analyst
DJ Giddens in an Important Positional Battle Ahead of Training Camp
DJ Giddens to compete with Seth McGowan for Jonathan Taylor's primary backup role
Seth McGowan
RB · IND · 24 yrs · exp 0 · Kentucky
Status
- Game status
- Active
Keep Trade Cut (SF TEP)
From latest snapshot · trend vs ~7d prior when data allows.
Value
1,235
Rank
#398
Pos rank
#101
7d trend
+5.2% (7d vs prior)
Value history (90d)
One snapshot point per calendar day (shown in your timezone).
Latest: Jul 24, 2026 · 1,235
News
Stories linked to this player — newest first.
analyst
Seth McGowan in Position to Battle for an Important Insurance Role
Seventh-round rookie running back Seth McGowan will have a chance to earn an important role for the Indianapolis Colts when the pads come on for training camp at the end of the month. McGowan will be competing with 2025 fifth-round pick DJ Giddens for the primary backup duties behind three-time Pro Bowler Jonathan Taylor, and the job has garnered added attention with rumblings that the team could be looking to limit Taylor's touches after he carried the ball a league-leading 323 times last season. Head coach Shane Steichen has pointed out the difficulty in taking his star running back off the field, and with Giddens coming off an uninspiring rookie season and the team spending only late Day 3 capital at the position, he could see another massive workload in 2026. Neither McGowan nor Giddens is being drafted within the top 70 running backs, and neither is expected to hold any standalone value in 2026 redraft leagues. However, any sign that one or the other has taken a lead in their battle to sit closer to Taylor on the depth chart would put them in position to hold down one of the league's most important insurance roles, and as such, reports out of Indianapolis' training camp should be followed closely
general
Colts want to "find ways to take some of that workload" off Jonathan Taylor
Only two running backs in the NFL have carried the ball more than 300 times in each of the last two seasons, but it sounds like the Colts wouldn't mind if Jonathan Taylor 's streak ends there. It's not a question of effectiveness as Taylor has run for 3,016 yards and 29 touchdowns on his 626 totes, but running backs coach DeAndre Smith pointed out the correlation between usage and injury risk as a reason why the team would like to find other options that would allow the running game to continue to flourish while Taylor is getting a chance to rest during games. "We definitely need to find ways to take some of that workload off him," Smith said, via Stephen Holder of ESPN.com. "If I can find another guy or two that can take some of those carries off, he's just going to be that much better. So, it's definitely been a constant conversation. I'm aware of it. When he's healthy, we've got a chance to win every game. So, that's always the first thing I think about: making sure he's available every week." Taylor played every game in 2025, but missed three games in 2024 and 13 games over the previous two seasons. There's no surefire answer on the roster at the moment as 2025 fifth-rounder DJ Giddens only ran 26 times as a rookie and 2026 seventh-rounder Seth McGowan is joined by undrafted free agents further down the depth chart. If one of those players doesn't flash quickly in camp, the Colts may have to look elsewhere for the kind of help that Smith would like to give Taylor come the fall
general
Colts want to "find ways to take some of that workload" off Jonathan Taylor
The Colts are looking for ways to reduce Jonathan Taylor's workload to manage injury risk and keep him fresh throughout the season. Running backs coach DeAndre Smith mentioned that the team is actively discussing how to incorporate other players to share carries. While Taylor has been highly effective, his past injury history is a concern. The team is evaluating current roster options but may need to seek external help if no player steps up in camp
RB · IND
transaction
Waiver: Seth McGowan added, Jaylin Lane dropped
sleeper-tx-waiver+2 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Seth McGowan. Drops: Jaylin Lane
analyst
Seth McGowan a Dynasty Stash Until Colts' RB2 Role is Settled
When the Indianapolis Colts took running back Seth McGowan in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, they added to a room in serious need of depth behind three-time Pro Bowler Jonathan Taylor. With Taylor playing in all 17 games and leading the NFL with 323 carries in 2025, there was little work to be split up behind him, and the next three backs on the roster combined for fewer than 50 attempts. Two of those backs, veterans Ameer Abdullah and Tyler Goodson, are no longer on the roster, leaving McGowan to battle it out with 2025 fifth-round pick DJ Giddens for the team's primary backup role. In a disappointing rookie season, Giddens was held out of several games as a healthy scratch while averaging only 3.7 yards per carry. With quarterback Daniel Jones potentially facing a ramp-up period to begin the year as he recovers from the Achilles injury sustained in December, the Colts' running game becomes all the more important, and a balance will need to be struck in preserving Taylor after 2025 marked his first full season since his 2021 breakout. A big, physical back, McGowan will have his chance to make an impression when the pads come on for training camp in late July. Whoever ultimately wins the job between McGowan and Giddens will have little standalone value behind Taylor, but in a run-heavy offense behind a running back with a history of missing time, the role comes with some of the highest insurance upside in the league
RB · IND
transaction
Waiver: Seth McGowan added, Kareem Hunt dropped
sleeper-tx-waiver+3 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Seth McGowan. Drops: Kareem Hunt
analyst
Seth McGowan "Right in the Thick" of RB2 Battle in Indianapolis
Seth McGowan is in the running for the Colts' RB2 role
RB · IND
transaction
FA: Seth McGowan added
sleeper-tx-free_agent+3 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Seth McGowan
RB · IND
transaction
Waiver: Seth McGowan added, Xavier Legette dropped
sleeper-tx-waiver+3 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Seth McGowan. Drops: Xavier Legette
RB · IND
outlook
2026 Season Outlook
sleeper-outlook+3 stories · 30dSource unavailable
A seemingly prototypical between-the-tackles runner, McGowan's lackluster college production after transferring from New Mexico State to Kentucky, as well as ball security issues, caused him to fall to the seventh round of the 2026 draft. McGowan's athletic testing at the combine was very impressive, however, as he ran a 4.49 40-yard time at 223 pounds and ranked in the 100th percentile in the vertical jump and 99th percentile in the broad jump. His best fit would seem to be as an early-down back who can hit holes with power and gain yards after contact, as he hasn't displayed much in the way of third-down skills. The Colts weren't the best landing spot for McGowan, but if Jonathan Taylor were to go down, he would be in the mix for significant touches alongside DJ Giddens
analyst
Does DJ Giddens Carry Dynasty Buy-Low Appeal into 2026?
