Zack Moss: A Journeyman in Starter Clothing

Jason Wood provides a detailed analysis of Zack Moss and why he may not be a guaranteed asset for your fantasy team.

Jason Wood's Zack Moss: A Journeyman in Starter Clothing Jason Wood Published 08/04/2024

Journeyman or Starter?

Zack Moss is a divisive player this year. The running back currently has an ADP of RB26 and 88th overall, but his outlook varies widely across the industry. At Footballguys, we're generally lower on Moss than the consensus.

  • Consensus ADP: RB26
  • Consensus Footballguys Ranking: RB34
    • 3 of 14 analysts rank Moss ahead of his ADP, with RB23 being the high mark
    • 5 of 14 analysts rank him lower between RB28 and RB32
    • 2 analysts rank him RB36 (the last of the RB3s in a 12-team league)
    • 4 of 14 analysts rank him lower than RB37, me included

The Bull and Bear Cases

The bullish case for Moss is as follows:

  • Moss proved last year he could be a workhorse in Jonathan Taylor's stead in Indianapolis
  • Cincinnati signed Moss in free agency
  • The Bengals have a wide-open opportunity with Joe Mixon traded to Houston
  • Quarterback Joe Burrow will remain healthy and keep opposing defenses honest

The bearish case for Moss, on the other hand:

  • Moss is playing for his third team in five seasons
  • The Bengals didn't commit significant money to signing Moss
  • Moss' uninspiring career metrics are more predictive than his short sample size last year as a starter
  • The Bengals offensive line grades below average, particularly as run blockers

Let's unpack each talking point...

Last Year's Streak

One of the hardest parts of being a fantasy football analyst is dealing with small sample sizes. Even if a player stays healthy, we only have a maximum of 17 games to analyze (previously 16 games a few years ago). This limited data can often lead to flawed statistical analysis based on small, largely unpredictable samples. We can get into trouble when we assume that a single season's performance is predictive. However, as fans of momentum and storytelling, we sometimes convince ourselves that smaller sample sizes are more predictive than they actually are.

Which brings us to Zack Moss' four-week span from last season. After spending 2.5 seasons in Buffalo, the Bills traded Moss to the Colts mid-season in 2022 in exchange for third-down specialist Nyheim Hines. He was a part-time contributor in 2022 and entered the 2023 season as Jonathan Taylor's backup. With Taylor out to start the season in his recovery from a torn ACL, Moss was inactive in Week 1, too (an arm injury from camp), but was active and started in Taylor's place in Weeks 2 through 5.

Weeks 2 through 5, 2023

  • 84% of Snaps
  • 89 rushes
  • 445 rush yards
  • 3 rush TDs
  • 8 receptions
  • 72 receiving yards
  • 1 receiving TD
  • 79.7 fantasy points (0.5 PPR)
  • No. 4-ranked fantasy RB

That four-game stretch is the main reason why people are excited about Moss this year. The logic goes, "When given the chance, Zack Moss proved he can be a top-10 fantasy back." 

But that's faulty logic for a number of reasons:

  1. A four-game sample size isn't predictive
  2. Moss' production over that four-game span wasn't all the unusual
  3. Moss looked far less impressive in two other stints as the Colts' fill-in starter

Moss' 4-week stretch was 1 in 409

Our friends at Stathead have tons of amazing data-farming tools, including something called the Span Finder. That allows you to search for statistical parameters over a period of consecutive games. Using the tool, I searched for the following:

  • Running Backs
  • At least 517 yards from scrimmage (Moss' total)
  • At least 4 touchdowns (Moss' total)
  • Over 4 games in the same season
  • The last 20 years (2004-2023)

The results may surprise you. In the last twenty years, there have been 409 four-week spans that match or exceed Moss' totals. FOUR. HUNDRED. AND. NINE. instances. Does that sound like an impressive feat?

Players with at least one 4-games stretch of 517 yards and 4 TDs (2004-2023)

RankPlayer#TimesRankPlayer#TimesRankPlayer#Times
1LaDainian Tomlinson2327Domanick Williams553Kevin Jones2
2Adrian Peterson2128Josh Jacobs554LaMont Jordan2
3Derrick Henry2129Melvin Gordon III555Marshawn Lynch2
4Christian McCaffrey1930DeAngelo Williams456Nick Goings2
5Arian Foster1731Edgerrin James457Tony Pollard2
6Larry Johnson1432James Conner458Ahman Green1
7David Johnson1333Kyren Williams459Alfred Morris1
8Ezekiel Elliott1334Peyton Hillis460Austin Ekeler1
9Le'Veon Bell1335Clinton Portis361Breece Hall1
10Todd Gurley1236David Montgomery362Chris Brown1
11Jonathan Taylor1137Devonta Freeman363Chris Ivory1
12Brian Westbrook1038Frank Gore364Corey Dillon1
13LeSean McCoy1039Kareem Hunt365Curtis Martin1
14Maurice Jones-Drew1040Matt Forte366Eddie Lacy1
15Shaun Alexander1041Nick Chubb367Jahmyr Gibbs1
16Chris Johnson942Priest Holmes368Jamal Lewis1
17Steven Jackson943Ronnie Brown369James Cook1
18Dalvin Cook844Thomas Jones370Joseph Addai1
19DeMarco Murray745Willie Parker371Justin Forsett1
20Jamaal Charles746Aaron Jones272Lamar Miller1
21Ray Rice747C.J. Anderson273Leonard Fournette1
22Tiki Barber748De'Von Achane274Michael Bush1
23Alvin Kamara649Fred Jackson275Michael Turner1
24Darren McFadden650Jay Ajayi276Rashaad Penny1
25Doug Martin651Jerome Harrison277Rudi Johnson1
26Saquon Barkley652Julius Jones278Zack Moss1

Takeaways:

  • 409 instances in 20 years
  • 403 of those 409 were better fantasy spans than Moss
  • 78 different running backs have done it at least once

Moss' other stints as the Colts starter

StintGmsRushRuYdsYPRRuTDsRecsRecYdsYPRecRecTDsFPTsFPT/GmRBRank
2022, Wks 16-183452535.614123.0034.511.516
2023, Wks 2-54894455.038729.0179.719.94
2023, Wks 13-14232792.506345.7014.37.230
  • Moss was a far more pedestrian performer in his other five starts with the Colts
  • Most notably, he returned to the starting lineup later in the 2023 season and mustered a disappointing RB30 performance
Already a subscriber?

Continue reading this content with a PRO subscription.

Photos provided by Imagn Images

More by Jason Wood

 

What to Expect from the New Play-Callers

Jason Wood

A deep dive into the 12 new NFL play-callers

07/11/25 Read More
 

15 Make Or Break Wide Receiver Situations in 2025

Jason Wood

These receiver situations will define whether you dominate your draft.

06/05/25 Read More
 

11 Running Back Situations You Must Get Right in 2025

Jason Wood

These running back situations are the ones most likely to make or break your draft.

06/04/25 Read More
 

10 Quarterback Situations That Will Define Your Draft in 2025

Jason Wood

We look at the 10 QB situations that will most impact your fantasy success or failure

06/02/25 Read More
 

6 Tight End Situations You Must Get Right in 2025

Jason Wood

Tight end predictions can be difficult. These situations are the ones most likely to make or break your draft.

06/01/25 Read More
 

Evan Engram: Sean Payton's New Joker

Jason Wood

A detailed look at why Evan Engram is the key to unlocking the Bronco's offense in 2025

05/30/25 Read More