Jaylen Warren vs Jonathan Taylor: Who Should You Start?
Jonathan Taylor and Jaylen Warren are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Indianapolis Colts running back averaged 20.0 PPG in 2025, a full 7.7 points per game ahead of Jaylen Warren's 12.3 with the Pittsburgh Steelers. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.
Jonathan Taylor carries a 7.7-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.
Both are three-down backs with real passing-game roles. Jaylen Warren caught 40 balls for 333 yards, and Jonathan Taylor hauled in 46 for 378. That receiving workload gives them high PPR floors even in games where the ground attack gets stuffed, and it is why both stay on the field in obvious passing situations.
Jaylen Warren has his bye in Week 9, and Jonathan Taylor rests in Week 14. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at running back for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.
