Travis

Etienne

You wouldn’t have expected the first three-score game of Etienne’s career to feature zero on the ground, but that’s what happened on Sunday in Jacksonville. This was somehow after Bhayshul Tuten notched the Jags backfield’s first receiving score, and after they already led 24-10 in the dying moments of the second quarter. Etienne then found the end zone from 20, eight and 45 yards out, with the 45-yarder a screen where Etienne found the sideline. The 20-yarder was a Trevor Lawrence dime at the goal line. Although he’s been providing better fantasy returns of late, Etienne has bettered 4.0 yards per carry just one time in seven games since the Jags’ bye week. The offense’s recent improvement will be put to the toughest of tests in a Week 16 road trip to Denver. Etienne will remain a usage-based RB2 for that one.

His second rushing touchdown was by far his best play of the day, as he deftly found the sideline from the opposite hash and rode a wide-open alley to the score. It wasn’t exactly a dominant day on the ground for Etienne, but he did hog the workload as Bhayshul Tuten managed just two carries in a wire-to-wire win for the Jaguars. He’ll be a high-end RB2 — maybe even a low-end RB1 — for Week 15’s slate as he takes on the Jets.

The Jaguars went up two scores by halftime and never looked back. Though Etienne still operated as the Jaguars’ lead back, this led to less opportunities in the passing game for him. Bhayshul Tuten got the red zone opportunities, so Etienne’s role was reduced to an inefficient 2.3 yards per carry. Without a score, this ends up as a bad fantasy day for him, though the manner of usage indicates he is still the top back in the backfield. Tuten will take some red zone usage while LeQuint Allen takes passing-down usage, but Etienne remains an explosive option as both a runner and pass-catcher. He is in the RB2 range for Week 14 against the Colts.

Etienne operated as the Jaguars’ clear-cut lead back despite being limited by a shoulder injury in practice all week. After TE Brenton Strange ripped off a 30-yard gain to get the Jaguars out of their own red zone on the team’s first drive, Etienne broke loose on an interior run to the right side, bringing the offense 45 yards downfield. The Jaguars then dialed up a screen pass for Etienne on the left side of the field. Etienne’s would-be coverage defender tripped over his own feet, eating turf, right after Etienne secured the catch and the Jaguars’ running back easily weaved through blocks set up by his teammates just in front of the goal line. He is a high-end RB2 against the Titans next week.

Etienne was limited in all three sessions this week, sometimes seen while wearing a non-contact jersey, but will play in Week 12. He’s best viewed as the head of a committee, but he still has a mid-range RB2 case after the Jaguars ran all over the Chargers last week.

We expect Etienne to be listed as a limited participant on the official injury report. The Jaguars regularly wrapped rookie RB Bhayshul Tuten in a non-contact jersey before allowing him to suit up on game day, while dealing with a shoulder injury earlier this year. He also handled far smaller workloads than the healthy Etienne did. Etienne’s continued participation puts him on track to play, though it is currently difficult to project touch counts between him, Tuten and fellow rookie RB LeQuint Allen. Hopefully, Etienne practices fully on Friday and can be trusted to at least handle double-digit touches.

This is somehow Etienne’s first appearance on the injury report this year. A limited session for a veteran is usually nothing more than a rest day. We will assume that is the case for Etienne for now. He should see plenty of work in Week 12 as a field goal favorite over the lowly Cardinals. Barring a surprise with this shoulder issue, Etienne is headed for an RB2 ranking.

Etienne was held without a catch on two targets. The struggling back’s best fantasy performance in nearly two months came even as he found himself in a much more even timeshare with Bhayshul Tuten, who posted a 15/74/1 line of his own before departing with a fourth quarter ankle injury. With the game shockingly out of reach, Tuten did not return, though we have little insight into his Week 12 status. Greater Tuten involvement has seemed overdue for some time now, but Etienne was one goal-line stop away from a three-score day. If Tuten can’t make it back for Week 12 against the Cardinals, Etienne will suddenly be looking like a strong RB2 again for a matchup that could be very fantasy friendly for the Jags.

He added two catches for 19 yards on four targets. Etienne was efficient on the ground and in space, but as usual, struggled in short yardage. With five or fewer yards to go, Etienne rushed four times for minus-1 yards. The Jaguars haven’t really developed the bigger complement to him they thought they had in Tank Bigsby last season. Etienne will be a playable RB2 against the Chargers next week on volume, but he doesn’t appear to have a much higher ceiling in him than this kind of game plus a second touchdown.

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.