Tank Bigsby had a rough 2023, which created low expectations for him in fantasy football for 2024. However, Week 1 came and went, and now we look at the hockey score and see that he received 12 rushing attempts, the same amount as Travis Etienne. Now, we must decide if that was a fluke or if this is the new look of the Jacksonville Jaguars backfield.
Bigsby outrushed Etienne as he produced 73 yards to Etienne’s 44. Bigsby also produced more yards per rush by delivering the fourth-best in the NFL in Week 1 with 6.1. TruMedia has Bigsby with 2.4 more yards per rush than Etienne. He also cured his fumbling issue, which he must have passed to his cohort, as Etienne fumbled the ball once. The only thing Etienne brought to the table that Bigsby didn’t was a touchdown.
So, can Bigsby continue this trend? His size of 6 feet and 213 lbs, combined with his unique ability to shake defenders, is wondrous. Bigsby also brings a distinctive trait of variation with his speed on the field. He doesn’t go 0-60 mph; instead, he can change gears with the best of them in the backfield. His issue was consistency within his game, making it hard to trust him based on one productive game.
Should Tank Bigsby Be Added to the Fantasy Waiver Wire in Week 2
You shouldn’t waste your waiver wire selection on Bigsby this week. After an entire 2023 of inconsistent play, we can’t change our analysis and label him a buy until we see more. His game has always been erratic, and next week, the Jaguars face a solid Cleveland Browns defense that could hamper Etienne and Bigsby.
The best move you can make is to put him on your watch list, and if someone else grabs him, eye another prospect up. If you play in an FAAB league, you can place a cheap bid on him but lower your priority, so he is the consolation prize and not the main attraction.
There is cause for concern in the Etienne camp, as Bigsby was the fifth-best running back with yards before contact per rush, while Etienne was 30th overall for running backs. Considering both players had the same offensive line, this shows us that Bigsby followed the game plan, trusted the play to unfold correctly, and didn’t “tap dance” behind the line, eyeing the homerun play.
Coaches like decisive players who identify how to gain yards quickly. If Bigsby has correctly fixed that issue, we could see more of a split backfield in Jacksonville this season.
The Jaguars have to play against the Browns, Buffalo Bills, and Houston Texans in the next three weeks, which is not ideal for the second-year back. All three defenses are in the top-15 in rushing yards allowed. Do yourself and your fantasy team a favor, take this game as a one-off, and look to another running back that can give you more consistent play in our rankings.