How close to the top is Colts' Jonathan Taylor in RB rankings?

USA Today

14-02-2025

How close did Indianapolis Colts' Jonathan Taylor get to the top of these recent running back rankings from NFL.com?
NFL analyst, and former NFL running back, Maurice Jones-Drew recently put a long list that contains 74 running backs and he ranked them from No. 1-74. To qualify, running backs needed at least one start in 2024 and 20 carries.
After his most productive season since 2022, Taylor came in at No. 6 on Jones-Drew's list. The five backs ahead of him were Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, and Josh Jacobs.
'He was mostly consistent in an offense that once again had up-and-down QB play in 2024, with the highlight of his campaign coming in the final month of the season, when he posted four straight 100-yard rushing games.'
Taylor played in 14 of the Colts' 17 games and still compiled 1,431 rushing yards. He averaged 4.7 yards per rush and had 11 touchdowns.
Compared to the rest of the NFL, Taylor ranked sixth in yards, 11th in yards per rush, and was eighth in rushes of 10-plus yards, according to PFF.
As the Colts' offensive line navigated injuries during the middle portion of the season, it was tough sledding at times for Taylor, who averaged only 2.9 yards per rush from Weeks 9-12 if we take his 58 yard run against Buffalo out of the equation.
However, as Jones-Drew noted, Taylor finished the season incredibly strong, which included a 218 yard performance against Tennessee in Week 16.
As good as Taylor was, there is still room for growth, particularly in the finer details in crucial moments. Against Denver, Taylor would drop the ball before crossing the goal line, taking a touchdown off the board for the Colts and giving the ball back to the Broncos.
Then against the Giants two weeks later, on a pass to Taylor at the 12 yard line, Taylor wasn't looking and the ball bounced off his arm. Later in the game, on third-and-one, Taylor got the ball on a toss but ran out of bounds before reaching the line to gain when it looked like he had room.
On the next play, Taylor attempted to leap over the offensive line for the first down rather than staying on his feet. He was again stopped short.
'A situation like that, you've just got to find a way to make it, whether you think you've got it or not, you've got to make sure the officials think that you made it,' Taylor said after the game via the Indy Star.
Given the nature of the quarterback position, that's where much of the attention will often lie. But Taylor's ability to perform at a high level is a key component to the Colts' success on offense.
Having a strong running game to lean on keeps Anthony Richardson and the passing game out of predictable situations and can help open up opportunities in the passing game, particularly off play-action or from operating ahead of the sticks.