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With Jonathan Taylor (ankle) and Nyheim Hines (concussion) out of action against the Denver Broncos in Week 5, Deon Jackson and Phillip Lindsay shared the role of the primary back for the Indianapolis Colts. Jackson had the slight edge in touches, so he's the trending player on the fantasy football waiver wire.
The running back position is always scarce thanks to injuries and lack of expected production, so any back with a role in a decent offense is on the fantasy radar in one way or another.
However, should Deon Jackson be picked up in fantasy football leagues with Taylor likely to come back as soon as this week? Let's dive into it.
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How Did Deon Jackson Play in Week 5?
With Hines exiting on the first drive of the game on Thursday Night Football, Jackson was thrust into a significant role in the Matt Ryan-led offense. Jackson handled 17 total touches and accumulated 91 yards in the win. Most notably, he was the primary pass-catching back (four receptions), which is always a plus in fantasy football.
He clearly had plenty of juice and was the preferred running back over Lindsay in crucial situations. Again, fantasy managers are always looking for the next waiver wire add at running back with upside, and Jackson made a case for himself in Week 5.
Should I Pick Up Deon Jackson in Fantasy Football?
UPDATE 10/15 at 1:15 pm ET: Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines have both officially been ruled out for Week 6:
This makes things a lot more interesting for Deon Jackson and Philip Lindsay. They are expected to carry the RB load, and Deon Jackson should be considered a viable FLEX play with RB2 upside.
Previous Fantasy Updates for Deon Jackson
With Taylor likely to be back in Week 6, Jackson is mostly just a deep league stash moving forward. Hines shouldn't be out for an extended period of time, and he's the clear breather back and third-down back for the Colts.
For Week 6 specifically, Jackson can be picked up and starting in ultra-deep PPR leagues if Hines is out. He might serve as the RB2 and get some receiving work behind Taylor. However, that's not a given, as the Colts could simply use Taylor as an absolute workhorse on all three downs -- with Jackson substituting in on just a handful of snaps.
Ultimately, Jackson's value is as a handcuff RB3 for fantasy managers desperate for running back stashes in deeper leagues. If he has a strong performance behind Taylor in Week 6, he might have some real intrigue in shallower leagues.
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