Recreation day replace: Travis Etienne is a long-shot to play in Week 8, per Ian Rapoport, which implies Tank Bigsby ought to see the majority of the work towards the Packers.
One of many greatest busts in fantasy soccer this season has been Jacksonville Jaguars working again Travis Etienne. By the primary 5 weeks of the season, Etienne was solely the RB26 and has since spent a lot of the final two video games injured. With Tank Bigsby on the rise mixed with Etienne’s struggles, it’s honest to marvel if the previous first-round choose will nonetheless have a serious function within the offense when he does lastly return.
Travis Etienne damage standing
In keeping with ESPN’s Discipline Yates, the Jaguars are itemizing working again Travis Etienne has questionable heading into their Week 8 contest towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers. Head coach Doug Pederson mentioned on Friday, “Etienne, once more, we’ll nonetheless push him right this moment. See the place he’s at bodily earlier than we decide. In all probability sport time with him.”
Etienne injured his hamstring in Week 6 towards the Chicago Bears and was inactive final week when the Jaguars performed the Patriots. He did observe this week, however solely in a restricted capability. Etienne can be a participant to watch on Sunday morning as he can be a game-time resolution earlier than the 1 p.m. slate of video games.
What Travis Etienne damage means for fantasy soccer
The Jaguars offense didn’t miss a beat final week towards the Patriots with out Travis Etienne accessible. In reality, the Jaguars offense, particularly the run sport, regarded nearly as good because it has all season. With Tank Bigsby getting a lot of the carries, the Jaguars rushed for 171 yards. Bigsby had 126 of these to go along with two touchdowns, ending because the week’s RB8 in PPR codecs.
Within the case that Etienne does return, there are questions on how Pederson and the Jaguars offense will handle Etienne and Bigsby. Etienne has been one of many workforce’s greatest playmakers over the past two years, however the offense lastly discovered its rhythm within the run sport with Bigsby within the lineup.
Whereas Bigsby was excellent final week, it’s value noting that he had the advantage of game-script. Towards the Patriots, Jacksonville led a lot of the sport which allowed for a balanced method. The Jaguars have been capable of stick to the run sport which allowed Bigsby to get extra enjoying time. Towards the Bears the week prior, D’Ernest Johnson acquired a majority of the snaps.
Even when Etienne performs, it’s seemingly that he doesn’t get a full workload and splits time with Bigsby. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Bigsby as the first ball-carrier with Etienne enjoying extra of the Johnson function because the passing-down again. Nevertheless, the Jaguars can be enjoying the Packers and it’s actually doable that the game-script turns into extra pass-happy. That would appear to favor Etienne or Johnson moderately than a repeat efficiency from Bigsby.
The Packers additionally current a troublesome matchup towards the run. This season, they’ve allowed -0.10 EPA per rush and 4.3 yards per carry which each rank ninth within the NFL. With that mentioned, they’ve allowed the eleventh most yards after contact per try and Bigsby leads the NFL in yards after contact per try by nearly a full yard.
If there’s a Jaguars working again to play this week, it stays Bigsby even when Etienne does return. Coming off of a hamsting damage, Etienne might not get the workload that he usually would. Moreover, the Jaguars will wish to maintain Bigsby a part of the offense. The important thing for Bigsby would be the Jaguars needing to maintain the sport shut in order that they can run the ball. Nonetheless, he’s a minimum of value a flex play and brings RB2 upside.
