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Indianapolis Colts · 2026
Who is Jonathan Taylor’s handcuff?
Explore the full Indianapolis Colts depth chart, player roles and draft history
The published handcuff answer
Seth McGowan
Behind Jonathan Taylor · IND
Seth McGowan is the preferred fantasy handcuff to Jonathan Taylor in our published Week 7 Indianapolis Colts analysis. This backfield has committee uncertainty, so an absence could split the work between multiple backs.
McGowan holds the No. 2 job ahead of Giddens
Handcuff score
Backup opportunity, not projected points or an injury probability.
Analysis published . Status and role notes reflect that board.
Check official availability and your league’s transaction rules before adding.
Indianapolis Colts backfield overview
If Jonathan Taylor misses time
Indianapolis has no running back on today's Week 7 inactive list, so Jonathan Taylor - who practised in full - McGowan and DJ Giddens are all dressed at Minnesota. The Colts' unofficial Week 7 depth chart, released Tuesday, Oct. 20, lists the backs in the order Taylor, McGowan, Giddens, confirming the rookie seventh-rounder is still No. 2 rather than demoted. He is free almost everywhere; for him to matter Taylor would have to miss time, and the honest read is that Indianapolis would spread a committee with the more complete Giddens rather than hand McGowan a lead role. Fact: depth order and 21 carries in six games. Projection: the split.
No Colts running back is on the Week 7 inactive list and Jonathan Taylor carried no designation into the game after full participation in practice, so this is a contingency read. The team's unofficial Week 7 chart from Oct. 20 keeps Seth McGowan at No. 2 and DJ Giddens at No. 3, with neither holding a return role. Taylor's workload leaves both backups essentially unused, and the scores between them are close enough that an extended Taylor absence would most likely produce a timeshare rather than a single lead back.
Seventh-round rookie who holds the No. 2 job ahead of Giddens and kept it through Week 1, but he remains essentially unused behind Taylor's workload. He would be first up if Giddens' knee sits him, though Indianapolis would more likely spread a committee than hand him a lead role.
- availability_unverified
- close_scores
- stale_availability
- thin_profile
- close_scores_with_giddens
- committee_likely
- rookie_unproven
- starter_healthy
Why this candidate scores here
Other candidates in this backfield
DJ Giddens
receiving · score 62/100
Candidates and scores are from the same published board. A split workload can limit the upside of any one backup.
The production behind the names
2026 regular season. Recorded production, not a projection. A missing stat line is not a zero.
| Player | Games with stats | Carries | Receptions | Total yards | PPR / game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 140 | 17 | 765 | 19.6 |
| 7 | 32 | 4 | 146 | 2.7 |
Carries + receptions, last 6 recorded games in 2026
Carries + receptions, last 6 recorded games in 2026
Totals include all teams played for that season. Per-game averages use games with recorded stats. Source: nflverse player statistics.
Handcuff, backup and next-man-up questions
Who is Jonathan Taylor’s handcuff?
Seth McGowan is the preferred fantasy handcuff to Jonathan Taylor in our published Week 7 Indianapolis Colts analysis. This backfield has committee uncertainty, so an absence could split the work between multiple backs.
Who is the backup running back behind Jonathan Taylor?
Seth McGowan is the preferred replacement candidate in the published Indianapolis Colts board. The board lists him at RB2. A fantasy handcuff recommendation and an official depth-chart position can differ; compare the full team chart and role evidence.
Who is next up if Jonathan Taylor misses a game?
Seth McGowan is the preferred fantasy handcuff to Jonathan Taylor in our published Week 7 Indianapolis Colts analysis. This backfield has committee uncertainty, so an absence could split the work between multiple backs. Other published candidates include DJ Giddens. Indianapolis has no running back on today's Week 7 inactive list, so Jonathan Taylor - who practised in full - McGowan and DJ Giddens are all dressed at Minnesota. The Colts' unofficial Week 7 depth chart, released Tuesday, Oct. 20, lists the backs in the order Taylor, McGowan, Giddens, confirming the rookie seventh-rounder is still No. 2 rather than demoted. He is free almost everywhere; for him to matter Taylor would have to miss time, and the honest read is that Indianapolis would spread a committee with the more complete Giddens rather than hand McGowan a lead role. Fact: depth order and 21 carries in six games. Projection: the split.
Should I add Seth McGowan as a handcuff?
Consider Seth McGowan if you have a spare bench spot and want exposure to the replacement role behind Jonathan Taylor. His value depends on availability, competition for carries and receiving work, and your league’s roster rules. A handcuff is not automatically a useful starter this week. Review the dated analysis, current injury reports and the next kickoff before adding.
Compare backup running backs and next-man-up candidates for every team. Published depth and scores come from the documented roster, depth-chart and scoring process; they do not establish game-day availability.
Sources behind the analysis
Published analysis may use automated research. How evidence and recommendations are handled.
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