Jackson looked poised to contribute as a multi-down Fantasy asset last season after Jonathan Taylor got hurt, but injuries of his own prevented that from happening. His peak performance came in Week 6 of last season when he had 10 receptions on 10 targets, but his passing game involvement only dissolved from there. Jackson has a chance to make a Fantasy impact early with Taylor on the PUP list and Zack Moss recovering from a broken arm that threatens his status for Week 1. Those absences could leave Jackson to split Week 1 duties with fifth-round rookie Evan Hull, provided Indianapolis doesn't add to the backfield prior to the matchup with the Jaguars.
Cleveland signed Jackson to its practice squad Tuesday.
A few days after being cut loose by Indianapolis, Jackson has now found another opportunity with a different team. As long as Jerome Ford, Kareem Hunt and Pierre Strong remain healthy though, it's unlikely Jackson will see any game action anytime soon.
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Colts' Deon Jackson: Limited to special teams
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Jackson did not have a carry or a target in Sunday's win at Houston. He played just one snap on special teams and none on offense with the return of Zack Moss from a broken forearm.
Moss took over as the primary running back and had every touch of the team's backfield usage (18 carries for 88 yards and four receptions on four targets for 19 yards), while Jackson and Jake Funk were not used. It's possible Jackson could get more involved in Week 3 as a pass catcher, as the Colts were playing with a large lead most of the game. However, Jackson's two lost fumbles Week 1 also may have him in a doghouse that could take some time to get out of.
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Colts' Deon Jackson: Could have less competition
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Jackson could see additional work if Zack Moss (forearm), who was downgraded to doubtful for Sunday's game, is unable to play, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports.
Holder suggests Jackson would be the team's listed starter in the event Moss was unable to play, but the prevailing expectation is that Evan Hull would also see opportunities and could even see work in passing situations despite Jackson's acumen (30 catches, 209 yards last year) in that area. The third-year back never saw more than 13 carries in a game despite nominal starter Jonathan Taylor missing extensive time at various points last season, so it remains to be seen how much work Jackson can get in Week 1.
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Colts' Deon Jackson: RBs to Sit
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We'll see what the Colts do with their running back rotation this week with Jackson and Evan Hull, but neither are safe starting options, even in deep leagues. Anthony Richardson should do most of the work on the ground, and Jackson and Hull will likely need to score a touchdown to have a productive Fantasy outing. I would lean toward Jackson over Hull as a flex option this week if you're stuck, but this isn't a great running back situation until Jonathan Taylor (ankle) returns, if at all, in Week 5 following his stint on the PUP list.
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Colts' Deon Jackson: Could share Week 1 snaps with Moss
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Jackson could face competition for touches out of the backfield Sunday against the Jaguars from Zack Moss (arm), who was a limited practice participant Wednesday.
Prior reports had suggested that Moss was unlikely to be ready to make his season debut until Week 2 or 3, but he now seems to have at least some chance of being ready to play Sunday, per JJ Stankevitz of the Colts' official site. If so, Moss would likely work in some form of a committee with Jackson and possibly Evan Hull, giving Indianapolis the most unsettled backfield in the league. Jackson becomes a much more attractive Week 1 fantasy play if Moss ends up missing the game, though even in that scenario, Jackson is far from a bankable lineup option in most leagues.
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Colts' Deon Jackson: Week 1 Adds (RB Preview)
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As long as Zack Moss is out, we expect Jackson to lead the Colts committee against Jacksonville, though he'll share with Evan Hull. Expect something in the 10-15 touch range with a similar number of Fantasy points. If Moss is cleared from his broken arm, he would become our favorite to lead the backfield, but it will still be a committee.
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Colts' Deon Jackson: Week 1 Waiver Priority List
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The Colts backfield is a mess with Jonathan Taylor (ankle) on the PUP list and Zack Moss (arm) not expected to play in Week 1. That could allow Jackson to start in Week 1 against Jacksonville, which makes him worth a late-round pick in all leagues, as well as someone to add for up to 5 percent of your remaining FAB. Now, we could see a situation where Evan Hull (11 percent rostered) gets more work than Jackson early on. And when Moss (27 percent) and eventually Taylor is healthy then Jackson could be irrelevant. But, for now, Jackson is a good stash candidate to add to your bench just to see what happens against the Jaguars.
