Seth McGowan
Running Back
Seth McGowan News
Seth McGowan is Too Risky To Start
Indianapolis Colts running back Seth McGowan remains a top stash target ahead of the trade deadline. It sounds likely that the Colts will keep Jonathan Taylor, but fantasy managers should stash McGowan just in case. Last week, McGowan carried the ball five times for 29 yards during the blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. With Taylor possibly leaving, McGowan could see an expanded role during the Week 9 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. It's a favorable matchup with the Cowboys having the worst run defense in the league. Despite it being a great matchup, McGowan is too risky to start in fantasy formats with Taylor still on the team. The 25-year-old is worth stashing, but he isn't an ideal streaming option for Week 9.
Nov 7, 2026 5:33 PM EST
Seth McGowan a Priority Stash in Preparation for Taylor Trade
Indianapolis Colts running back Seth McGowan should be stashed in most 12+ team fantasy football leagues ahead of the NFL's trade deadline on Nov. 10. There have been plenty of trade rumors circulating around Jonathan Taylor, and if he ends up being dealt, McGowan would take over as Indianapolis' undisputed No. 1 running back. It would take a lot for the Colts to trade Taylor, but it does seem like the rumors have been gaining steam over the last couple of days. Indianapolis has done a good job getting McGowan more involved lately, as he played 34% of the snaps in Week 7 and has totaled 17 touches across his last two games. The 25-year-old rookie from Kentucky would be the Colts' top fantasy running back if Taylor gets dealt, but even then, he'd likely rank as a high-end RB3 with a moderately low floor. After all, Indianapolis looks pretty weak on offense, so there may not be a ton of high-value touches for McGowan, even if he does end up leading the backfield throughout the second half of the season.
Nov 2, 2026 6:00 PM EST
Seth McGowan Still Firmly Colts RB2 With Taylor Remaining On Team For Now
Indianapolis Colts backup running back Seth McGowan hasn't seen more than a handful of touches in any of his games this season, and that's unlikely to change in Week 8. The Colts will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Indianapolis RB1 Jonathan Taylor, who remains with the team for now despite trade rumors swirling, will be the clear workhorse running back as long as he is under contract with them. Taylor is one of the NFL's best running backs, and would be the clear starter on any team that was willing to trade for him or the Colts if they decide to keep him. McGowan saw 11 rushes and one target in Week 7, totaling a season-high 12 touches, but even that was uncharacteristically high for him. McGowan is a priority waiver pickup in all leagues before Week 8's Sunday slate of games, as many fantasy managers are flocking to pick him up with Taylor's potential exit looming. But he should be left on benches as long as Taylor is still with the Colts and expected to start.
Oct 31, 2026 8:45 AM EST
Seth McGowan a Priority Waiver Wire Stash Ahead of NFL Trade Deadline
Indianapolis Colts rookie running back Seth McGowan has played a limited role in his team's offense so far in 2026, recording 146 yards from scrimmage on 36 touches across seven games. The 25-year-old had his usage scaled up in Week 7, logging 11 carries for 46 yards against the Minnesota Vikings. McGowan's growing role could be a sign of things to come. The Colts still have superstar running back Jonathan Taylor firmly ahead of McGowan on the depth chart, which will not change as long as Taylor remains healthy and on the roster. However, with the Colts currently sitting at 2-5 and riding a three-game losing streak, trade speculation around Taylor has begun to heat up. If Taylor were to get moved, McGowan could be in line to assume a workhorse role in the Indianapolis backfield. In leagues where he is available on the waiver wire, McGowan profiles as a priority stash candidate as the trade deadline approaches.
Oct 26, 2026 12:47 PM EST
Seth McGowan a Top Stash as Teammate's Trade Rumors Heat Up
Indianapolis Colts running back Seth McGowan is a priority waiver wire target, given that he has the potential to ascend into the No. 1 role over the next few weeks. Trade rumors are heating up surrounding Jonathan Taylor, with several teams expected to have interest if the Colts continue to lose games and trade away some of their top talent. McGowan is the direct backup to Taylor, and he would presumably handle the lead-back role if Taylor were to be traded. While we wouldn't expect McGowan to slot in as a mid-range RB1 in fantasy football, his talent and presumptive volume could at least get him on the RB2 radar, as we don't expect he'd have a ton of competition from DJ Giddens, who has yet to play an offensive snap this year. There's definitely a possibility that the Colts keep Taylor, and McGowan doesn't get onto the fantasy radar this year. However, there's also a possibility that McGowan becomes a weekly fantasy starter in this hypothetical Colts backfield without Taylor. As a result, he's a worthwhile stash in 12+ team redraft leagues and almost all dynasty formats.
