SethMcGowan

News: 4 days agoMcGowan carried the ball five times for 17 yards in Thursday's 13-13 preseason tie with the Patriots. He also lost a fumble.

Spin: The rookie seventh-round pick got the start in the Colts' backfield with Jonathan Taylor held out and DJ Giddens (hamstring) sidelined, but McGowan didn't exactly impress in his opportunity. Taylor's the unquestioned RB1 for Indy, if not the centerpiece of the offense, but if he were to suffer an injury, McGowan could find himself handling the bulk of the early-down and goal-line work in the backfield with Giddens having done little to establish himself as a rookie last year.

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.