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Colts' Deon Jackson: Could start with Taylor on PUP
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Jackson appears to be the likely starting running back for the Colts with Jonathan Taylor (ankle) placed on the reserve/PUP list, though Zack Moss could return from a broken arm by Week 1, Dianna Russini and James Boyd of The Athletic report.
Indy's running back situation without Taylor is unsettled heading into a Week 1 matchup against Jacksonville. Jackson got the start in two of three preseason games (including the preseason finale) but could share playing time with rookie Evan Hull. Moss also sounds like the clear lead running back with Taylor out if he's able to return. The Colts could also claim a veteran on waivers and cloud the situation even further. Either way, there's a decent chance Jackson gets a significant amount of snaps in the backfield early in the season.
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Colts' Deon Jackson: Underwhelms in preseason start
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Jackson had three carries for eight yards and had two receptions for 15 yards on two targets in Saturday's preseason win over Chicago.
Jackson got the start at running back, but the Colts rested every starter on offense. Jackson wasn't as impressive as the first preseason game (six carries for 35 yards) but that may have been a byproduct of working with the second-team offensive line. With top running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) on the PUP list and Zack Moss out with a broken arm, Jackson could enter the regular season as the top running back. However, the Colts could sign a veteran late in camp if Taylor remains out.
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Colts' Deon Jackson: Strong showing in preseason debut
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Jackson had six carries for 35 yards in Saturday's preseason loss at Buffalo.
Jackson had been sidelined in practice the past few days with a quad injury and wasn't expected to play. Apparently he's back to full strength, as he had some impressive runs while get the starting nod at running back. With top running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) on the PUP list and Zack Moss out with a broken arm, Jackson could enter the regular season as the top running back. While the Colts may still decide to sign a veteran in that scenario (they were in talks with Kareem Hunt), Jackson gave them reason Saturday to feel confident he can handle the job, at least in the short term.
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Colts' Deon Jackson: Sidelined by quad injury
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Jackson (quad) did not practice Thursday does not expect to play in Saturday's preseason game at Buffalo, the team's official web site reports.
With top running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) on the PUP list and Zack Moss out with a broken arm, the Colts signed Jason Huntley on Wednesday to add depth to the running back room. If Jackson is able to quickly move past his injury, he could have a significant role with the Colts if Taylor remains sidelined for the start of the regular season. However, the Colts may add a veteran instead of giving Jackson a look in a leading role in that scenario.
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Colts' Deon Jackson: Misses practice with injury
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Jackson missed Tuesday's practice with an undisclosed injury, Mike Chappell of Fox 59 Indianapolis reports.
While the nature or severity of Jackson's injury isn't clear, his absence from practice is less than ideal for a Colts squad that will head into its preseason opener Saturday versus the Bills with top running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) on the PUP list and Zack Moss out with a broken arm. In light of the injuries to Taylor, Moss and Jackson, the Colts signed Jason Huntley on Wednesday to add depth to the running back room. If Jackson is able to quickly move past his injury, he could have a significant role with the Colts if Taylor remains sidelined for the start of the regular season. However, the Colts are also reportedly in talks to sign free agent Kareem Hunt, so they may add a veteran instead of giving Jackson a look in a leading role in that scenario.
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Colts' Deon Jackson: Likely to rotate with Zack Moss
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Colts interim head coach Jeff Saturday said that Jackson will likely be part of a rotation out of the backfield with Zack Moss during Monday's game against the Chargers, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
After Jonathan Taylor (ankle) exited early in last Saturday's 39-36 overtime loss to the Vikings with what proved to be a season-ending injury, Jackson ranked a distant second to Moss in terms of snap share. Jackson finished the day with 25 snaps (31.6 percent) and logged 13 carries for 55 yards to go with a one-yard touchdown reception, while Moss took 53 snaps (67.1 percent) and carried 24 times for 81 yards while going without a target. Saturday said that the Colts' starting running back for Week 16 will be a game-time decision, and it's possible the coach ends up favoring the hotter hand of the two backs as Monday's contest unfolds. The two backs' usage from last week would seem to imply that Moss is the preferred candidate for early down work, though the superior efficiency Jackson demonstrated could prompt Saturday to give him more snaps and carries than he received against the Vikings. The Colts also have Jordan Wilkins as a third option out of the backfield to potentially lean on.
