Fantasy Football Player Notes

In the ground game, Tank Bigsby carried the load with 13 rushes for 101 yards, averaging 7.8 yards per carry, including a long run of 65 yards with two touchdowns. Bigsby carried the ball three times in the red zone, scoring one touchdown.Travis Etienne Jr. was less involved, rushing just six times for 17 yards, with a long run of four yards. Lawrence also chipped in with two rushes for 4 yards. The snaps were 40% for Bigsby and 38% for Etienne. Season-high and season-low respectively. In the first-half split was four carries each for minimal yardage. Etienne Jr. was also involved in the passing game, catching six of seven targets (21% target share) for 43 yards, averaging 7.2 yards per reception, including 59 yards after the catch. Gabe Davis contributed three catches on four targets for 38 yards, including a long catch of 21 yards. Bigsby added on catch for 28 yards. We are starting to see more and more of this RB committee form in Jacksonville with Bigsby as the lead rusher, and Etienne as the main pass-catcher. ETN ran the most routes on the offense, while D'Ernest Johson (22% snap share) ran more routes than Bigsby. Johnson had three targets of his own. On the surface, it's simple to view this situation as buy Tank Bigsby (as Chris Welsh correctly called on the podcast last week) and sell Travis Etienne. And although I agree about still wanting Bigsby, Etienne isn't going entirely away. He's got the pass-catching role in this offense. And although Bigsby has flashed with the big runs, Etienne has been more than serviceable. Ninth overall in rushing success rate (56.6%). This isn't Bigsby is great, Etienne sucks conversation. It's Bigsby great. Buy Bigsby and hold (or even buy low) Etienne.

Through the air, rookie Brian Thomas Jr. was the standout performer, catching five of eight targets for 122 yards and one touchdown, averaging 24.4 yards per reception with a long of 85 yards and 70 yards after the catch. Certified stud.
Christian Kirk added four receptions on four targets for 88 yards, including a long reception of 61 yards. But his routes fell to a season-low (68%). Kirk's not the target hog in this offense anymore, and it won't improve if and when Engram returns.