Travis

Etienne Jr.

Etienne opened the year as the unquestioned lead back for Jacksonville, but it didn’t last long. Every Tank Bigsby chunk play earned the second-year back more work, slowing chipping away at Etienne’s role. Etienne eventually missed two games with a hamstring issue, giving Bigsby a pair of showcase games. He didn’t disappoint and forced a backfield-by-committee for the remainder of the season. Etienne averaged 3.7 yards per carry a year after running at a 3.8 clip. With Bigsby stealing goal line work, his touchdown total plummeted from 12 to two. He finished the year with a measly 558 rushing yards. Etienne’s RB1 days are long gone, and RB2 numbers even seem out of his reach in 2025. He will likely go off early draft boards as a low-ceiling RB3.

Etienne was the lead back for the Jaguars, though he did split carries with Tank Bigsby. He handled 15-of-26 running back carries while also seeing two-of-five running back targets. A 15-yard carry and 26-yard reception were the two burst plays that made the majority of Etienne’s yards as he split red zone carries with Bigsby as well. Etienne saw the better end of the split this week, but is losing enough opportunities to keep him in the RB3 range for Week 18.

Etienne did have a 10-yard gain taken away on a holding call, but even with that yardage it was an ineffective outing for the former first-round pick. He still was in a pretty clear split with Tank Bigsby — and it’s worth noting Bigsby fumbled again — but the latter was much more effective with 50 yards compared to just the 22 for Etienne. It’s hard to trust either tailback right now, but fantasy managers should want Bigsby over Etienne for Week 17 against the Titans, if you’re forced to make that choice.

One week removed from getting out-carried 18-4 by Tank Bigsby, Etienne turned the tables for a 14-11 advantage this afternoon. The overall touch battle was 18-11, while Etienne decisively won the snaps war. With this situation officially getting into silly season, it will be impossible to trust either Etienne or Tank Bigsby as a Week 16 RB2, though Etienne will be a high-variance FLEX in a plus matchup with the Raiders.

The Jaguars’ backfield split saw Etienne take receiving opportunities while Tank Bigsby dominated rushing opportunities. Etienne was the first running back into the game, but quickly ceded carries to Bigsby throughout the game. He was the target on multiple Mac Jones checkdowns, totaling 50 yards on four catches. With the Jags backfield continuing to look like a committee, Etienne’s fantasy ceiling is capped. His receiving prowess makes Etienne a high-end RB3 for Week 15 against the Jets.

Etienne Jr. managed a total of one yard on two red zone totes and had a seven-yarder that would have set up first-and-goal from the 3 called back by holding penalty. Etienne Jr. seems to have retaken the No. 1 role in this backfield from Tank Bigsby for some reason, but the results were hardly inspiring and he spent a lot of this game racking up horizontal yardage. He’ll be on the RB2/RB3 borderline against the Titans in Week 14.

Bigsby practiced in full throughout the week and shouldn’t have any limitations versus the Texans. He has been far more explosive on the ground compared to Travis Etienne this year, but the latter plays on passing downs. With the Jags entering the weekend as considerable underdogs to Houston, that role is crucial for maintaining a fantasy floor. Without it, Bigsby is a high-risk RB3 for Week 13.

It was a dreadful day for the entire Jags offense and Etienne was no exception. The Lions defense didn’t have to devote many resources to stopping Mac Jones and easily kept Etienne in check, holding him to 2.3 yards per carry. The volume, on the other hand, was solid. With Tank Bigsby out because of an ankle issue, Etienne accounted for 15-of-17 backfield touches this week. It was his first game over 12 touches since Week 4. With the Jags on bye next week, Etienne will be stuck in the RB3 ranks if Bigsby is able to return after the week off.

Head coach Doug Pederson told reporters Bigsby would attempt to practice on Friday. The second-year back couldn’t even muster a limited participant designation and was ruled out after receiving his third straight DNP. He will look to get back on the field after Jacksonville’s Week 12 bye. Travis Etienne will see the bulk of the touches in his absence, putting him back in the RB2 ranks for a week.

Etienne “added” a -1 yard reception. Still trying to get back up to speed following his hamstring injury, Etienne was far more involved than he was in his Week 9 return thanks to a Tank Bigsby ankle tweak. One of Etienne’s carries appeared to be a goal-line score, but his knee was ruled down upon review. Mac Jones ended up cashing in a quarterback sneak two plays later. Although Bigsby’s health woes shore up Etienne’s FLEX floor, this is an in-crisis offense with an almost impossible Week 11 road assignment in the mighty Lions.