Oct 24, 2026 7:53 AM EST
Seth McGowan a Top Handcuff to Look for on Waivers
Indianapolis Colts rookie running back Seth McGowan has seen modest involvement in each of the past four games, showing enough to make him an attractive handcuff behind three-time Pro Bowler Jonathan Taylor. With the Colts in free fall at 2-4 and having recently fired longtime general manager Chris Ballard, there is also an outside chance the team could look to move Taylor ahead of the NFL's November 10th trade deadline. A seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, McGowan is the only other running back on Indianapolis' roster to receive a carry through six games, averaging more than four yards per attempt, and with multiple paths to an increased workload, he makes for an intriguing long-term stash in a week with few high-priority waiver targets.
Oct 20, 2026 9:14 AM EST
Seth McGowan Among the Top Handcuffs to Stash
Indianapolis Colts running back Seth McGowan has emerged as one of the more appealing handcuff stashes in fantasy football, with a clear path to increased opportunities if Jonathan Taylor misses time. The 6-foot, 223-pound rookie has established himself as Indianapolis' primary backup, while DJ Giddens has yet to play an offensive snap this season. McGowan has recorded 17 carries for 61 yards and three receptions for 10 yards through five games, including five rushes for 16 yards and one catch for three yards in Sunday's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played 26.1% of the offensive snaps in that contest after reaching a season-high 29% in Week 4. Taylor continues to dominate the backfield, playing 82.2% of Indianapolis' offensive snaps through five games, leaving McGowan with little standalone fantasy value. However, the rookie's size, established position on the depth chart, and limited competition behind him make him an attractive insurance option. Taylor managers should strongly consider rostering McGowan, while those in deeper leagues can justify stashing him before an injury potentially sends his waiver value soaring.
Oct 14, 2026 6:39 AM EST
Seth McGowan A Waiver Target As Handcuff RB For Colts
Indianapolis Colts running back Seth McGowan appears to have fully wrested control of his team's RB2 job away from DJ Giddens, the other RB on the roster aside from starter Jonathan Taylor. Giddens dealt with a knee injury in Week 2, but was a healthy scratch for Week 3, as the coaching staff decided to make Taylor and McGowan the team's active running backs. There is essentially zero chance that McGowan will push the coaching staff to hand him more touches at the expense of Taylor, who's one of the best backs in the league. But the rookie would step into a large role if Taylor got injured, meaning he should be added by fantasy managers who want to handcuff Taylor and in deeper leagues where all RB2s are rostered. McGowan is a nice lottery ticket in an offense that was highly productive last season before quarterback Daniel Jones tore his Achilles tendon. He's been active and starting for the first four games, but likely still needs time to heal. McGowan could see 20 or more touches in games that Taylor misses. He carried the ball six times for 31 yards and caught one of his two targets for seven yards in a dominant win over the Washington Commanders in Week 4 while Giddens sat on the sideline, so it's obvious McGowan is the target to pickup off waivers.
Oct 6, 2026 1:00 PM EST
Seth McGowan Remains Stash Option
Indianapolis Colts running back Seth McGowan saw the most action of the season during the Week 3 win over the Houston Texans. McGowan rushed the ball four times for 14 yards in the two-point victory. The 24-year-old has seen a minimal role in the backfield over the first three weeks of the season. His role is unlikely to grow much with Jonathan Taylor being the workhorse back in Indy right now. The rookie back is still one of the more interesting handcuff options around the league. McGowan could be one injury away from being the starter in an offense that loves to run the ball. He's worth stashing in deep leagues and dynasty formats on the chance that Taylor misses time.
Sep 29, 2026 6:22 PM EST
Seth McGowan is Unlikely to See Consistent Role
Indianapolis Colts running back Seth McGowan has barely seen the field over the first two games of the regular season. Heading into Week 3, McGowan has registered two carries for zero yards and one reception for zero yards. The 24-year-old is unlikely to have standalone value while Jonathan Taylor is healthy. Taylor is the workhorse back, and McGowan only saw the field for six percent of the offensive snaps last week. He remains worth stashing because he could see a significant role if Taylor ever goes down with an injury. Fantasy managers shouldn't bother starting McGowan in any formats ahead of the Week 3 matchup against the Houston Texans.
