Fantasy football managers really might want to prepare themselves for a long fall for Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor.
The running back had been the subject of trade discussions while on the physically unable to perform list, but Tuesday’s 4 p.m. roster deadline came and went without Taylor being dealt to another team.
That means that Taylor will be unable to take the field for the Colts or any other team for the first four weeks of the season, and he’ll be a nonstarter for any fantasy football teams until he’s activated from the PUP list and, hypothetically, traded to a new team.
It would not be surprising in the slightest if the Colts held Taylor there until the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline, which might spark a contending team to concede a one-year rental for the running back to boost its Super Bowl chances.
However, Taylor may want a new deal before any trade goes through.
There’s always the possibility that the Colts and Taylor come to some sort of agreement before season’s end, but it remains a major question mark when (and if) we will see the running back take the field this fall.
Fantasy football managers should be wary to draft Taylor until things are resolved in Indianapolis. Judging by how the saga has evolved this summer, this may take a while.
