Outside of their 1-4 start, one of the biggest stories for the Jacksonville Jaguars this season has been the shift in the backfield. Travis Etienne has ceded more and more work to Tank Bigsby as the weeks have passed. It’s looking possible that this will be a committee going forward, which begs the question: Who is the better fantasy option in the Jacksonville Backfield?
The Case for Etienne
Travis Etienne has been a true workhorse running back for the past two seasons. He had 255 touches in 2022 and 325 in 2023, on a 73% snap share. Etienne has proven he is capable of carrying a heavy workload, whereas Bigsby has benefitted from playing sparing throughout the game and primarily on third downs.
A massive positive in Etienne’s favor, especially in PPR formats, is that he is the far better pass catcher. Etienne had 58 receptions last season and has 16 in five games this season. Bigsby, on the other hand, has caught two passes in two seasons.
The receiving upside gives Etienne a much higher floor, as the point for every reception in PPR formats will give him a solid boost. Etienne also has credit in the bank from the past two seasons, meaning he is still likely to see a slightly higher snap share.
The Case for Bigsby
Even after a successful rookie season for Travis Etienne, the Jaguars used a third-round pick (significant draft capital in the NFL) on Tank Bigsby in 2023. The Jaguars are clearly high on him, and after a rookie season where he did not get many touches, things are coming together this season. Although it has come from a small sample size, Bigsby has been hyper-efficient.
He is also coming off the best game of his career, where he out-snapped Etienne for the first time. His usage has been increasing, and he is taking the most of his opportunities, which has Etienne managers worried. Etienne has also been dealing with a slight shoulder injury, and if he were to go down, it’s possible that Bigsby would assume lead-back duties for good if he continues his hot start to the season.
The Verdict
In the short term, pending any injuries, it’ll be Etienne. His receiving upside and backing from his coach give him an edge over Bigsby. Although he is not going to be the top ten running back that many drafted him to be at the start of the season.
For the long-term, Etienne owners should try to fetch Bigsby off the waiver wire if they haven’t already. There’s a real possibility that Bigsby will make this backfield his own, and Etienne gets traded.
Dynasty team owners will want to consider trying to acquire Bigsby sooner rather than later. He’s becoming more valuable with every snap, and it’s only a matter of time before he takes over as the feature back in Jacksonville. While things haven’t gone to plan for the Jaguars this season, having two solid running backs will help the offense try to turn the season around.
Main Photo Courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck – Imagn Images
