2020 NFL Draft Prospect – Jonathan Taylor, RB Wisconsin

Our NFL rookie profile series continues with this analysis of 2020 NFL Draft Prospect Jonathan Taylor, RB from Wisconsin. We will continue to provide you with these in-depth rookie profiles and a ton of other fantasy football rookie analysis right up through the NFL Draft. Stay tuned, and stay ahead of your league!

There are some people calling former Wisconsin Badger Jonathan Taylor the best running back prospect since Saquon Barkley. That is very high praise for one of the most gifted runners the NFL has seen in years. If you’re not ready to go that far in your evaluations, one thing is for certain: JT is coming into the NFL with a hell of a resume. After having one of the most productive rushing careers in college football history, this rushing machine is trying to become the next dynasty blue-chip player at the position.

The Stats

From the time Taylor stepped on the field at Wisconsin, he was a man amongst boys. Sometimes numbers don’t tell a complete story of a player or prospect. Normally I would caution against digesting raw data and stats and formulating an wholesale opinion on a player. This is a rare case where that premise is both true while still lacking some all important context.

When you’re thinking of investing high draft capital on any player in dynasty, you want to make sure you are getting a player whose skill-set can allow said player to stay on the field as much as possible to produce fantasy points. Taylor possesses that skill-set as evidenced by his production over the past three seasons. Take a look at how dominant he was below in each season.

One of the more underrated aspects in Taylor’s game was his durability. Handling nearly 1,000 career touches in three years, he didn’t miss a single game. His build, running style and efficiency kept him relatively fresh throughout his career while displaying bell-cow ability.

The Film

https://youtu.be/iq3nsu52pk4

If I had to sum up what Taylor’s film says about him as a player in one word: it is outstanding. He’s the best pure runner I’ve scouted since Barkley. The instincts, the speed, the vision, power, and ability to create are special.

https://twitter.com/RayGQue/status/1225158593168670721?s=20

Agility in tight spaces. This is as pretty of a 13-yard run that you’re going to see. Watch how Taylor is able to set up the defender “in a phone booth” and make him miss on his way to the end zone. While his agility problem solving ability doesn’t look like D’Andre Swift or Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Taylor has more than enough wiggle to make defenders miss at the next level.

https://twitter.com/RayGQue/status/1218233404346507265?s=20

Raw speed. Taylor ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, and that elite speed shows up on tape. In the above clips, you can see once Taylor hits the open field he’s rarely if ever caught from behind. It’s one thing to be fast in a straight line, it’s another thing when that straight line speed translates to the field.

#Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor — Has the traits to develop as a three-down back in the NFL.

Angles, wheels, flats, swings. Can flex outside. Expect to see more screen game targets as a pro.

Straight-line speed + power after the catch. @NFLMatchup pic.twitter.com/rJOU4tpUjI

— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) April 6, 2020

One of the biggest knocks against Taylor is the lack of pass catching success in his game. It wasn’t until his final season where he caught more than nine passes. He finished 2019 with 26 receptions, and majority of them were short dump-off routes. However, he did at times show that if deployed in a true pass-catching role, he has the talent to thrive. Will he ever become a Christian McCaffrey-type receiving back? Chances of that are slim to none, but he can definitely become a very reliable target out of the backfield that can give you a safe floor in PPR formats. To keep a long story short, I’m not concerned.

The Measurables

If you were going to build a running back in a lab, he would come out looking like Jonathan Taylor. He went to the Combine and put on an absolute show. Not only did he compete in all of the testing events, he showed very well in the pass-catching drills. Checking in at 226 lbs was a welcomed surprise to most, as he was listed by Wisconsin at 214 lbs.

Taylor’s already high buzz went from zero to sixty right after he blazed a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash. He didn’t stop there, as he had a very respectable vertical jump of 36” as well as a very quick 7.01 three-cone time, for a player some peg as “not elusive.” When you’re looking at a physical comp for Taylor, his build and athleticism resembles that of Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot.

Dynasty Value

According to DLF’s April 2020 Rookie ADP, Taylor currently sits as the top-rated rookie in single-quarterback leagues, and the third-rated rookie in superflex formats. There’s no need to dive deep into Taylor’s rookie dynasty value. The more interesting question is where do you take him in startup drafts.

Taylor’s current startup ADP is 18th overall and is being valued as the 11th overall running back in dynasty. Yes! This is where dynasty leagues are valuing Taylor right now weeks away from the NFL Draft. If you’re a fan of Taylor and his game, you probably need to do everything you can to acquire him now before rookie drafts.

Conclusion

Taylor is a stud. He’s already valued as an RB1 in dynasty and should probably be the top overall selection in rookie drafts regardless of format. Yes, I know what about superflex leagues quarterbacks are king. Well every so often talents like Taylor come into the league and when that happens, you toss conventional wisdom out of the window. Taylor isn’t a generational talent, but he is one of the best running back prospects we’ve seen coming into the NFL, along with Saquon Barkley, in quite some time.

As the NFL Draft inches closer and closer, please don’t overthink this one. Draft JT with confidence and ride him to championships for years to come.