Marlon Mack, Indianapolis Colts. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Are we assessing value correctly with Jonathan Taylor and Marlon Mack?
The Indianapolis Colts will be one of the most fascinating watches offensively in the NFL this season simply because we have no idea what we’re going to be getting out of quarterback Philip Rivers. Will we get vintage San Diego Chargers Rivers or last year’s Los Angeles Chargers Rivers? And what should we think about the Colts backfield between Jonathan Taylor and Marlon Mack?
The Fantasy Footballers look at the inherent value both Indianapolis running backs carry with them into the 2020 NFL season. Taylor is a rookie coming off an incredible college career with the Wisconsin Badgers. He won the last two Doak Walker awards, as he looks to be a future Pro Bowler in the NFL. Though not as talented, Mack has been solid the last few years for the Colts.
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The guys projected Taylor will come off the board in the third round of a fantasy football snake draft. They grade him out as RB21 entering the 2020 campaign. In short, Taylor projects as a decent RB2 on your team, but an incredible RB3 if you went running back, running back, running back with the first three picks in your draft. It’s a major boom or bust, but it could work out for you.
Who will be more valuable in fantasy: Jonathan Taylor or Marlon Mack?
The idea behind value here is what do you think is more important to your team’s success: Do you want to get off to a hot start or do you want to catch fire down the stretch? Because Taylor is a rookie coming off the strangest offseason ever and didn’t catch a ton of balls in college, the guys don’t think he’s going to be a superstar in September or October for the Colts.
However, they do anticipate for Taylor to eventually usurp Mack on the Colts’ running back depth chart. Sure, Nyheim Hines is still there as a No. 3 rushing option, but he’s probably best served as a receiver out of the backfield for the Colts this season. Though you may overdraft Taylor out of the gate, you might find pretty decent value if you were to take Mack as your RB3 in the eighth round.
No, the Colts aren’t alone in the fantasy football running back conundrum. The same problem exists with the Kansas City Chiefs, as they have the veteran Damien Williams and the rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire on their roster. Perhaps doubling-down and drafting both backs as a high-end handcuff could inevitably serve you down the home stretch? Mack is good, but Taylor will be great.