Jaguars Plan To Ease Travis Etienne Jr.'s Workload
For the second straight season, the Jacksonville Jaguars plan to ease running back Travis Etienne Jr.'s workload in 2024. Despite similar plans last year, Etienne actually had a bigger workload in 2023 than he did in 2022, and head coach Doug Pederson doesn't want to repeat that. "We talked about this as a staff and myself, making sure Tank Bigsby gets opportunities to get out there and take some of the pounding off of Travis," head coach Doug Pederson said. Etienne took over as the top back in 2022 by mid-October and accounted for 61% of the RB carries and 60% of the RB touches. Last year, he had 75% of the RB carries and 76% of the RB touches. Bigsby never quite earned the trust of the coaches for a bigger role in 2023, but that figures to change this year. Etienne missed his rookie year with a Lisfranc foot injury but has since established himself as a top back in the NFL. However, his ceiling as an RB1 in fantasy in 2024 could be tough to come by.
Jaguars Exercise Fifth-Year Options On Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne
The Jacksonville Jaguars announced on X that they have picked up the fifth-year options on 2021 first-round picks Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne. This move keeps the former Clemson duo under contract through the 2025 NFL season. Lawrence, the former No. 1 overall pick, has played well in spurts and led the team to a playoff win. He seemingly regressed from 2022 to 2023, but he's shown enough to warrant the team rolling with him for at least another two years. After missing his entire rookie season with a lisfranc injury, Etienne has rushed 478 times for 2,133 yards and 16 touchdowns and caught 93 passes for 792 yards and one score as a receiver in 34 games.
Jaguars Pick Up Fifth-Year Options On Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne Jr.
Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said on Saturday that the team is picking up the fifth-year option for quarterback Trevor Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne Jr. It's no surprise that the Jags will pick up the options for the former Clemson teammates with the deadline to do so coming next Thursday. The 24-year-old Lawrence has been given even more weapons in Gabe Davis and rookie Brian Thomas after Calvin Ridley left in free agency this offseason. Injuries hurt Lawrence in the second half of 2023, and with better health in 2024, he could easily rebound as a strong midrange QB1 for fantasy. Etienne has rushed for 1,000 yards in each of his first two NFL seasons while also catching 93 total passes for 792 yards. Tank Bigsby could be a thorn in his side as he gets more involved in the backfield, but Etienne is still an attractive fantasy RB in an offense that could be even more explosive this year.
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr.'s 325 touches last year were third-most in the NFL for a RB, but head coach Doug Pederson said that Etienne as a workhorse back "is not the recipe" he prefers. Pederson mentioned that D'Ernest Johnson was injured in 2023, and Tank Bigsby was learning as a rookie. The head coach said he'd consider knocking some of Etienne's reps down next season in order to keep him healthy over the course of the year. All in all, the 25-year-old topped 1,000 rushing yards for the second time in his two NFL seasons, and he also improved as a pass-catcher with 58 catches for 476 yards. Etienne will remain the Jaguars' lead back and will be an RB1 target for fantasy managers, but you'll need to keep in mind that if the team has it their way, Etienne's total touches will be managed more.
Travis Etienne Jr. Caps Off Strong Season On Sunday
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. finished Sunday's loss to the Titans with 57 yards off 16 carries. He added five catches for 30 yards. The Jaguars didn't make the postseason. However, Etienne can't take much of the blame, considering he was a top fantasy back all year. The 24-year-old will finish the 2023-24 campaign with 12 touchdowns (11 rushing, one receiving). He also surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the second straight season. Etienne will draw plenty of interest from fantasy managers in drafts heading into next season, and he may even get taken in the first round in many of them.
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. heads into a crucial Week 18 matchup against the Tennessee Titans. Without his QB1 last week, Etienne was fed early and often against one of the NFL's worst run defenses. The former first-round pick was actually having a modest game until he broke free down the right sideline that resulted in a 62-yard touchdown. He then capped the day with a one-yard score late in the fourth to give the Jaguars a dominant 26-0 victory. Etienne should be fired up once again at Tennessee who ranks middle-of-the-pack against opposing backs. In what is a "win and in" playoff scenario for the Jaguars, there's no doubt that Etienne will once again be a heavily featured weapon in this offensive attack, especially if QB Trevor Lawrence is ruled out.
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. had 102 yards and two touchdowns off 16 carries in Sunday's win over the Carolina Panthers. He added two catches for 16 yards. Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) didn't play, resulting in C.J. Beathard getting the start. Beathard didn't throw a touchdown. However, he didn't need to do much, as Etienne was a big reason the Jags snapped a four-game skid. The 24-year-old has found the end zone 12 times this season. There's also a good chance he'll surpass the 1,000-yard rushing mark in Week 18 versus the Titans. Keep him starting in all fantasy formats.
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. had 102 yards and two touchdowns off 16 carries in Sunday's win over the Carolina Panthers. He added two catches for 16 yards. Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) didn't play, resulting in C.J. Beathard getting the start. Beathard didn't throw a touchdown. However, he didn't need to do much, as Etienne was a big reason the Jags snapped a four-game skid. The 24-year-old has found the end zone 12 times this season. There's also a good chance he'll surpass the 1,000-yard rushing mark in Week 18 versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Keep him starting in all fantasy formats.
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. gets a soft Carolina run defense for the fantasy championship in Week 17. It's been tough sledding the former first-round pick of late, with zero top-10 performances in the past seven games after hitting that mark from weeks 5-8. Etienne let managers down in a big way with his lowest output of the season last week in the fantasy semifinals, but he should be trusted for the most important matchup of the year. The Panthers are an atrocious run-stopping unit, ranking 29th to opposing backs and dead last in touchdowns conceded. With starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence ruled out, Etienne will be heavily relied upon to move the chains against Carolina and should put up some gaudy numbers in the fantasy championship. Start him with confidence.
Travis Etienne Jr. Held to 12 Rushing Yards In Defeat
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. rushed six times for only 12 yards, adding 3 receptions for 19 yards in the loss to Tampa Bay. The 32 scrimmage yards and nine opportunities both marked season-lows for Etienne, who was completely shut down by the stout Bucs run defense. Nothing appeared to be working on offense for the Jaguars in this one, who found themselves down by 20 points at the half. This is the fourth straight loss for Jacksonville and second consecutive game they have failed to reach 13 points. Things should get much easier for Etienne and the offense next week when the Panthers and their bottom-tier rush defense come to town.
