SethMcGowan

News: 2 days agoMcGowan carried the ball four times for 20 yards and caught his only target for five yards in Saturday's 25-16 preseason loss to the Lions.

Spin: The seventh-round rookie got the start once again, even with DJ Giddens back in the lineup after recovering from a hamstring injury, and McGowan put together the Colts' longest run of the afternoon on a 10-yard scamper in the first quarter to help set up a field goal. Giddens scored the team's only TD of the game in the second quarter, however, as they both make their final cases to be the No. 2 backfield option behind Jonathan Taylor. The two younger backs had similar athleticism-over-production profiles in college, so they could end up trading the job back and forth during the season based on health and performance.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: McGowan was selected by the Colts in the seventh round of April's draft. McGowan is an older prospect (25), having bounced around five schools due to an off-field issue in 2021 that led to jail time and a dismissal from Oklahoma. He slowly rebuilt his career and peaked with 1,100 yards and six TDs at New Mexico State in 2024 prior to delivering 851 yards and 12 TDs at Kentucky last season. His efficiency is hit or miss, as his career 2.65 YAC is very poor, but his 4.2 forced missed tackle rate is strong. He's been effective in the passing game, as well, so there's some hope for a pro level impact. McGowan impressed at the combine, posting the top vertical and broad jump in this RB rookie class and running a solid 4.49 40-yard dash at 223 pounds. McGowan will battle DJ Giddens for primary backup duties behind Jonathan Taylor, so it's possible he finds his way to some value as an insurance hold.