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Colts' Deon Jackson: Week 16 Waiver Priority List
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The Colts are without Jonathan Taylor (ankle), potentially for the rest of the season, which puts Moss and Deon Jackson (21 percent rostered) on the spot as the best options in the backfield for Indianapolis. After Taylor was hurt in the Week 15 meltdown at Minnesota, Moss took over as the lead back with 24 carries for 84 yards and one target. Jackson had 13 carries for 55 yards and one catch for a 1-yard touchdown on one target, but he also lost a fumble. Moss is the preferred option for Week 16 against the Chargers, who are No. 5 in most Fantasy points allowed to running backs for the season. I like him as a flex this week, and Jackson is also worth using as a flex in deeper formats.
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Colts' Deon Jackson: Should get larger role sans Taylor
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Jackson and Zack Moss are expected to serve as the Colts' primary options out of the backfield for the final three games of the season with Jonathan Taylor considered unlikely to suit up again after suffering a high-ankle sprain in Saturday's 39-36 overtime loss to the Vikings, Matt Adams and Mike Chappell of Fox 59 Indianapolis report.
Taylor played just two snaps Saturday before exiting the contest with what will likely end up being a season-ending injury, and the Colts were able to find plenty of work for both Jackson and Moss while the team held a double-digit lead for more than three quarters before the Vikings completed an improbable and historic comeback. Moss (24 carries for 81 yards) ended up leading the way, but Jackson (13 carries for 55 yards plus a one-yard touchdown reception) was more efficient with his opportunities. The Colts aren't likely to have the luxury of dishing out 37 carries again in 2022, so both backs could see their volume take a hit beginning with next Monday's game against the Chargers. Even so, the absence of Taylor still puts both backs on the fantasy radar, despite the uncertainty of how the workload may be divided. Jackson, who had a 10-reception game back in Week 6 against the Jaguars when Taylor was previously sidelined, likely offers more upside in the pass-catching department of the two backs, though Moss isn't a total zero in that area.
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Colts' Deon Jackson: Catches TD after Taylor injury
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Jackson rushed 13 times for 55 yards and caught his only target for a one-yard touchdown in Saturday's 39-36 overtime loss to the Vikings. He also lost a fumble.
Jackson watched Zack Moss take over for the remainder of the opening drive after Jonathan Taylor (ankle) got injured on his first touch. After Moss was stuffed by the goal line, Jackson checked in to start the team's next possession and wound up capping it with a one-yard touchdown catch. Jackson finished the game with 13 carries to Moss's 24, and they would likely remain in a timeshare against the Chargers in Week 16 if Taylor fails to recover from his injury by then.
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Colts' Deon Jackson: Just two carries in loss
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Jackson had two carries for six yards in Sunday's loss at Dallas.
Jackson played on eight of the offense's 72 snaps. He's the clear backup to Jonathan Taylor after the trade of Nyheim Hines to Buffalo, but Taylor is playing nearly every down under new head coach Jeff Saturday.
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Colts' Deon Jackson: Not practicing
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Jackson (knee) didn't practice Wednesday.
Jackson missed the Colts' 25-20 win over Las Vegas last Sunday, while Jonathan Taylor returned from an ankle injury to play 94 percent of the snaps while taking 22 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown. Taylor will lead the backfield again this Sunday against Philadelphia, with Zack Moss and Jordan Wilkins providing depth if Jackson isn't ready to suit up.
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Colts' Deon Jackson: Misses second straight practice
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Jackson (knee) didn't participate in Thursday's practice.
After serving as the Colts' lead back in last week's loss to the Patriots while Jonathan Taylor (ankle) missed his third game of the season, Jackson now appears to be the worst health among the two backs. Taylor returned to practice Wednesday as a limited participant before upgrading to full activity Thursday, while Jackson didn't log any reps for the second day in a row. Jackson could still put himself in position to play Sunday in Las Vegas if he manages some practice activity Friday, but with Taylor poised to rejoin the lineup this weekend, Jackson would likely be in store only for a change-of-pace role.
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Colts' Deon Jackson: Not practicing to start week
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Jackson was held out of practice Wednesday with a knee injury.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Taylor (ankle) returned to practice as a limited participant after missing a 26-3 loss to the Patriots on Sunday. Jackson was the lead back in that game but finished with only 36 yards on 13 touches in an ugly outing for the Indianapolis offense in what turned out to be Frank Reich's final game as head coach. It's possible Jackson gets another start Sunday in Las Vegas, but only if he makes progress later in the week while Taylor heads the other direction.
