spots from last season is a curious case. He pumped out 1,432 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2024 despite uneven quarterback play. His speed is still elite. He turned 26 in January. And he’s the first back since Adrian Peterson (2007-11) to produce 6,000 rushing yards and 50 rushing touchdowns through his first five NFL seasons.
While his contract dispute in 2023 stalled momentum, he has never underwhelmed when playing a full season.
“He’s underrated,” an AFC executive said. “Highly productive and can wear you down before breaking off a big run.”
Taylor’s 24 games of 100 rushing yards since 2020 trail only Henry’s 37.
Despite missing three games in 2024 due to a high ankle sprain early in the season, Jonathan Taylor returned to form à la his 2021 All-Pro first-team campaign.
In just 13 starts, Taylor totaled 1,567 yards from scrimmage (1,431 rushing yards, 136 receiving yards) and 12 touchdowns (11 rushing, 1 receiving).
Taylor missed out on an All-Pro nod but claimed his first Pro Bowl honor since the aforementioned career-high season a few years back. It was the second and only time since his sophomore season in the NFL when Taylor averaged 100+ rushing yards per game.
Staying healthy for at least the majority of this past season is what catapulted Taylor back into the mix of top running backs around the league. Given that each season since his illustrious 2021 season has been marred by contract disputes and injuries, imagining what Taylor could do in a full season is intriguing, to say the least.
Regardless, this collective nod from various executives, coaches, and scouts around the league is well-earned national recognition for the 26-year-old running back who is hungry for another All-Pro award.
