Fantasy Football Player Notes

Travis Etienne is the RB16 in fantasy points per game, averaging 17.2 touches and 84.7 total yards. Among backs, he ranks 13th in snap share, 11th in weighted opportunities, and fourth in red zone touches. Among 55 qualifying backs, he ranks 29th in explosive run rate and 31st in yards after contact per attempt. Etienne has been a boring volume play pretty much the entire season, with his last 100-yard rushing game coming in Week 4, which feels like a lifetime ago. His passing game usage hasn't done much to help his ceiling and floor this season, as he has had more than four receptions or 30 receiving yards only once. Eitenne will need a touchdown and all the volume he can handle this week to walk away with a strong fantasy day. Since Week 9, Indy has allowed the third-lowest explosive run rate, the 12th-fewest rushing yards per game, the fourth-lowest missed tackle rate, and the fifth-fewest yards after contact per attempt.

Last week, Meyers led the team with a 22.2% target share, 90 receiving yards, 3.10 yards per route run, and a 35.3% first-read share. He had one red zone target and one deep target as the WR11 for the week. Since Week 11, he has had a 22.8% first-read share, 68 receiving yards per game, 2.65 yards per route run, and a 27.8% first-read share. In those three games, he has had four red zone targets and one deep target. Since Week 10, Indy has utilized single high at the sixth-highest rate (62.3%). Since Week 11, against single high, Meyers has had a 23.1% target share, 2.02 yards per route run, and a 29.6% first-read share. Meyers should lead the Jaguars' passing attack this week. Indy has ranked 15th in PPR points per target allowed to perimeter wide receivers while also giving up the 13th-most receiving yards per game to the position.

Since his return, Strange has been the TE4 and TE7 in weekly scoring. Since Week 12, he has had a 15.8% target share with 69 receiving yards per game, 2.94 yards per route run, and a 15.4% first-read share. In those two games, he had one red zone target and four deep targets. His usage is increasing at the perfect time for a boom game this week. Indy has bled out production to tight ends all season, allowing the second-most receiving yards per game and fantasy points per game to the position.

Brian Thomas Jr. returned to the huddle last week with a 78.1% route share, an 11.1% target share, 28 receiving yards, and a 17.6% first-read share (second on the team). He had a 16.0 aDOT, and one of his three targets was downfield. Could Trevor Lawrence and Brian Thomas Jr. connect on a deep heave this week? Sure, but I don't want to bet on it this week. This season, Indy has allowed the 13th-lowest deep completion rate, the tenth-lowest passer rating to downfield passing, and the third-fewest deep passing touchdowns (tied).

Parker Washington sustained a hip injury last week. He opened this week with a DNP. Washington managed limited practice sessions on Thursday and Friday. He has been listed as questionable for Week 14. Washington is expected to be inactive this week. If he does play this week, I don't like his prospects. Since Week 7, Washington has been the WR30 in fantasy points per game with a 19% target share, 48.7 receiving yards per game, 1.72 yards per route run, and a 22.1% first-read share. In those six games, he has had six red zone targets and six deep targets. Since Week 10, Indy has utilized single high at the sixth-highest rate (62.3%). Since Week 7, against single high, Washington has had a 19.4% target share with 2.12 yards per route run and a 21.9% first-read share. Washington could pay off as a flex play this week, but he has a tough matchup incoming. Since Week 9, Indy has allowed the third-fewest PPR points per target and the third-lowest passer rating when targeted to slot receivers.