Fantasy Football Player Notes

Travis Etienne is going into the final year of his contract. He was outplayed by Tank Bigsby last season, and now the Jaguars have drafted the speedy Bhayshul Tuten. Etienne had 1,484 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns in 2023. He was terrific over the first half of that season but slowed down in the second half. Then the bottom fell out last year. Etienne averaged 3.7 yards per carry last season. More damning is that he averaged minus-0.28 rushing yards over expected per carry, per NFL Next Gen Stats. It's possible Etienne goes back to being the playmaker he was as a rookie in 2022 and for the first half of the 2023 season. But it's possible the Jaguars marginalize Etienne in 2025 and let him walk after the season.

Tank Bigsby was very effective as a runner in 2024. He had 168-766-7 rushing, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Etienne averaged 3.7 yards per carry. Bigsby averaged 3.74 yards after contact per carry, which ranked third among RBs with at least 60 carries. He forced 46 missed tackles last year, tied for 13th most. Bigsby averaged 0.74 rushing yards over expected per carry, the ninth-best mark in the league. But Bigsby is basically a zero as a pass catcher -- he has eight receptions in 33 NFL games -- and the Jacksonville backfield is crowded, with Travis Etienne and a pair of rookies, Bhayshul Tutan and LeQuint Allen, also in the mix.

The Jaguars selected Bhayshul Tuten with one of the first picks of Day 3 of the NFL Draft. Jacksonville is likely to have a messy RB committee this year with Travis Etienne, Tank Bigsby and Tuten, but Tuten could get an extended audition this year if the Jaguars decide they're going to let Etienne walk after his contract expires at the end of the season. Tuten has game-breaking, sub-4.4. speed. If he gets to the edge, look out. But Tuten is also an effective inside runner who bursts through holes and doesn't go down easily.