Stampede Blue
According to NFL.com’s Kevin Patra, Indianapolis Colts star workhorse Jonathan Taylor is the team’s best candidate among non-quarterbacks to win the NFL’s Most Valuable Player Award for the 2026 campaign:
Indianapolis Colts: Jonathan Taylor, Running Back
Daniel Jones is coming off an Achilles injury that could slow the passing game at least early in the season. I expect head coach Shane Steichen to lean heavily on Taylor as his QB works through things. An every-down workhorse with explosive potential, the only question I have about Taylor is whether back-to-back seasons with 300-plus carries will sneak up on him or force the club to siphon off some of his totes as the season wears on. Regardless, if the Colts are to rebound from last year’s collapse, it’ll be on the strength of their Pro Bowl RB.
It’s a pretty easy choice for the Colts.
Last year, with the red hot Colts once sitting at an 8-2 overall record, featuring a historically elite offense and Taylor as unquestionably the unit’s best player and its focal point, Taylor was a bona fide NFL MVP candidate—not just NFL Offensive Player of the Year. He would’ve been the first running back to win the award since Adrian Peterson back in 2012, and it was a serious conversation among league media—albeit short-lived thereafter.
Specifically, critical injuries to starting quarterback Daniel Jones, derailed not only the Colts, but Taylor’s MVP chances down the stretch. With Jones hobbled and eventually out of action with a season-ending Achilles injury, Taylor failed to eclipse 100 rushing yards in each of his final 7 starts, and not by coincidence, Indy lost all 7 games.
That being said, Taylor still earned Pro Bowl honors, and had another monstrous season when it was all said and done, rushing for 1,585 total rushing yards and a league-leading 18 rushing touchdowns on his also league-leading 323 total carries during all 17 starts this past year.
There’s no better choice here for Indianapolis. While it’s a longshot again, ‘JT 4 MVP’ still has a nice ring to it.
