Bhayshul

Tuten

Tuten was evaluated for a concussion after getting his helmet rung on a kickoff return, and then fumbled one of his two carries away to the Colts in the pouring rain. He had just two offensive snaps. We’re not sure if he was sent to the bench for the fumble or if he started feeling symptoms, but the Jaguars turned away from him after he fumbled. Without some enthusiastic reports on his health and status, he’ll be a hard-to-trust FLEX play in Week 15 despite the smash spot against the Jets.

Tuten operated as the Jaguars’ goal line back, coming into the game when Jacksonville would get inside the 10-yard line. He was stuffed on a couple of first quarter runs, but converted for a two-yard rushing score in the third quarter. Liam Coen has established clear roles for Tuten and fellow rookie LeQuint Allen, who is the team’s passing-down back. Travis Etienne is the de facto lead back, but Tuten will eat into that workload with red zone work moving forward. Tuten is a valuable bench piece and volatile standalone FLEX play for Week 14 against the Colts.

Tuten took a backseat to starting RB Travis Etienne until the second half, and even then, Tuten was only mildly involved. The rookie running back looked good on a third-drive carry, maintaining balance while being hit at the line and picking up three extra yards. He looked similarly flashy and physical returning the opening kick in the second half 39 yards, but this stat line is not usable. Tuten is a volatile FLEX against the Titans in Week 13.

The Jaguars will probably give Tuten carries inside the 20 given how poorly Travis Etienne Jr. has performed this season in that area. That plus a projected good game script and a lack of passing game targets should get Tuten on the FLEX line against the Cardinals, perhaps as high as an upside FLEX if you believe in his Week 11 usage against the Chargers.

Tuten is on track to play this week, though graduating to full participation tomorrow would be nice to see. Jaguars RB Travis Etienne (shoulder) was a non-contact participant today. Tomorrow’s practice report is worth keeping an eye on. The Jaguars face the Cardinals this weekend.

Tuten was on pace for a breakout of epic proportions in Week 11 before going down with the ankle injury. He still managed 74 yards and a touchdown on 15 attempts despite leaving in the second half. A limited session to open the week puts him on track to play in Week 12 versus Arizona. He will be behind Travis Etienne in the pecking order for carries, but the gap between the two is closing. Tuten should hit the RB3 ranks if he is cleared for action on the final injury report.

Tuten had not been targeted in the passing game before getting rolled up and suffering what appeared to maybe be a dreaded high-ankle sprain. Before the injury, he had played Travis Etienne to both a snap and production standstill, though Etienne was also having a strong day in a surprisingly non-competitive Jaguars victory. Tuten was looking really, really lively, so this is very unfortunate. For now, we would consider him on the wrong side of questionable for Week 12 in Arizona. If Tuten can’t go, LeQuint Allen Jr. would become Etienne’s 1B back.

He added a catch for five yards. Tuten played just 17 snaps, behind blocking specialist LeQuint Allen by three, and returned kicks. There’s just not a real path to fantasy relevance for him right now at these snap counts. Travis Etienne hasn’t played poorly enough for Tuten to make a move by inertia.

Tuten punched in a goal line opportunity after Travis Etienne was stuffed a few times at close range. He ran just right routes on the day and was not targeted, while Etienne caught five of his six targets for 31 yards. Tuten remains one of the game’s best contingency backs. He would likely take over as the Jaguars’ clear lead back if Etienne were to miss time in the second half of the regular season.

Etienne was, as usual, inefficient with his opportunities. In fact, only two running backs across the league this week had a lower rate of rush yards over expected than Etienne. He was stuffed at the goal line four times, a troubling trend this season. Rookie RB Bhayshul Tuten punched in a goal line carry in the first half and saw nine total rushes for 29 yards. Etiene logged a pass route on about half of the Jaguars’ drop backs while Tuten ran just eight routes and was not targeted. Etienne’s pass game involvement could keep him afloat as a top-24 fantasy play next week against a stingy Houston defense. Etienne managed 56 yards and a touchdown in Week 3 against the Texans.