Sep 26, 2026 5:46 PM EST
Seth McGowan Is a Pure Contingency Play
Indianapolis Colts running back Seth McGowan has barely touched the ball through two games, but his spot on the depth chart is what keeps him interesting. McGowan caught one pass for no gain in Week 1, then had two carries for no yards against Kansas City. Jonathan Taylor has handled 43 carries and seven receptions over that same stretch, so there is no standalone role to chase. McGowan is still listed directly behind Taylor, though, and DJ Giddens has been inactive for both games. The rookie has played just 11.1% of the offensive snaps, which makes this a pure contingency bet. RotoBaller includes McGowan among its high-upside handcuffs and ranks him 52nd overall on the Week 3 waiver board, with an add recommendation in 14-team leagues. He is not worth forcing onto a shallow roster, but deeper-league managers looking for a direct backup to one of the league's busiest backs can justify stashing him now.
Sep 22, 2026 12:20 PM EST
Seth McGowan Remains a Worthy Deep-League Handcuff Running Back
A seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Indianapolis Colts running back Seth McGowan has begun his first NFL season in a reserve role behind superstar Colts back Jonathan Taylor. As long as Taylor remains healthy, McGowan is highly unlikely to see a fantasy-relevant workload. In the Colts' 41-23 Week 1 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the 23-year-old recorded zero carries and one catch for zero yards on one target. Still, McGowan cemented his status as the Colts' RB2, as he was the only back besides Taylor to see the field against Baltimore. Taylor has recorded over 700 touches since the start of the 2024 season, and he appears to be on his way to another massive workload in 2026. If he were to go down with an injury at any point, McGowan could immediately vault into fantasy relevance. In deeper leagues, McGowan could be worth targeting on the waiver wire for his handcuff appeal.
Sep 15, 2026 12:17 PM EST
Seth McGowan's Long Road Leads to the Colts' RB2 Job
Indianapolis Colts running back Seth McGowan took a long route to his current spot behind Jonathan Taylor. Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star detailed the difficult road McGowan traveled after his career at Oklahoma ended following a 2021 arrest, with stops at Texas College, Butler Community College, New Mexico State and Kentucky before the Colts drafted him in the seventh round this spring. The football climb continued once he arrived. McGowan impressed Indianapolis with his physical running and receiving ability during camp, and he has now moved ahead of DJ Giddens on the current depth chart after opening the preseason behind him. That makes the rookie considerably more interesting for fantasy. Taylor still dominates this backfield, so there isn't much standalone value to chase right now. McGowan has nevertheless gone from a seventh-round flier to the Colts' No. 2 back, giving him real handcuff value if his role is ever forced to grow.
Sep 10, 2026 8:22 AM EST
Seth McGowan Requires Patience in Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Indianapolis Colts running back Seth McGowan is more of a bench swing than somebody fantasy managers should expect to use anytime soon. The seventh-round rookie made the 53-man roster after rushing for 725 yards and 12 touchdowns at Kentucky last season, and the Colts liked the physicality he showed throughout the preseason. There is still somebody in his way before Jonathan Taylor, though. Indianapolis currently lists DJ Giddens second on the depth chart and McGowan third, leaving the rookie without much of a standalone role heading into Week 1. The good news is that the Colts kept only three running backs on the active roster, so an injury could change things quickly. McGowan is rostered in just 1% of Yahoo leagues and sits in the 14-team range on the current waiver list. That's where he belongs for now. Deep benches can take the shot, but managers in standard leagues do not need to force it.
Sep 8, 2026 11:56 AM EST
Seth McGowan Likely Does Enough to Win the Backup Job
Indianapolis Colts running back Seth McGowan rushed for 20 yards on five carries during Saturday's preseason contest against the Detroit Lions. He also had a five-yard reception in the loss. McGowan finished the preseason with 74 scrimmage yards across three games, and he might have done enough to win the backup job behind Jonathan Taylor. Entering the summer, the backup competition was between McGowan and DJ Giddens, a 2025 fifth-round pick who had 96 rushing yards last year. In addition to out-producing Giddens this preseason, McGowan is younger, although he has slightly lower draft capital as a seventh-round pick. It's important to note that both running backs are merely competing for a handcuff role here, as Jonathan Taylor is the undisputed every-down back in Indianapolis. Taylor was responsible for a whopping 86.6% of the Colts' running back carries last year, and he figures to achieve a similar mark in 2026. If McGowan is confirmed as Taylor's backup, he'll still be avoidable in shallower redraft leagues, and he'll be a mere stash in dynasty and deeper redraft formats.
