Both Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss are dealing with injuries that may or may not force each out of a crucial Week 16 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. But if both can play, which Indianapolis Colts RB is the right choice for fantasy football managers to start on Sunday? Here’s the fantasy outlook for each player.
Editor’s Note: Jonathan Taylor was a full participant on Wednesday while Zack Moss was a non-participant.
Should You Start Jonathan Taylor in Fantasy This Week?
Taylor has missed the last three games because of a thumb injury that required surgery, but there was a reason the Colts did not place him on the injured reserve. They did not want to automatically lose him for four games, so if there’s a chance Taylor is healthy enough to play this week, the Colts will have him in the lineup.
Before his injury, Taylor was playing perhaps his best ball of the season. He had 91 rushing yards in his last game back in Week 12 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had also scored twice, his first game with multiple touchdowns.
In the five games before his injury, Taylor had established himself as the Colts’ No. 1 back again, averaging 75.4 rush yards per game on 4.4 yards per carry and 90.4 scrimmage yards a game.
Wednesday’s injury report will be a very telling sign about Taylor’s status for this weekend.
Should You Start Zack Moss in Fantasy This Week?
Moss was forced to leave last week’s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers with an arm injury. Fortunately for the Colts, X-rays on the arm turned out to be negative, so there’s a good chance that Moss could return to the lineup this week.
But even if he can play this week, there has to be some question as to whether he should start in fantasy lineups. Over his last three games, Moss had gained 92 yards on 36 carries, an average of 2.6 yards per carry.
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Moss does have nine receptions over those three games, though, with 54 receiving yards and a touchdown reception last week against the Steelers.
If neither Taylor nor Moss can play this weekend, the Colts will likely go with a tandem of Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson in the backfield.
The Falcons’ defense has given up yards on the ground lately; over their last seven games, they have allowed 129.1 rush yards per game.
Using the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, our Consensus Rankings say that Taylor is the player to start. His projected 16.1 points include 80 rushing yards and four receptions for 20 receiving yards. His projected stat line outperforms that of Moss, who is projected to have 7.2 points.
Moss is projected to finish with 43 rushing yards, two receptions, and six receiving yards.
My ranking for these running backs aligns with the consensus. If Taylor is healthy, given the Colts’ playoff position, it seems likely that he would be back in the starter’s role.
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