Bhayshul

Tuten

It wasn’t all bad for the rookie. Coen also noted that Tuten started to get more comfortable as the practice went on and called the fumble a learning experience. Still, the last thing you want to see from a young player is a ball security problem out of the gates. Tuten also struggled to take care of the rock in college, fumbling nine times in his two years as Virginia Tech’s starting running back. He may already be the most explosive back on the Jacksonville roster, but Tuten will struggle to carve out much of a role if his coaches don’t trust him. For now, fantasy managers should treat the Jags’ backfield as a three-headed committee, with Travis Etienne getting first crack at the starting job. Tank Bigsby currently stands in Tuten’s way for the backup role, but all three backs should see work in 2025.

Fowler also noted Tank Bigsby’s fumbling issue but didn’t directly relate that to the feelings of the new brain trust in Jacksonville. The Jags clearly felt they were lacking at running back this offseason and addressed that opening via the draft with Bhayshul Tuten in the fourth round and LeQuint Allen in the seventh. The pair of additions complicate an already-messy backfield by committee. Etienne is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is a long-shot to be brought back in 2026. The Jags could opt to move on early by trading him, clearing $6.1 million in cap space in the process. If the team does trade Etienne, Tuten would likely be the team’s top back in the long run, making him a high-upside bet in early fantasy drafts. Etienne was deeply inefficient in 2024; he ranked 50th out of 50 qualifying running backs in PFF’s elusive rating.

Tuten (5’9/206) got his start at North Carolina A&T and transferred to Virginia Tech after running for 1,363 rushing yards and 13 scores as a sophomore. He led the Hokies with 863 yards and 10 touchdowns on 173 attempts in his first season with the team. Tuten truly broke out in his final season with 1,159 yards and 15 touchdowns on 183 attempts. He caught over 20 passes in back-to-back seasons but was held to 81 receiving yards in 2024 after going for 239 in his junior campaign. On top of the receiving production, Tuten also returned kicks as a junior and took two to the house. His speed was on full display at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 4.32 Forty. Both of his burst measurables came in above the 97th percentile, though he struggled in the short shuttle with a 4.41-second (35th percentile) time. That roughly describes who Tuten is as a runner. He’s a one-cut speed demon in the mold of Raheem Mostert. Tuten could have a tough time carving out a role in his rookie year, after landing in a backfield that features Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby. With Etienne’s contract set to expire after the 2025 season, though, Tuten’s training camp reports are worth keeping a curious eye on.

Tuten didn’t name him directly, but Anthony Lynn is currently the Commanders’ running backs coach and run game coordinator. The Commanders were hampered by injuries to both Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler last year. Robinson Jr. missed three games and played through some of his injuries while Ekeler missed five contests and was limited to just 112 touches. Tuten crushed the combine with a 4.32 Forty at 5'9/206. He handled 200 touches in back-to-back seasons at Virginia Tech while topping 1,100 yards from scrimmage in both campaigns. He would offer the Washington backfield a good mix of durability and home run potential.