Davis Mattek said he is "so against Travis Etienne" that he refuses to click him unless the veteran free-falls out of the drafted range entirely. Mattek believes Jacksonville’s backfield should be drafted in the reverse order of current ADP: fifth-round rookie Bhayshul Tuten as the long-shot upside play, Tank Bigsby as the most likely Week-1 lead, and Etienne bringing up the rear. He argued Etienne’s early-down efficiency was already mediocre, and the fact the coaching staff is willing to give Bigsby first-team reps shows no organizational loyalty. Mattek wants Etienne priced as the third Jaguar back—well behind Bigsby’s new Round-11 cost—before considering small exposure, calling any earlier selection “lighting equity on fire.”

Peter Overzet said he is done drafting Travis Etienne at his current 8th-round ADP (around pick 94) and will only consider him once he slides into the 110-plus range. Overzet argued that Jacksonville’s backfield is far more ambiguous than drafters want to admit: rookie Tank Bigsby has reportedly been taking first-team snaps in camp, Etienne was out-played last year, and a brand-new coaching staff has no loyalty to the incumbent. He also noted that early best-ball rooms set Etienne’s price, so it will take weeks for the market to correct. Until then he plans to hammer Bigsby—whose price still sits 2-3 rounds cheaper—while scooping any discounts on rookie Bhayshul Tuten that arise when the hamstring chatter scares the room. In short, stop paying full freight for a back who may be no better than 1A in a three-man committee and pivot to cheaper upside darts in the same backfield.

Pat Kerrane urged drafters to stop clicking Travis Etienne at his Round-5/6 cost, saying Etienne “should have the third-highest ADP in this backfield.” Kerrane sees the Jaguars trending toward a true committee in which Bigsby handles early downs and rookie Ja’Quinden "Tutan" Jackson (his preferred late dart) mixes in, leaving Etienne to an inefficient satellite role. Kerrane noted Etienne’s yards after contact plunged from 3.9 to 2.9 last season and Jacksonville ranked dead-last in EPA per rush when he was on the field. With the coaching staff already demonstrating they won’t defer to veterans, Kerrane believes Etienne is being drafted in inverse order and will be a massive closing-line value trap unless his ADP sinks into the eighth round.

Best Ball Guy said the latest camp reports have Travis Etienne "running with the ones," which he took as evidence the Jaguars still view Etienne as their clear lead back despite earlier chatter about a committee. That confirmation makes him comfortable clicking Etienne ahead of similarly-priced options like Aaron Jones in current Underdog BBM rooms, because locking in Jacksonville’s starting running back at a modest Round-4/5 cost provides both floor and spike-week upside in best-ball formats.

Peter Overzet defended grabbing Travis Etienne as the team’s RB2, pointing to a viral camp tweet that Etienne is "the player who’s always catching passes from the quarterbacks during positional drills" – a role that previously belonged to Evan Ingram. Overzet argued that if Etienne keeps that dedicated receiving work, he re-captures the true RB1 ceiling people paid a second-round price for last summer, yet he now slips into the mid-fourth. With Jacksonville projected to finish top-10 in offensive snaps and facing the league’s sixth-easiest schedule versus running backs Weeks 15-17, Overzet thinks Etienne’s target share plus every-down goal-line role makes him a smash at current ADP, especially on teams that waited to address running back early in Best Ball Mania.

Siegele argued that Travis Etienne "could be and probably will be the guy who leads the NFL in expected points per game." Jacksonville spent premium draft capital to secure him and has no backup generating fantasy buzz, giving Etienne a rare workload moat in a clear "big-gap" backfield. His three-down skill set and pass-catching ability position him to dominate both carries and high-value touches. Siegele views Etienne as an RB1 overall candidate available outside the first round and is aggressively targeting him in best-ball and season-long leagues.

Best Ball Guy told viewers he is fading Travis Etienne at his current sticker price. He called Etienne "way overpriced" for 2024 after an "absolutely ass" 2023 season and pointed out that a brand-new coaching staff has no draft-capital loyalty to the former first-rounder. The host added that Jacksonville now has multiple alternatives, highlighting rookie speedster Bhayshul Tootin—"one of the fastest backs in the class"—and last year’s more efficient reserve who is available 50+ picks later. Vegas seems equally skeptical, hanging an early rushing-yard prop of only 400 yards for Etienne. In Best Ball Guy’s view, drafters can scoop cheaper, higher-upside backs in the same offense and avoid sinking a mid-round pick into a player whose workload and efficiency are both on shaky ground.

