The Jacksonville Jaguars running back duo of Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby will look to carry the team to its first victory of the regular season in Week 5. Despite an uninspiring 0-4 start, both Etienne and Bigsby offer potential value against the Indianapolis Colts.
After an impressive performance in Week 4, Bigsby could be in line for a bigger role on Sunday.
Which one of Jacksonville’s RBs should you start in fantasy football in Week 5?
Should You Start Travis Etienne Jr. or Tank Bigsby in Week 5?
It’s worth noting that in the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, PFN believes Etienne is the player to start in Week 5. PFN projects Etienne to score 11.9 points, while Bigsby is projected to score 9.0 points.
Etienne’s Fantasy Outlook This Week
Etienne missed a portion of the first half against the Houston Texans last week due to a shoulder injury. Although he eventually returned, Bigsby outperformed Etienne statistically. Now, both players are cleared to play after dealing with shoulder injuries in Week 4.
Entering the regular season, many expected Etienne to push for a legitimate RB1 role on fantasy football rosters. Yet four games in, Etienne has failed to impress, as he has continued to decline after recording a touchdown in each of Jacksonville’s first two games.
Luckily for Etienne, Jacksonville’s next opponent has surrendered the third-most rushing yards (659) in the NFL. Yet according to TruMedia, the Colts have the second-highest defensive total rush EPA (23.32), trailing only the Los Angeles Chargers.
Therefore, it’s fair to be skeptical about both of Jacksonville’s running backs in Week 5. That goes especially for Etienne, given that he has yet to eclipse more than 13 rushing attempts in a single game this season, while Bigsby was able to break free for a 58-yard gain last week.
Bigsby’s Fantasy Outlook This Week
While there was some promise surrounding Bigsby in 2024, his usage for the Jaguars has been anything but consistent through the first four weeks of the regular season. Yet his promising performance in Week 4 could earn him a bigger role against the Colts.
Although Etienne had four more rushing attempts than Bigsby last week, the second-year RB gained 40 more yards on the ground. Bigsby showcased his explosive ability with a 58-yard gain against the Texans in Week 4.
KEEP READING: PFN’s Consensus Fantasy Football Rankings
Jacob Gibbs compiled all 18 rushing attempts between Etienne and Bigsby from last week.
While Etienne was able to gain yardage more consistently, Bigsby’s explosiveness was clear.
Every Week 4 rush attempt for:
Travis Etienne (11-50 on the ground)
Tank Bigbsy (7-90 on the ground) pic.twitter.com/Mq2GqZKHUo— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23)
If Jacksonville is going to split carries between both players in Week 5, Bigsby could offer more upside in your fantasy lineup due to his big-play ability.
