Jonathan Taylor Fantasy Performance: 153 Yards and Three Touchdowns Cement RB1 Status

Jonathan Taylor put up 153 rushing yards and three total touchdowns in the Colts' dominant 38-14 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. The running back finished with 12 carries for two rushing scores plus a 19-yard receiving touchdown, averaging an absurd 12.75 yards per carry in what may have been his most impressive performance of an already historic season.

The signature moment came on an 80-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter, where Taylor broke through the line behind a lead block from All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson, then hugged the sideline while reaching over 21 mph to outrun the entire Titans defense. The explosive play tied the longest touchdown run in franchise history and prompted Lucas Oil Stadium to erupt in MVP chants that quarterback Daniel Jones later called spot on.

Fantasy Impact

Taylor now has 216.6 PPR points through eight games, averaging 27.1 points per contest while leading all running backs in fantasy scoring. This marks his third game with three touchdowns this season and his fifth overall, putting him on pace for one of the most dominant fantasy campaigns in recent memory. He leads the NFL with 14 total touchdowns and ranks second among running backs with 1,056 yards from scrimmage.

The usage patterns remain elite with Taylor handling 66.8% of the Colts' rushing attempts while also seeing consistent receiving work. His 92.6% catch rate on targets shows the efficiency in his passing game involvement, making him matchup-proof against any defensive game plan. Based on current PPR rankings, he's locked in as the consensus RB1 for the remainder of the season.

This performance reinforces Taylor's status as fantasy football's most valuable player in 2025. The 12.75 yards per carry average was the highest single-game mark of his six-year career, demonstrating that even in his most productive season, he's still finding new levels of efficiency. The Colts' 7-1 record and league-leading 33.8 points per game create an ideal environment for continued touchdown production.

Next Steps

Taylor faces the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road in Week 9, where the Colts will look to maintain their position atop the AFC standings. The Steelers have allowed 4.4 yards per carry to opposing backs this season, setting up another potential ceiling performance for the MVP candidate. Fantasy managers should monitor snap counts in potential blowout situations, though Taylor's receiving work provides a solid floor even in negative game scripts.

The combination of individual excellence and team success positions Taylor for a legitimate MVP campaign, something that would be historic for a running back in the modern era. His pursuit of Edgerrin James' franchise touchdown record adds another compelling storyline, as he trails by just one rushing score with nine games remaining. For fantasy purposes, Taylor represents the rare player who combines a sky-high ceiling with an elite floor, making him essential in championship-caliber lineups.

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