DJ Giddens Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Jonathan Taylor dominated Colts backfield work last season, ranking second league wide in opportunity share (carries plus targets, adjusted for games missed) and fifth in carries despite missing three full contests. But Indy needs a better backup plan than last year's Trey Sermon-Tyler Goodson combo. And fifth-round rookie DJ Giddens looks like the early leader to replace that pair. According to ESPN's Stephen Holder, though, Giddens also looks like a candidate to siphon some receiving work even when Taylor's healthy.

The Colts selected Kansas State RB DJ Giddens with the 151st pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Giddens initially played behind current Cowboy Deuce Vaughn. Come 2023, he broke out with 1,226 rushing yards and 10 TDs -- plus 29 receptions -- across 13 games. Last fall, Giddens’ advanced metrics improved alongside a career-high 1,343 rushing yards (12 games). He particularly popped with 6.6 YPC and 4.16 yards after contact per attempt, per Pro Football Focus. The 212-pounder also brings plus vision and patience along with a relatively clean injury history. Now, his receiving looked fairly raw on tape, as he struggled with drops in ‘24. And like most rookies, he’s unrefined as a pass protector. Still, the size, production, and rush efficiency signal a potential impact in the NFL.