Who Should I Start? Jonathan Taylor or Jaylen Warren

Monday, February 2, 4:39 PM

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor finished behind only Christian McCaffrey in overall fantasy points at the RB position in 2025 in his sixth year in the league. Taylor led the NFL in carries (323) and rushing touchdowns (18) while gaining 1,585 yards on the ground (4.9 yards per attempt). He added a career-best 46 receptions on 55 targets for 378 receiving yards and two more touchdowns in 17 starts. The 27-year-old former second-round selection in 2020 out of Wisconsin has run for 3,016 yards and 29 touchdowns on 626 rushing attempts for the Colts the last two years, and he's found the end zone double-digit times on the ground in four of his six NFL campaigns. The three-time Pro Bowler will remain the centerpiece of Indy's offense in 2026, and with quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) expected to return, he should maintain high-end upside as a top-five RB for fantasy football managers.

Thursday, February 12, 1:19 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren had the best fantasy finish of his career in 2025, and he could take another step forward with less competition next season. Warren entered the 2025 campaign as the Steelers' preferred running back after Najee Harris departed in free agency. The expectation was that Warren would gradually lose touches to Kaleb Johnson, but instead, he found himself in a split backfield with Kenneth Gainwell. While sharing touches with Gainwell, Warren tallied 958 rushing yards, 333 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns. He finished as the overall RB17 in full-PPR leagues, while Gainwell was the RB16. Gainwell is expected to hit free agency this offseason, and early rumors indicate that the Steelers don't plan to re-sign him. Presumably, they'll bring in another running back or give more touches to Johnson. However, as the incumbent starter, Warren should maintain a heavy workload and fantasy relevance. He has shown an ability to produce as a ball-carrier and pass-catcher, and he flashed a nose for the end zone by doubling his previous career-high touchdown total. Warren is a solid hold in dynasty leagues, and he projects as a mid-range RB2 option in redraft leagues for 2026.