Best Ball Guy is largely passing on Travis Etienne after labeling him one of 2023’s most inefficient high-volume runners. With Etienne still carrying the highest price tag in the Jaguars backfield, Eric prefers loading up on the cheaper swing-for-the-fences options—rookie Jermaine Tutton (name garbled in transcript) and second-year Tank Bigsby. He believes the coaching staff will shorten Etienne’s leash if he repeats last year’s 3.8 yards-after-contact mark, making the younger backs a better risk-reward bet at their current ADPs.

Nick Whalen is targeting Travis Etienne in the 7th/8th round, arguing that reduced volume will be offset by higher-quality touches under new OC Liam Coen. Jacksonville invested first-round capital in Etienne and he is only two seasons removed from a top-five fantasy finish that came on extreme usage. Whalen’s ‘boom’ script: Trevor Lawrence finally takes the next step, the offense runs smoother, Etienne reclaims clear RB1 status over Tank Bigsby and Bhayshul Tuten, and—crucially—regains consistent passing-game work, producing his most efficient season yet. The downside involves familiar Jags chaos, Etienne’s past foot issues resurfacing, and a stubborn committee, but Whalen feels the price already bakes that in, making Etienne a profit-seeking pick.

Colm Kelly urged listeners to tread carefully with Travis Etienne even when he falls to the ninth round. Kelly said Etienne’s production "has been on a slope the last couple of years" and argued that rookie back Tutton could start siphoning touches if Etienne’s early-season efficiency disappoints. Instead of paying Round-9 capital for a back who may end up in a committee, Kelly prefers grabbing higher-upside receivers or contingency backs available later. His takeaway: Etienne no longer provides the structural advantage drafters need at that price, making him a fade unless he slips well past current ADP.

JSU said he is getting under-weight on Travis Etienne because the Jaguars back is climbing draft boards on nothing but coach-speak. Liam Coen recently told reporters Etienne is "doing everything we ask," and JSU believes that empty praise is inflating Etienne’s DraftKings Best-Ball price without fixing the real issue: the runner simply is not special once you strip away volume. He compared the situation to last year’s Rashad White—useful touches propped up the box scores until a more explosive option emerged. JSU thinks rookie UDFA Bhayshul Tuten could be that option in Jacksonville, noting that Tuten’s price keeps falling while Etienne’s climbs. If Coen follows through on talk of more two-back looks, Etienne’s weekly ceiling disappears, making him a fade at an ADP that now bakes in feature-back security he may not have. JSU would rather grab the cheaper Tuten shares and use the Etienne savings on receivers with true spike-week upside.

Joey B said he is actively adding Travis Etienne shares right now because the market is catching up fast. Etienne’s Underdog ADP has already jumped from the 120-range to 103 overall, and Joey believes it will keep steaming toward pick 65 the moment Jacksonville publicly names him the clear starter. He wants to lock in the discount before that announcement because a Round-6 price still bakes in too much Tank Bigsby risk. Etienne’s three-down skill set makes him one of the few backs in the pool who could handle 275 touches yet can still be drafted after the wide-receiver avalanche. Joey is intentionally underweight Bigsby and overweight Etienne to capture that coming price movement on his Best Ball Mania portfolios.

Christopher Allen highlighted Travis Etienne as a buy-low candidate with Liam Coen taking over the Jaguars’ offense. In Tampa, Coen used both running backs as receivers at a top-4 rate league-wide, and Baker Mayfield trailed only Mahomes and Burrow in inside-the-10 pass attempts. Allen expects those same pass-heavy red-zone and running-back-friendly concepts to follow Coen to Jacksonville, projecting a bounce-back in Etienne’s target share after a disappointing 2024 receiving line. The new scheme could restore Etienne’s 2023-level PPR ceiling while protecting his floor with additional goal-line opportunities.

Tom Strachan explained Travis Etienne’s 12-spot rise to 104 by noting Jaguars coaches have reiterated that Etienne will open camp as the RB1 despite Tank Bigsby’s better efficiency metrics in 2024 (4.8 YPC vs 4.1, higher juke rate). With rookie Bhayshul Tuten likely limited to change-of-pace snaps, Strachan projects Etienne to maintain a 60% touch share. Jacksonville’s up-tempo offense ranked 8th in neutral-situation pace last season, which Strachan says gives Etienne a strong floor/ceiling combo relative to his late-9th-round price.

