While Jonathan Taylor’s numbers in his return to the lineup last week were fairly unimpressive, he remains one of the premiere talents in the league. Should he get the start over Zack Moss, who was injured last week but is still the Indianapolis Colts‘ leading rusher from a statistical standpoint?
Let’s break down these two players and their fantasy football outlooks for Week 17.
Should You Start Jonathan Taylor or Zack Moss This Week?
Editor’s note:Â Moss has been ruled OUT for Week 17.
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, our Consensus Rankings say Taylor is the player to start. His projected 15.1 points include 75 rushing yards and four receptions for 19 receiving yards. That projected stat line outperforms Moss’ 4.1 points.
My ranking for these running backs aligns with the consensus. With Taylor back in the lineup, and Moss’ status uncertain with an arm injury, starting Taylor this week seems like an easy choice.
Fantasy Outlook for Taylor This Week
Taylor returned last week against the Atlanta Falcons after missing three games following thumb surgery but produced just 43 rushing yards on 18 carries — an average of 2.4 yards per carry.
His thumb issue was likely the reason he was targeted just once and finished without a reception for his second straight game. But as Taylor gets healthier, there’s no reason to expect last week’s numbers will be the norm for the rest of this season.
Taylor did have a rushing touchdown against Atlanta, his third straight game with one — four touchdowns total over his last three games. That is tied for the longest active streak in the NFL, so even if the yards and receiving numbers aren’t there yet, it’s clear he can still get in the end zone.
Fantasy Outlook for Moss This Week
Moss missed last week with a forearm injury, but he was able to practice both Wednesday and Thursday this week, albeit on a limited basis. The fact that he has been practicing has to be viewed as a sign he’ll be able to play Sunday vs. the Raiders.
While Taylor and Moss have been one of the best running back duos in the NFL this season — they’re one of three teammate RB duos to each have five or more touchdown runs — Moss’ production has certainly been impacted by Taylor’s return.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
Over his last six games, Moss is averaging less than nine carries a game (8.7) and less than 30 rushing yards a game (29.2). And although he had a touchdown reception in the Colts’ Week 15 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Moss hasn’t had a rushing touchdown since Week 8 vs. the New Orleans Saints.
The only way it seems to make sense to have Moss in your fantasy lineup over Taylor is in situations where the latter is out of the lineup. The Colts favor giving the majority of the workload to Taylor when he can play.
The PFN Start/Sit Optimizer projects Moss to finish with 25 rushing yards and one reception for three receiving yards.
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