Jonathan Taylor Game Log: Why His 2025 Performance Just Changed Everything

Jonathan Taylor Game Log: Why His 2025 Performance Just Changed Everything

If you’ve been tracking the Jonathan Taylor game log lately, you know it’s been a wild ride. Honestly, looking at the numbers from this past season feels like reading a redemption novel where the hero almost loses everything before reminding everyone why he’s a superstar.

He finished 2025 with 1,585 rushing yards and a league-leading 18 rushing touchdowns. Those aren't just "good" numbers. They're dominant.

But if you only look at the season totals, you’re missing the actual story. The week-to-week reality for Taylor was a grind. He started the year like a man possessed, then hit a brutal wall in December as the Indianapolis Colts' offense began to crumble under the weight of quarterback injuries. It’s the kind of season that makes fantasy managers either geniuses or wrecks, depending on when they played him.

The 2025 Jonathan Taylor Game Log: A Season of Two Halves

The first ten weeks were basically a victory lap.

Remember Week 2 against the Broncos? He dropped 165 yards. Then came Week 10 against the Falcons. Taylor went absolutely nuclear with 244 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries. It was the kind of performance that reminded people of his 2021 rushing title season.

He was hitting holes with a level of burst we hadn't seen since before the ankle issues.

Breaking Down the Hot Start

The early season stats tell a story of efficiency.

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  • Week 3 (@ Titans): 102 yards, 3 TDs.
  • Week 7 (@ Chargers): 94 yards, 3 TDs.
  • Week 8 (vs. Titans): 153 yards, 2 TDs, and an 80-yard house call.

He was averaging over 5.0 yards per carry through the first two months. When the Colts were winning, they were feeding him. It was simple.

The December Fade

Then the wheels sorta fell off for the team. As the quarterback situation got messy—with Daniel Jones, Anthony Richardson, and Philip Rivers all spending time on the sideline—defenses just stopped respecting the pass. They dared the Colts to run.

The Jonathan Taylor game log during the final stretch reflects that struggle.

In the season finale against the Texans (January 4, 2026), he was held to a season-low 26 yards on 14 carries. That’s a disgusting 1.9 yards per carry. Earlier in December, he managed just 46 yards against the 49ers and 70 yards against a stout Jaguars defense. He was still getting the volume—averaging about 20 touches a game—but there was nowhere to go.

What the Stats Don’t Tell You About the Ankle

The biggest "what if" with Taylor has always been his health.

After a 2024 season marred by a high ankle sprain that cost him several games, 2025 was his "clean bill of health" year. He played all 17 games. That’s the first time he’s done that since 2021.

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Experts like the "Pro Football Docs" at SIC Score noted he entered the season at 100% for the first time in years. You could see it in the breakaway runs. He had 16 "breakaway" runs (runs of 15+ yards) this year, which ranked in the top 5 across the league.

But even a healthy Taylor can't outrun a stacked box. By the end of the year, he was facing 8-man fronts nearly 30% of the time. When the defense knows you're getting the ball, and your offensive line is missing key pieces like tackle Braden Smith, those 200-yard games turn into 40-yard slogs real fast.

Fantasy Impact and Strategic Value

If you’re looking at the Jonathan Taylor game log for fantasy purposes, the takeaway is "volume is king."

Even in his bad games, Taylor was heavily involved in the passing attack. He set a career-high with 46 receptions in 2025. That’s a huge shift. He’s no longer just a "two-down grinder." He’s a legitimate three-down threat who finished as the RB4 in PPR formats.

Red Zone Dominance

Taylor's 18 rushing touchdowns weren't a fluke. He led the league in red zone touches. Inside the 5-yard line, Shane Steichen didn't overthink it. He gave the ball to #28.

For dynasty owners, he’s nearing that "age 27 cliff." Historically, that's when running back value starts to dip. But because Taylor has relatively low career mileage compared to guys like Derrick Henry, there’s an argument he has another two elite years left.

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The Reality of the "Elite" Label

Is Jonathan Taylor still a top-3 back?

Honestly, it depends on who you ask. If you look at the game log from Week 10, he looks like the best player in the NFL. If you look at Week 18, he looks like a guy who’s stuck in mud.

The truth is somewhere in the middle. He’s an elite processor with world-class speed, but he’s also a product of his environment. Unlike a prime Barry Sanders, Taylor needs a semi-competent passing game to keep defenders out of the box.

When the Colts get Anthony Richardson back for a full season in 2026, the RPO (Run-Option) game should open up massive lanes for Taylor. The threat of a running QB usually adds about 0.5 to 1.0 yards per carry for the RB.

Actionable Takeaways for Following Jonathan Taylor

If you want to stay ahead of the curve on Taylor’s production, don't just look at his box scores. Watch these three things instead:

  1. Box Count: If the opponent is stacking 7+ defenders in the box, Taylor's ceiling is capped, regardless of how "hot" he is.
  2. Offensive Line Health: Taylor is a "vision" runner. He needs that initial crease. If the Colts are missing their starting guards or tackles, his efficiency will tank.
  3. Target Share: Check if he’s getting at least 3-4 targets per game. In 2025, his floor was saved by his involvement in the screen game and check-downs.

The 2025 season proved that Jonathan Taylor is back. He’s the centerpiece of the Indianapolis offense and a lock for 300+ touches next year. Just don't expect him to carry a broken offense to 100 yards every single week. No one is that good.

To get the most out of Taylor's stats, track his "Yards Created" metric. This measures yards gained after the first defender misses or makes contact. In 2025, he ranked 3rd in the league in this category, proving that even when the blocking was bad, he was still making people miss. Keep an eye on the Colts' free agency moves regarding their offensive line this offseason, as that will be the biggest indicator of his 2026 success.