Jake Ciely said he is hammering Travis Etienne whenever the Jaguars back slips to the 103-107 overall pocket because none of the backs going next to him – Najee Harris, Jordan Mason, or Javonte Williams – has shown Etienne’s combination of first-round draft capital and proven fantasy ceiling. Ciely reminded listeners that Etienne finished RB5 just two seasons ago and believes 2024’s dip was almost entirely injury-driven. With a full offseason to get healthy, Liam Cohen replacing Press Taylor, and the entire Jacksonville offense expected to play faster and more coherently, Ciely projects a bounce-back to 275 touches and double-digit TD upside. He acknowledged fourth-round rookie Peshaun Tuten is interesting, but noted day-three backs rarely eat into a healthy starter’s workload for long. Because Etienne is now going in the low-end RB3 range, Ciely views him as the only player in that tier who can finish inside the top 10 and is willing to draft both Etienne and Tuten if he wants cheap exposure to the backfield.

Ian Hartitz called Travis Etienne one of the best buy-low backs in early drafts, noting that lingering hamstring and shoulder injuries suppressed his 2024 efficiency but masked the fact he posted RB1 numbers in 2023. Hartitz believes offseason trade-cut rumors pushed Etienne’s price down the same way they did with Mark Andrews a year ago, and drafters have not corrected. He downplayed the threat of fourth-round rookie Peshaun Tuten, pointing out the low hit rate of Day-3 backs, and reminded listeners that Tank Bigsby could not seize meaningful snaps despite repeated chances. With Etienne finally healthy and still only 26, Hartitz projects roughly 300 touches, 50-plus targets and a top-12 finish—making him a smash pick in the late-third or early-fourth round ahead of backs like James Cook or Zamir White.

Greg Brainos urged caution at Travis Etienne’s top-20 ADP, pointing to Jaguars beat writer John Shipley’s report that Etienne will be "the lead guy" but with several backs mixing in. Brainos reminded listeners that new offensive coordinator Liam Cohen rotated backs relentlessly in Tampa last season— leaning on pony personnel and refusing to commit to a workhorse until mid-year— and he expects Jacksonville to copy that philosophy. He projected Etienne’s snap share slipping toward 55-60 % rather than last year’s 70 %, which would cap both ceiling and week-to-week consistency. Given the committee vibes and Etienne’s premium cost, Brainos is underweight and looking elsewhere in the same draft pocket.

Andy Holloway argued that Travis Etienne is the cheapest he has ever been and is therefore a sharp ninth-round swing. After finishing RB3 in 2023 (1,000+ yards, 58 catches), Etienne cratered to 7.4 PPR points per game and RB37 last season—but Holloway blamed scheme and line play more than talent. New OC Liam Coen’s track record features two top-24 backs in Tampa and league-leading running-back receptions and receiving yards. That fits Etienne’s open-field skill set far better than last year’s between-the-tackles grind. The Jaguars have already overhauled a run-blocking unit that ranked 31-32nd by adding free-agent starters and drafting line help. For now Etienne is the unquestioned starter, yet he is being drafted as RB34 on Sleeper. Holloway thinks investing a late single-digit round pick for a former first-round talent who has flashed RB1 upside is theft, especially if Coen’s offense emphasizes getting him in space.

Greg Brainos advised passing on Travis Etienne until the late fourth round after Jacksonville spent Day 2 capital on both Travian Henderson and receiving specialist LeQuint Allen. Brainos argued that a front office willing to forgo bigger roster needs to grab two backs is a loud signal Etienne is not the new regime’s guy. OC Liam Cohen’s half-hearted praise last week—"looks good, jet sweeps, blah blah blah"—only reinforced the concern. Brainos now projects a near 50-50 split, with Henderson siphoning early-down work and Allen handling screens that once padded Etienne’s fantasy floor. Given that drafters can take Rhamondre Stevenson nearly a round later with a clearer workload, Brainos is out on Etienne at current cost.

Peter Overzet said his earlier Best Ball Mania share of Travis Etienne is "aging gracefully" because new Jaguars offensive coordinator Liam Cohen has been "gushing" about Etienne this spring. Overzet interpreted the public praise as a strong hint that Cohen plans to keep Etienne in a true every-down role rather than splitting early-down work with Tank Bigsby. If Etienne maintains last season’s 76 percent snap rate while benefiting from a more up-tempo Cohen scheme, Pete thinks drafters could be getting a discounted RB1 at his current late-second ADP in Best Ball.

