Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin

Combine Results

Strengths

• Rare, straight-line speed for his size (220+)
• Incredible vision and patience. Waits for holes to open up
• Nose for the endzone. 50 rushing, 5 receiving TDs in 41 career games
• Runs through contact, arm tacklers will not be able to stop him. Great stiff-arm
• Great balance, very smooth and fluid runner

Weaknesses

• Wear and tear could be a concern for some NFL teams, 300+ touches in all three years at Wisconsin
• 18 fumbles (15 lost) in 3 seasons
• lack of receiving work but did have 26 rec. in 2019 (8 in each of first two seasons)
• doesn’t move the pile too well despite the TD numbers
• seemed to lack confidence against Ohio State

NFL Player Comparison | Arian Foster

2020 Rookie Draft Projection | Top 3

Bottom Line

This kid was born to run the football. He ran a 4.39 40 at the combine which is the fastest time in the last 20 years for someone 220+ and 5th fastest overall as an RB since 2000. A true 3 down back that doesn’t need to come off of the field. He averaged over 2k yards a season at Wisconsin, showing great vision and amazing burst into the second level. He projects as a late first to mid-second-round pick which should give him the draft capital to be a big impact fantasy player immediately. I have him as my number 1 rb off of the board in all non-superflex leagues and wouldn’t try and talk anyone out of taking him #1 in an SF if you’re set at QB. 

He has a few minor knocks on him that may shy some NFL teams away. The big one is his workload in college. He went over 300 total touches in all 3 years in college with last year being his largest to date with 346 total touches. Despite the workload, he is very durable, only missing one game in all three seasons, so this should not be an issue. The fastest way to get benched in the NFL as an RB is to fumble. Taylor fumbled 18 times in three years at Wisconsin.  Taylor needs to clean this up but thankfully, fumbling is one of the easier things to clean up as an RB. The other minor concern is his lack of receiving work. Taylor had 8 receptions in each of his first two seasons at Wisconsin but showed signs of life in 2019 where he totaled 26 receptions on 36 targets, leading to 252 yards and 5 TDs. While he isn’t going to be CMC, he won’t be a total dud in the passing game like Derek Henry.

Taylor would be a great fit for a team like the Chargers who just lost Melvin Gordon. Yes, Ekeler just got an extension but I do not believe he is a 3 down back and see his talents best served as a 3rd down/change of pace like years past.

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