The Indianapolis Colts have built their entire offense around Jonathan Taylor, and eight games into the season, the results speak for themselves.
Taylor has rushed for 850 yards and 12 touchdowns while adding two more scores through the air.
His production has become the foundation of Indianapolis’s attack, forcing defenses to focus their entire game plan on stopping him.
That level of impact typically belongs to elite quarterbacks, but Taylor’s dominance is shifting the conversation toward whether a running back can genuinely compete for NFL MVP honors in today’s pass-heavy league.
Analyst Dan Patrick believes Taylor deserves more recognition than he’s currently receiving.
Despite the odds favoring quarterbacks, the analyst picked him as his clear MVP favorite.
“Jonathan Taylor is the most valuable player right now in the NFL. It just, we don’t want to acknowledge,” Patrick said. “But this is what I saw yesterday. He’s the leading candidate for Offensive Player of the Year. Like, Okay! That’s what his job is. Offensively. He is the best player offensively. Is he not eligible for the MVP?”
"Jonathan Taylor is the most valuable player right now in the NFL." 👀
Should Jonathan Taylor be the frontrunner for #NFL MVP? pic.twitter.com/kbqmR79nlU
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) October 27, 2025
The numbers support that claim, as Taylor has carried Indianapolis through challenging stretches while consistently delivering in high-pressure situations.
Patrick’s frustration stems from DraftKings’ MVP odds, which list Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Drake Maye, Baker Mayfield, Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff, and Daniel Jones all ahead of Taylor.
The reality is clear: MVP has become a quarterback award, with Adrian Peterson in 2012 being the last non-quarterback to claim the honor.
Taylor’s current pace mirrors his breakout 2021 campaign when he compiled 1,811 rushing yards, 20 total touchdowns, and 119 first downs.
This season projects him toward 1,806 rushing yards with 26 rushing touchdowns and four receiving scores.
Those numbers position him for a third Pro Bowl selection and potentially a second First-Team All-Pro recognition.
Indianapolis faces a tougher schedule moving forward, but Taylor has proven capable of performing against any defensive scheme.
Whether facing stacked boxes or elite front sevens, he continues demonstrating why he remains one of the league’s most unstoppable forces.
NEXT: Stat Shows How Micah Parsons Has Been Dominating This Season