Andrew Erickson urged drafters to keep hammering Travis Etienne in Best Ball Mania despite the market cooling on him. Erickson compared Etienne’s 2024 setup to Josh Jacobs’ 2022 ‘left-for-dead, then RB1’ season: Etienne already owns a recent top-five fantasy finish and still has unquestioned chemistry with Trevor Lawrence dating back to Clemson, something Erickson believes keeps him first in goal-line and pass-pro snaps. Tank Bigsby and rookie Bachew Tootin haven’t shown anything close to Etienne’s ceiling, and Jacksonville’s own staff continues to say they are “figuring out” the backfield. At a non-punitive ADP, drafters get multiple outs—Etienne winning the job outright, injuries forcing him back into a workhorse role, or a trade to a RB-needy team like Dallas or Chicago that would spike his value overnight. Erickson’s bottom line: if the season started tomorrow Etienne is still the Jaguars’ RB1, so keep scooping shares and sprinkle late darts on Bigsby and Tootin as leverage.

Answering a listener question, Erickson compared Travis Etienne’s 2024 outlook to Josh Jacobs’ forgotten-then-dominant 2022 season. Best-ball drafters have cooled on Etienne after a sluggish finish, but he still owns a recent top-five RB season and faces only rookie Keon Coleman and journeyman D’Ernest Johnson for early-down work. Jacksonville’s own staff has admitted they’re "still figuring out" who the best runner is, a signal to Erickson that Etienne’s proven explosiveness will eventually win out. If he reclaims even 65% of the touches in an offense expected to rebound under Press Taylor, his current RB18 price could look laughable by October.

Greg Brainos labeled Travis Etienne a "10-foot-pole pick" despite his second-round best-ball ADP. Brainos highlighted new OC Liam Cohen’s public admiration for rookie Bhayshul Tuten and holdover Tank Bigsby—both downhill runners who better fit Cohen’s desired power scheme than Etienne’s slash-and-dash style. Fumble concerns further threaten Etienne’s grip on high-value touches, and Bloom added that if none of the backs separate, the Jaguars could devolve into a frustrating committee similar to last year’s Colts. Given the uncertainty, Brainos prefers dart throws on Tuten or Bigsby 10 rounds later and is passing on Etienne entirely unless his price tag drops into the late third.

Raybon noted that as Beychal Tutin hype snowballs, drafters are letting Travis Etienne slide two to three rounds in best-ball rooms—even though Liam Cohen’s Tampa backfield supported two fantasy-viable runners (Rachaad White and Bucky Irving) in the same game. Cohen has publicly stressed throwing to the backs and Jaguars insiders keep floating trade rumors around Etienne, but Raybon thinks those whispers are suppressing price more than actual touch probability. He reminded listeners that Etienne still owns 4.45 speed, a 10% career target share and Jacksonville declined his fifth-year option, giving the club every incentive to showcase him before 2025 free agency. With goal-line vulture Tank Bigsby also discounted, Raybon called the entire trio a portfolio play and recommended scooping whichever Jaguar back falls past ADP in best-ball builds.

Discussing Jacksonville’s backfield, Pat Fantasy Dog Pound said drafters should continue taking Travis Etienne at current ADP because the market is already discounting him for an uncertain rookie challenger. Pat acknowledged that the coaching staff ‘wants Tootan to be the guy’ eventually, but emphasized Etienne still projects for the lion’s share of high-value touches right now—particularly goal-line and passing-down work. With Etienne settling into the late-third/early-fourth round, Pat views the pick as a rare chance to lock in a proven 18-touch back without paying top-20 capital. He is mixing in the rookie as a speculative share when that player slides after a practice-field fumble, yet maintains Etienne remains the superior bet for 2024 production and playoff spike weeks.

Davis Mattek advised passing on Travis Etienne at his current pick 124 price, arguing the former first-rounder may be benched, traded, or outright cut. Etienne’s efficiency has cratered: only 2.4 yards after contact last season (Bigsby was over 3.5), 17 missed tackles forced on 150 rushes, and a career 1.05 yards per route run despite being billed as a pass-catcher. His breakaway rate has not topped 25% since 2022, and Mattek believes the lingering Liz Frank injury sapped his explosiveness. With Liam Cohen arriving and two cheaper, more explosive backs in Bayshel Tootin and Tank Bigsby, Mattek views Etienne as the worst value in this backfield and a landmine in best-ball drafts.

