Should Fantasy Football Managers Draft Travis Etienne Or Tank Bigsby?

The Jacksonville Jaguars' running back situation presents a complex scenario for fantasy football, featuring Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby as talented players whose roles have evolved. Etienne, previously the established lead back after consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, experienced a significant decline in 2024 with only 558 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Bigsby outperformed him with 766 yards and seven scores. As the team enters a new era under head coach Liam Coen, uncertainty surrounds how each will be utilized, sparking debate over their fantasy draft value.

Etienne, a first-round pick in 2021, had strong performances in 2022 and 2023 before his 2024 slump. Despite the downturn, signs point to a potential rebound: he has worked with the first-team offense during the offseason and appears fully recovered from a hamstring injury that sidelined him briefly. In contrast, Bigsby, a third-round selection in 2023, brings a different stylistic approach—relying on power and downhill running rather than elusiveness or pass-catching ability, which contributed to his increased role last season as a change-of-pace option.

For fantasy football, Etienne is viewed as the smarter pick due to his higher upside, particularly in PPR formats, with the potential to reestablish himself as a top-20 running back if he returns to form. Both players are currently ranked outside the top-30 options for 2025, but Etienne's ceiling and flexibility as a Flex option give him slight superiority over Bigsby in draft considerations.