Scott Pianowski Fantasy analyst Wed, October 28, 2026 at 3:26 PM UTC · 5 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not long ago, an in-season trade speculation piece was basically a waste of time. NFL teams were reluctant to make deals, and when they actually occurred, it was rare for the players on the move to quickly acclimate to their new clubs. Much ado about nothing.
But things have shifted in recent years. It's helped that the trade deadline is now parked in November (it previously was slotted after Week 6). And teams seem less afraid of making mistakes now, more willing to take some chances.
This brings us to Jonathan Taylor, starting running back for the Colts. He's the center of the NFL rumor mill at the moment .
Indianapolis, of course, is off to a horrible start. The Colts sit 2-5 and even in a weak division, they're given just a 7% chance of making the playoffs, per DVOA.
The front office realizes the season is basically cooked, and Tuesday the Colts made a couple of trades. Star offensive guard Quenton Nelson was shipped to Seattle , and stalwart defensive tackle DeForest Buckner was reunited with the 49ers . The Colts landed a third and fifth-round pick for Nelson, and a fourth-round pick for Buckner. Taylor could be the next Colt to hit the trade market.
While fantasy managers paid keen attention to both deals, especially the Nelson move, a Taylor swap would be seismic in the fantasy landscape. Let's examine the prime contenders for a possible Taylor trade, and see how the pieces fit. (And while you're reading the shopping list, don't forger to add Seth McGowan, the Indianapolis backup RB, just in case.)
Here's a pretty clean fit. The undefeated Vikings are all defense (second in DVOA) and no offense (30th in DVOA) through their opening six games. Aaron Jones Sr. has been a decent back for a decade, but will be 32 in December. Jordan Mason isn't a bad player, but he's caught just 28 passes in his career (none this season). Taylor would immediate give the Vikings a three-down bell cow, and take some pressure off struggling QB Kyler Murray.
The Vikings likely recognize their window here. The NFC doesn't have a dominant team. The NFC East and NFC South between them might not have any good teams. The Rams have gotten off to a nightmare start. The 49ers are formidable, but battling cluster injuries. Seattle is a good but imperfect team. Even in a competitive NFC North, it's a good time for Minnesota to shove in some chips.
This would likely be a slight upgrade for Taylor. At least game flow would be improved more often than not.
Speaking of those imperfect Seahawks, maybe they could kick the tires on Taylor. They upgraded their running game with the Nelson move Tuesday, but the backfield is still a bunch of question marks. Emanuel Wilson is averaging just 3.6 yards per carry. Jadarian Price (chest) and Zach Charbonnet (torn ACL) recently had their practice windows opened, but they're far from guarantees. Seattle's team shape is much like Minnesota's — dominant defense, below-average offense. Taylor would instantly make the Seahawks more balanced and more dangerous.
Taylor's fantasy value would remain lofty in Seattle. This team often plays with a lead, and it seldom wants Sam Darnold to throw 40 or more passes. The offensive line now grades as a plus unit with Nelson aboard.
Here's yet another team with a defensive tilt. The Broncos are 5-2 on the strength of their No. 5 defense (per DVOA). The offense ranks just 30th in yards per game, though a difficult schedule has played into that (DVOA ranks Denver 16th on offense, which underlines how taxing the slate has been). The team is averaging just 3.8 yards per carry.
But maybe the timing for a Taylor trade isn't right here. Rookie Jonah Coleman was impressive in his Week 7 return (11 touches, 69 yards) and was a versatile back in his four-year college career. The Broncos also have veteran J.K. Dobbins and second-year back RJ Harvey, imperfect players but legitimate NFL runners. I suspect the Broncos would surely listen on a Taylor trade, but I doubt they'd do it proactively.
The Packers might have choked up when they saw how inexpensive Nelson was in trade. Green Bay's offensive line has been screaming for help all year, one of the worst run-blocking units in the league. But a Taylor trade might complicate things, given Josh Jacobs has returned.
Taylor managers don't want their back to head to Green Bay. The blocking will be worse, the competition for the ball will be increased. I suspect the Packers are just a longshot in the Taylor sweepstakes anyway, even as they've been one of the primary teams mentioned.
Here's the sleeper in the Taylor chase, a team that hasn't primarily been mentioned. But maybe that's an oversight. Cincinnati sits at 4-2, they're second in the DVOA ranks, and they've assembled a plus offense and (for once) a credible defense. Keep Joe Burrow healthy and great things can happen.
The one disappointment in the Cincinnati offense (fantasy managers know all about it) has been Chase Brown. He's averaging just 3.5 yards per carry, and he's been nothing special as a receiver (4.3 yards per target). At his best, Brown is a solid player. Taylor at his best is a superstar. Maybe Cincinnati could get frisky in the Taylor market.
Fantasy managers would probably okay the move. If the Bengals moved for Taylor, it surely wouldn't be to make him a committee back. When Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are healthy, the Bengals have little trouble matriculating the ball down the field.
Source: Sports
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