Jonathan Taylor, the Indianapolis Colts’ young, star running back, has been playing out of his mind this season. He’s quickly become the favorite to win the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. With impressive statistics and impactful performances, he is making a case for recognition as one of the league’s elite players. Taylor’s remarkable achievements include leading the NFL in rushing yards, scoring touchdowns at an extraordinary pace, and demonstrating explosive runs that have captured the attention of fans and analysts alike.
Through ten games this year, Taylor has topped more than 1,100 rushing yards, demonstrating his ability to quickly chew up yards in chunks. He averages a dazzling 6.0 yards per carry, which ranks him first in the league. Further, his 28 carries of 10 yards or greater place him second-best in the entire NFL. Taylor’s scoring efficiency has been impressive, as his 15 TDs are tied for the most in the league. He scores in the end zone every 12.6 touches. That speaks to just how impactful he has been as an essential cog in the Colts’ explosive offense.
Record-Breaking Potential
As Taylor has been turning heads, he’s been on the verge of doing something unprecedented. If he wins the MVP award, he will become the first major league player in history to be honored. He’ll be the first RB to accomplish this feat since Adrian Peterson in 2012. This would be monumental especially considering that running backs have only won the award four times since 2000. The challenge going forward is daunting, particularly as MVP voters have historically favored quarterbacks over running backs.
Those are all big challenges ahead of him, but Taylor’s explosive plays will play in his favor. He has two of the three longest rushes this season, each one covering 80 yards or more. This skill to separate from the tackler and get a huge chunk of yardage on one play just jumps out at you. It could be enough to win over MVP voters focused on game-changing displays.
A dark cloud might be gathering on the national regulatory front. Individually, the Colts’ surprising overall success would shoot a hole through Taylor’s MVP candidacy. Natural teammates such as quarterback James Cook III and an effective offensive line throttle dominating outings. Some might claim that Taylor’s personal accomplishments become difficult to appreciate in the light of this collective team production.
Impact on Team Dynamics
The Colts’ plan of attack and/or game script will play a major role in determining how much they look to Taylor in clutch situations. If this team is forced to play from behind often, then Taylor’s touches may dwindle to dangerously low levels. He had a season-low 14 carries for only 45 yards in a recent game. This starkly illustrates what we all know — that game flow can determine his usage.
Shane Steichen, the Colts’ head coach, acknowledged Taylor’s importance to the team’s success when he stated, “You can feel it on the sidelines calling the game when guys are rolling.” That final quote here brings home the urgency of getting Taylor touches on offense. Throwing at an extremely high level like he’s been doing only makes it more important to do so.
Despite these objective obstacles, Taylor’s numbers are still almost unbelievable. Consistently, he moves the chains—30.7% of his rushing attempts have gone for a first down. This makes the drives last longer for his opponents and increases his team’s prospects of winning. His elite speed and agility make it easy for him to evade defenders and create big plays, and he’s been a key component to driving the Colts’ offensive production.
The Road Ahead for Taylor
As Jonathan Taylor continues to put up extraordinary numbers, he faces a dual challenge: maintaining his performance while navigating the complexities of team dynamics and historical trends against running backs in MVP discussions. His current leads in rushing yards, rushing scores, and explosive runs put him in an advantageous position, but history suggests that he must defy expectations to secure the coveted award.
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