The Jacksonville Jaguars’ backfield enters 2025 with more questions than answers for fantasy football managers. Travis Etienne Jr., Tank Bigsby, and rookie Bhayshul Tuten all bring different skill sets, but their workloads are anything but guaranteed. With new head coach Liam Coen at the helm, this competition could swing draft values dramatically.
Travis Etienne Jr. Fantasy Outlook
Etienne Jr. will be a hard pick to make, but his ADP offsets plenty of his risk. Currently going as the RB35, near pick 100, many have written him off already, which is shocking considering the offense he’ll be entering. HC Liam Coen made significant contributions to the Buccaneers’ running back room last season and was able to adjust his offense over time, allowing RB Bucky Irving to flourish.
I understand the hesitation. Etienne hasn’t been able to break out fully in his three years, and 2024 was his worst season yet. As a rookie, he found relative success on a horrific Urban Meyer-led team with 1,125 yards rushing, but despite a better finish in 2023, his efficiency fell dramatically. He hasn’t found his promising upside, and the floor is also scarily low.
Travis Etienne’s 63 Missed Tackles Forced and 727 Yards After Contact rank 1st and 4th in the NFL.
The #Jaguars RB needs just 49 yards vs. the Titans to break 1,000. pic.twitter.com/FTSs0EGnfa
— Daniel Griffis (@DanDGriffis) January 6, 2024
He’s a non-risk with where he’s going in drafts right now. He’s in the same range as Najee Harris, Cam Skattebo, and Zach Charbonnet, all of whom are currently backups. Perhaps Etienne truly does lose his lead back role, but that implies that Tank Bigsby or fourth-round rookie Bayshul Tuten takes it. Tuten is the worry here, but he’s no Omarion Hampton or Kenneth Walker.
Etienne is a bet on Liam Coen’s offense — and against Tuten to a degree. What he did for Irving and Rachaad White’s efficiency (4.3 yards per carry) speaks to what he can do for a promising young player. Etienne is still an explosive runner who’s going into a contract year. As your third or fourth RB, I think he’s a better lottery ticket than those around him.
– Mason LeBeau, Fantasy Football Analyst
Tank Bigsby Fantasy Outlook
The Jaguars’ backfield has been one of the biggest question marks of the entire offseason, with several players in contention for a starting role. Bigsby is a prime candidate, given his impressive showings in 2024, though his lack of receiving prowess may limit his fantasy ceiling.
New head coach Liam Coen revitalized the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ running game last year. After averaging the league’s lowest rushing yards per attempt in 2023 (3.4), the Bucs averaged 5.3 yards per attempt in 2024, second only to the Ravens.
Bigsby will be hoping Coen can repeat the trick this coming season, after proving his explosiveness on the ground last year. Among all running backs with at least 100 carries, Bigsby tied Derrick Henry for the most average yards, after contact, per attempt (2.8).
Travis Etienne will be the favorite to dominate the receiving work in Jacksonville, but Bigsby’s ability on the ground could prove incredibly valuable in Coen’s offense. The 2023 third-round pick saw double-digit carries in just nine games last season, leaving room for immense growth in 2025.
Leaving draft boards around the 11th round as the RB42 makes Bigsby a high-potential lottery ticket with an RB2 ceiling in fantasy if he wins the starting job. An easy cut if things don’t work out, there is far more to gain than there is to lose by drafting the Jaguars back.
– Cameron Sheath, Fantasy Football Analyst
Bhayshul Tuten Fantasy Outlook
The late rounds are perfect for taking shots on explosive rookies who could surprise in 2025. Tuten is exactly that, and finds himself in an RB room with plenty of question marks. Etienne and Bigsby remain the favorites to dominate touches in Jacksonville this season, with Bigsby’s hard-running style complementing Etienne’s receiving ability.
The rookie, though, will be looking to earn the trust of new Jaguars HC Liam Coen, who inherited both Bigsby and Etienne, and no doubt campaigned for Tuten.
The Virginia Tech standout tallied double-digit rushing touchdowns in both of his two years as a Hokie, demonstrating a nose for the end zone. Etienne and Bigsby totaled nine rushing scores combined in 2024, and Coen will be looking to jumpstart the team’s rushing attack immediately.
Tuten could quickly surpass Etienne in the pecking order for ground work, as Bigsby did in 2024. Etienne started 15 games last season, but saw 18 fewer carries (150) than his running mate. That may be down to the veteran’s 3.7 average yards per carry, which was tied for second-fewest among all running backs with at least 150 carries.
Tuten could easily spend his entire rookie year third on the depth chart, but in the late rounds, he’s a worthwhile upside shot in case Coen hands him the job. At worst, he’s an easy cut, and at best, he’s a top-20 back that costs you almost nothing.
– Cameron Sheath, Fantasy Football Analyst
