Okay so this week I got really obsessed with hunting down cheap Jonathan Taylor rookie cards. Yeah the running back for the Colts. Why? Man, honestly, fantasy football kinda bit me in the behind last season and I kept hearing how this guy, when healthy, is an absolute beast. Figured his cards might be undervalued right now? Who knows. But I wanted to find the absolute lowest prices without getting totally scammed or getting fake junk.
Starting Point: Pure Cluelessness
Honestly, I had no clue where to begin. Knew the big names like Ebay. Typed “jonathan taylor rookie card” into the search bar one morning after spilling my coffee. Just awful prices staring back! Like seriously? That much? Felt stuck. Decided I needed to get smarter fast.
Step one: Hit up forums. Lurked on a few sports card groups without posting. Read arguments about:
- Which rookie cards actually count (Apparently only cards from his actual rookie year, 2020, with the RC logo? Got it.)
- The cheapest brands (Everyone screaming about Prizm Draft Picks being budget-friendly rookies since he wasn’t in the main Prizm set that year? Still confused, but noted.)
- Fake card warning signs (Blurry logos, weird colors, prices that scream “too good to be true” – usually are.)
Spent way too many hours doing this. Brain felt fried.
Getting My Hands Dirty Searching
Armed with maybe 5% more knowledge, I went back online hunting. This time smarter:
- Filtered like crazy: On every site, clicked “Rookie Cards,” then year “2020.” Filtered by lowest price + shipping. Manually checked each listing photo for the RC logo. Tedious? Hell yes.
- Checked multiple spots: Didn’t just live on Ebay. Searched through:
- SportLots
- Comc
- Beckett Marketplace
- Even smaller niche sites just for kicks.
- Targeted specific cheap sets: Mostly focused on:
- Prizm Draft Picks base
- Donruss base (plain Rated Rookie)
- Leaf Draft cards
- Absolute base
Ignored the fancy refractors and autos for now. Barebones only.
- Saved Searches: Set up alerts on Ebay and Sportlots like “Jonathan Taylor RC 2020” and “Jonathan Taylor rookie 2020” with price limits.
Got a few alerts buzzing on my phone later that day. Made me jump!
The “Deal” (Sort Of)
Here’s where it got real. Found a few decent listings:
- A Sportlots seller had a bunch of 2020 Leaf Draft base rookies listed stupid cheap – like under a dollar. Grabbed one. Added shipping? Total still less than a mediocre sandwich.
- On Ebay, snagged a low-grade Donruss Rated Rookie where the seller accepted a lower offer. Honestly, looked fine in the pic, just a slightly soft corner probably. Won it for barely above the price of shipping.
- Checked Comc. Found a Prizm Draft Picks base listed by a seller with tons of feedback. Price was okay, not amazing, but I used their “make offer” button and nudged it down another buck. Felt like a tiny win.
The absolute rock bottom price I saw consistently was for the 2020 Leaf Draft base RC. Seriously, found several in that sub-dollar range before shipping. Gotta be the cheapest officially licensed rookie card option out there right now for Taylor.
Hitting the Bricks (Sorta)
Felt cocky after online finds. Decided to see what local card shops had. Big mistake. Only one shop even had any 2020 football. Picked through a huge bargain bin of base cards. Found… zero Jonathan Taylor rookies. Found plenty of guys nobody remembers anymore. The few they did have displayed were priced way higher than even average online prices. One shop owner just shrugged when I asked if he had any cheap JT rookies: “Kid ain’t playing right now, interest is down, but I ain’t selling for pennies yet.” Walked out empty-handed.
Final Thoughts & My Cards Arrived!
Look, is Jonathan Taylor gonna be great again? Maybe. Maybe not. This was mostly about the hunt for me. My cheap-o Leaf card showed up first. Cardboard feels thin, picture is just okay. But hey, it’s got the RC logo and his name on the front. Legit rookie card for peanuts? Yeah, I’ll take that for my collection. The Donruss arrived too – looks fine! Little corner ding is only visible if you squint. The Prizm Draft Picks is kinda nice looking actually for a budget card. Feels sturdier.
Where the real deals are? Honestly:
- Leaf Draft Base (Sportlots/Comc): Dirt cheapest price. Low demand set.
- Low Grade/Accepted Offers (Ebay): Look for sellers taking offers on those cheaper sets. Bid low.
- Set Up Alerts & Dig: Beats scrolling endlessly. Saved searches do the heavy lifting.
Local shops? Maybe for a fun chat, but forget getting a true bargain on someone like JT right now unless they have a dollar bin miracle. Happy hunting!
