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In Week 15 against the Vikings, Colts starting running back Jonathan Taylor injured his ankle on his first touch of the game and did not return.
The Colts ended Taylor's season on Tuesday, placing him on injured reserve with a high-ankle sprain.
Signed LB Cameron McGrone off of the NE Patriots practice squad, signed RB Jordan Wilkins to the 53-man roster from the PS, placed RB Jonathan Taylor on IR and waived DE Ifeadi Odenigbo..
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Also signed TE Dominique Dafney and RB Aaron Shampklin to the practice squad.. pic.twitter.com/vvDJZWd5L8
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— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) December 20, 2022
With Taylor no longer around to take touches in the Indianapolis backfield, Deon Jackson and Zack Moss are next in line. Should fantasy managers be picking up and starting Jackson against the in Chargers in Week 16? Let's find out.
What Did Deon Jackson Do In Week 15?
As mentioned previously, Taylor got injured on his first touch in Week 15 and did not return, leaving Jackson and Zack Moss as the Colts' primary running backs. Jackson wound up playing on 31.6% of his team's offensive snaps. Of those 25 snaps, Jackson ran nine routes but was only targeted once. Moss played on 53 snaps and ran routes on 14 of those snaps, also drawing one target.
Jackson wound up carrying the ball 13 times for 55 yards and caught his lone target for a one-yard touchdown.
Deon Jackson touchdown???? 😳
pic.twitter.com/fGjZb5ARKi— Mojo Markets (@mojo) December 17, 2022
What Has Deon Jackson Done in 2022?
Jackson has carried the ball 57 times for 191 yards and a touchdown while adding 21 catches for 125 yards and another score through 13 games in 2022. He has been mostly stuck behind Taylor, but even before Week 15, Taylor missed three games earlier in the season with his ankle issues.
In those three games, Jackson averaged 12 carries, 42.3 yards, 5.3 catches, and 40.3 receiving yards with a rushing score. Those receiving numbers are buoyed by his 10-catch, 79-yard outing in Week 6 but that game also proves that Jackson has chops in the receiving game.
Should I Start Deon Jackson In Week 16 Fantasy Football?
It seems like Zack Moss has been the more popular waiver add this week but Jackson is more interesting thanks to his upside in the passing game.
The Chargers have been very generous to running backs in the passing game, ranking 25th in DVOA against running backs as receivers in 2022. Also, as the Tweet below shows, the Colts' new starting quarterback Nick Foles has targeted running backs frequently over his career.
This is more of a reminder for Monday but Nick Foles last two starts with Jax in 2019, and his only start in 2021, here's how he targeted his primary RB:
Leo Fournette: 12
Leo Fournette: 11
David Montgomery: 9Could be Deon Jackson alt reception line szn...
— Geoff (@thefantasygrind) December 23, 2022
The Chargers are 4.5-point road favorites in a game with a 45.5-point over/under. There is a good possibility that the Colts have to play from behind for much of the contest, which would benefit Jackson in the passing attack.
Jackson isn't a must-start in the fantasy semifinals but he is definitely an option as a flex play, especially in PPR leagues.
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