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Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor Making OPOY Case In Year Two

By Jacob Schyvinck

Nov 21, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) walks off the field following the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) walks off the field following the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /
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Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor making his case as the offensive player of the year in year two, and maybe NFL RB1.

The 2020 NFL Draft featured some impressive offensive talent, especially the depth at receiver, strong quarterback prospects, and a group of running backs that were slated to go at the top of the second round. The Indianapolis Colts snagged one of them, Wisconsin stud Jonathan Taylor, with the 41st pick, seven picks after selecting Michael Pittman Jr.

Taylor was a workhorse for the Badgers, rushing for over 1,975 yards in every season, and passing the 2,200 scrimmage-yard mark in his final two seasons. His combination of vision, toughness, and explosion into long speed made for a great blend of picking up yardage on tough runs and breaking off big gains. He made some improvements as a receiver in his final season as well.

Narratives formed around Taylor pre-draft, stemming from the now-debunked “tread on the tires” argument (which believed Taylor wouldn’t last long because of his touches at Wisconsin) to the lack of receiving ability shown in college.

Through nearly two seasons, Taylor has put all the concerns to rest. He had a great rookie season down the stretch, where he finished with over 1,400 yards from scrimmage and 12 total touchdowns. In 2021, he’s made 100-yard, two touchdown performances look like a walk in the park. His five touchdown performance against the Bills was one for the ages, and you could argue it wasn’t even his best performance of the season.

Taylor can rip off big runs because of his speed, and he’s been better with his field vision after the catch, but it’s what happens before those big runs are broken into the open that makes him great. His vision and anticipation as to where gaps will open makes him extremely tough to corral in the backfield, and his frame and contact balance make him tough to bring down at first contact.

It’s no wonder that Taylor is making a strong case for offensive player of the year in his second season. He’s the league leader in rushing and has a good chance of passing the 1,800-yard mark. His success proves that usage in college doesn’t really matter, and that betting on explosion, strong vision, and believing that he could improve as a pass catcher that has the Indianapolis Colts still in the playoff race in year two. Chris Ballard continues to amaze with his picks, and Jonathan Taylor is definitely one of them.

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