After being drafted in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens spent most of his rookie year as an afterthought in his team's offense. Giddens spent a significant portion of the season as a healthy scratch on game days and finished the year with just 96 yards from scrimmage on 26 touches across nine contests. As long as star Colts running back Jonathan Taylor can stay healthy, Giddens has no path to fantasy-relevant production in Indianapolis. However, the 22-year-old appears to have a clear path to the Colts RB2 role, with 2026 seventh-rounder Seth McGowan currently profiling as his strongest competition. Should Giddens emerge as the primary backup in Indianapolis, he would carry obvious handcuff appeal behind Taylor, who has amassed 690 touches over the past two seasons. In deeper dynasty leagues, Giddens could be a worthy buy-low candidate
RB · IND
transaction
Waiver: Seth McGowan added
sleeper-tx-waiver+3 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Seth McGowan
analyst
Seth McGowan in the Mix for Playing Time as a Rookie?
Seth McGowan could be in the mix for playing time as a rookie, competing for the backup role behind Jonathan Taylor
general
Colts announce roster moves at running back
Yahoo Sports NFLSource ↗
The Indianapolis Colts announced that the team waived Abilene Christian undrafted rookie free agent running back Jordon Vaughn and signed Duke fellow undrafted free agent rookie running back Anderson Castle in a corresponding roster move. Vaughn was originally announced as one of the 12 signed undrafted free agents by the Colts following the recent 2026 NFL Draft . Meanwhile, Castle was invited to a rookie minicamp tryout, but was not initially signed by Indianapolis. The 6,’0”, 210 pound senior Blue Devils running back rushed for 488 total rushing yards on 115 carries (4.2 ypc. avg.) while amassing 12 rushing touchdowns this past season—all of which were collegiate career highs. He also caught 17 receptions for 111 total receiving yards. He had spent his prior collegiate playing career at Appalachian State before transferring ahead of the 2025-26 season as a grad transfer. He was awarded Duke’s K.D. Kennedy Iron Devil Award as the Blue Devil offensive player, who demonstrated the most heart, durability, and toughness throughout the year by his Duke teammates. It’ll be interesting to see if Castle can push for either a 53-man active roster spot or even become a member of the Colts practice squad to start next season. If there’s one thing to say about this Colts backfield, it’s that there’s expected to be an open competition in the backfield behind star workhorse Jonathan Taylor headed into training camp and preseason. Holdovers DJ Giddens and Ulysses Bentley IV return (*2025-26 Colts Practice Squad Member), and the team selected Kentucky running back Seth McGowan in the 7th round, but who slots where in their backfield behind Taylor still has yet to be fully determined
RB · IND
transaction
Waiver: Seth McGowan added, Jaylin Lane dropped
sleeper-tx-waiver+3 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Seth McGowan. Drops: Jaylin Lane
RB · IND
transaction
Waiver: Seth McGowan added, Treylon Burks dropped
sleeper-tx-waiver+3 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Seth McGowan. Drops: Treylon Burks
RB · IND
transaction
Waiver: Seth McGowan added, Davis Mills dropped
sleeper-tx-waiver+3 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Seth McGowan. Drops: Davis Mills
RB · IND
transaction
Waiver: Seth McGowan added
sleeper-tx-waiver+3 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Seth McGowan
RB · IND
transaction
Waiver: Seth McGowan added, Will Levis dropped
sleeper-tx-waiver+3 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Seth McGowan. Drops: Will Levis
Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.