Pete Overzet grabbed Travis Etienne at pick 128 to super-charge a developing Jacksonville super-stack built around rookie wideout Travis Hunter. He argued the price is light relative to Etienne’s 71% snap share, top-five breakaway-run rate, and 58 targets last season. New play-caller Dave Canales wants to keep the up-tempo pace that ranked eighth in neutral situations while adding more outside-zone looks—schemes that accentuate Etienne’s 4.45 speed and one-cut burst. Pairing Etienne with Hunter preserves flexibility: if Trevor Lawrence falls back to the next pick, drafters can add QB correlation; if not, Etienne still delivers a standalone RB1 ceiling in the same Houston-Jacksonville game environments that project among the highest Week-17 totals. Overzet’s stance: whenever Etienne slips into the mid-11th, scoop him as a discounted bell-cow who completes one of the AFC South’s most fantasy-friendly stacks.

Sean Koerner knocked Travis Etienne all the way down to RB37 and called him a classic "name-brand trap" you should unload while managers still remember his 2022 breakout. Koerner argued Jacksonville’s front office is telegraphing a changing of the guard: they dealt premium picks for a veteran back this spring, then spent pick 104 on Basil Tutin despite already having Tank Bigsby. He also pointed out Etienne’s efficiency cliff—yards per touch have fallen every season he’s played (5.7 → 4.6 → 4.3)—and reminded listeners Etienne is a 26-year-old who missed his entire rookie season with a serious Lisfranc injury yet still absorbed 290 touches per year once he finally got on the field. Add Bigsby outperforming him on a per-carry basis last year and Koerner sees a committee at best, with a very real chance Etienne loses goal-line and early-down work altogether. In his words, "he probably peaked already," making him a sell in season-long leagues and a player to avoid at current ADP in best ball drafts.

Steve Palazzolo cautioned that Travis Etienne’s every-down role is on shaky ground after Jacksonville spent Day-3 capital on Bhayshul Tuten—an explosive 4.32 runner tailor-made for outside zone—and Syracuse pass-catching specialist LaQuint Allen. Palazzolo noted the Jaguars already tried to siphon early-down work to Tank Bigsby last year before ball-security issues derailed the experiment, and the front office clearly is not done searching for alternatives. With Tuten capable of housing any carry and Allen profiling as a legit third-down option, Palazzolo expects Liam Cohen to lean into a multi-back committee that emphasizes speed and fresh legs. He projected Etienne’s touch share to dip below 60 percent, knocking him out of the locked-in RB1 tier for season-long leagues and making him a risky second-round investment.

Hayden Winks said Travis Etienne is a smash at his current Round-9 ADP because the Jaguars’ offensive overhaul sets up a bounce-back year. With Liam Coen installing the same multi-back, play-action scheme that fed Kyren Williams in Los Angeles, Winks expects Jacksonville’s overall efficiency to spike, creating more red-zone snaps and screen opportunities for Etienne. He acknowledged rookie Bejal Tutin and sophomore Tank Bigsby muddy the touch projection but emphasized Etienne’s first-round pedigree and big-play profile— five runs of 40+ yards in 2023— give him multiple paths to remain the lead back. Winks compared the situation to last year’s Rashad White/Bucky Irving dynamic: even if a committee forms, Etienne’s receiving chops and breakaway speed make him the fantasy winner. He projected a 60-65% snap share, 45-catch upside and enough ceiling games to justify a hero-RB build in Best Ball Mania drafts.

Andy Holloway said Travis Etienne remains a post-draft winner because Jacksonville bypassed the elite RB class until Day 3, grabbing Bayshall Tutin at pick 108. Holloway reminded listeners that fourth-round backs historically become fantasy starters less than 15 % of the time, so Etienne should open 2025 as the clear lead back. The concern is passing-down work: Etienne’s receptions have slipped from 58 in 2023 to 39 last season, while Tutin caught 40 balls across two years at Virginia Tech and ran a 4.32 at 209 lbs. Holloway expects Etienne to keep early-down and goal-line duties but projects a slightly smaller share of the 70 targets Jacksonville sent to backs last year. He advised season-long drafters to view Etienne as a volatile low-end RB1 who must hold off Tutin for third-down snaps, and dynasty managers to consider cuffing the rookie as insurance.