The Indianapolis Colts have been up-and-down this season but are coming off a 27-13 win against the Carolina Panthers. Injuries have limited their upside, especially when rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson was lost to the year with a shoulder injury on Oct. 8.
Despite that, the Colts have been a pretty solid offensive team this year, particularly on the ground. Indianapolis ranks 10th in the league in rushing (123.3 yards per game) and has had two running backs, Zack Moss and Jonathan Taylor, both post big games this year.
With that in mind, which Colts running back should fantasy football managers have in their lineups in Week 10?
Should You Start Jonathan Taylor or Zack Moss This Week?
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, PFN’s Consensus Rankings say that Taylor is the player to start. His projected 16.5 points include a projection of 80 rushing yards, 4 receptions, and 20 yards. That doesn’t seem like a big stat line, but it outperforms the consensus projection for Moss (8.5 points).
This is a pretty simple one, as the optimizer is spot on with Taylor. Our consensus rankings have Taylor at RB6 while Moss is RB31. To be projected to have 16.5 points is a pretty good indicator of the expectations for a spectacular week. In the game against the Panthers last week, Taylor had 23 total touches (18 carries, five catches). Moss, on the other hand, had only seven rushes.
Moss had a great start to the season, but that was with Taylor on the injured reserve. Now that he is back, he is the unquestioned go-to back for the Colts, and Moss is more of a spell back.
Taylor Fantasy Outlook this Week
At RB6, there are big-time expectations for Taylor this week against the New England Patriots in Germany. The Patriots have been solid against the run this year, ranking 11th in rushing yards allowed (100.8 yards per game). It is the pass defense where New England struggles, ranking 21st (232.7 yards per game).
MORE: Fantasy News Tracker
There are a lot of questions about where the Patriots are currently as a team. Rumors are starting to swirl that head coach Bill Belichick could be fired if they lose.
New England is limping into this game, and it feels like it could be a really bad week for the once-prestigious franchise. With that in mind, this could be the breakout game that Taylor managers have been hoping for. Don’t be surprised if Taylor is closer to RB1 than RB6, as he could very well have 120 total yards and a touchdown.
Moss Fantasy Outlook this Week
Moss had a great start to the season, as his 615 yards are currently second in the NFL (Christian McCaffrey, 652). Of those 615 yards, 455 came in the first four weeks. He had two games of at least 120 yards, including a 165-yard performance against the Tennessee Titans a month ago.
MORE: Soppe’s Week 10 RB Rankings
In the last four games, Taylor has been back, and Moss hasn’t rushed for more than 66 yards. While Moss has been a great surprise for Indianapolis this year, his time as a major fantasy contributor is over.
You don’t pay running backs the money the Colts paid Taylor and not have him being the workhorse. Keeping Moss on your roster isn’t a bad play because you never know when an injury could occur. However, don’t expect him to be the reason why you win fantasy games any longer.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!