Aug 29, 2026 5:19 PM EST
Seth McGowan Poised to Claim RB2 Role in Indianapolis
Indianapolis Colts rookie running back Seth McGowan appears to be the favorite for the backup role behind star Jonathan Taylor. McGowan had eight carries for 27 yards and added five yards on one catch in the 34-6 preseason loss to the Atlanta Falcons. With quarterback Riley Leonard and the backups, McGowan played 27 of 27 snaps and has done a good job in training camp. With second-year back DJ Giddens (hamstring) struggling at camp and expected to miss time, McGowan appears locked into the handcuff role behind Taylor, who has missed 16 games over the last four seasons. Currently ranked as the RB63 in RotoBaller's positional rankings, McGowan could be in a great situation behind an elite offensive line if Taylor is banged up during the season.
Aug 22, 2026 7:30 PM EST
Seth McGowan Quiet in First Opportunity as a Preseason Starter
Indianapolis Colts rookie running back Seth McGowan started in Thursday's 13-13 preseason opening tie against the New England Patriots. With lead running back Jonathan Taylor held out, McGowan only racked up 17 yards on his five carries and lost a fumble. McGowan was unable to capitalize on this early opportunity to solidify himself as the team's RB2, as fellow running back DJ Giddens (hamstring) was held out of the game due to injury. Deep Dynasty managers should continue to hold out hope for McGowan as the young rookie develops and gains more experience next week against the Atlanta Falcons. If McGowan can earn that RB2 role, he could also be a valuable handcuff for Taylor managers in redraft leagues.
Aug 14, 2026 1:08 PM EST
Seth McGowan Taking Advantage of RB2 Duties
Indianapolis Colts rookie running back Seth McGowan came into training camp competing with second-year runner DJ Giddens for the primary backup role behind the newly extended Jonathan Taylor, and with Giddens recently missing time with a hamstring injury, Colts beat reporter Zach Hicks has been impressed by what he's seen from McGowan in the RB2 role. Taylor recently praised the seventh-round pick, telling reporters, "Everybody thinks he's just like a big power back, but Seth has some moves... If you look at his feet, he reminds me of like a David Montgomery." While unlikely to force the type of committee role Montgomery has been part of in recent seasons in Detroit, McGowan has the opportunity to seize the all-important handcuff role to Taylor, raising his value as a dynasty stash and making him a player to at least keep tabs on in deep redraft leagues.
Aug 7, 2026 5:41 AM EST
Seth McGowan has Been Impressive in Training Camp
Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan continues to be impressed with Indianapolis Colts rookie running back Seth McGowan in training camp. When he was asked about McGowan on Tuesday, starting RB Jonathan Taylor compared McGowan's style to veteran RB David Montgomery. The 24-year-old seventh-rounder from the University of Kentucky is competing for change-of-pace touches with DJ Giddens behind Taylor in his first NFL season with the Colts in 2026. The RB2 role in Indy hasn't been fruitful for fantasy purposes as long as Taylor has been healthy, which means both McGowan and Giddens will probably go undrafted in most standard-sized 12-team leagues this fall. In his final collegiate season with Kentucky in 2025, McGowan ran for 725 yards and a career-high 12 touchdowns on 165 rushing attempts, adding 19 receptions for 126 yards through the air in 11 games played. McGowan isn't much of a third-down back, so his best path to fantasy value will probably be as a goal-line vulture in Indy as he looks to earn more work behind Taylor.
Aug 4, 2026 10:48 AM EST
Seth McGowan Needs the RB2 Job to Matter
Indianapolis Colts running back Seth McGowan has a simple path to fantasy relevance: beat DJ Giddens for the job behind Jonathan Taylor. The seventh-round rookie ran for 725 yards and 12 touchdowns at Kentucky, with another 126 yards on 19 catches. There is some appeal here. McGowan has the size for short-yardage work, and Taylor handled 323 carries last season. The problem is that Indianapolis has not promised meaningful weekly touches to its backup, and Giddens owns better draft capital after going in the fifth round a year earlier. RotoBaller still has McGowan at rookie RB11, but neither Colts reserve is being drafted inside the top 70 backs. That makes McGowan a deep dynasty stash, not a redraft sleeper. Until he wins the RB2 job, he is mostly an insurance bet with no standalone value.
Jul 24, 2026 11:59 AM EST
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