Travis Etienne will undergo surgery for a Lisfranc injury suffered in Week 2 of the 2021 NFL preseason. He is expected to miss the entire 2021 NFL season.
The article below was written and released of Etienne’s injury. He is not on injured reserve and is not expected to be on the field until the 2022 season.
Travis Etienne’s fantasy outlook for 2021
Etienne and Lawrence played three years together at Clemson, winning the National Championship in 2018. Etienne recorded one of the most prolific collegiate careers at Clemson from 2017 to 2020. Last season, he amassed 1,511 total yards on 224 opportunities. He excelled at yards after contact and was productive as a receiver out of the backfield. Etienne’s a true three-down back with big-play potential.
In his career, Etienne rushed 686 times for 4,952 yards with 70 rushing touchdowns. Additionally, he caught 102 passes for 1,155 receiving yards and 8 more scores across 1,852 career snaps in 55 games. It was shocking that new Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer selected Etienne in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft — James Robinson enjoyed a productive rookie season in 2020.
Can Travis Etienne and James Robinson coexist?
Robinson averaged 21.4 opportunities, 101 total yards, and 18 PPR fantasy points per game last year. He finished as an RB1 in 50% of his 14 active games. Robinson played 70% of the Jaguars’ offensive snaps and averaged 0.83 fantasy points per opportunity. He was a diamond in the rough, considering every other NFL team passed on him in the 2020 NFL Draft. Can Robinson and Etienne complement each other in 2021?
The Jaguars’ offense will be much improved in 2021 with Lawrence under center. In addition to Etienne and Robinson, Jacksonville has a plethora of pass catchers in D.J. Chark, Laviska Shenault, and Marvin Jones. Furthermore, the Jaguars possess a solid offensive line.
Jacksonville’s offense has the potential to be an underappreciated fantasy bonanza this season. But what will it look like under Meyer in 2021?
How will Urban Meyer’s offense translate to the NFL?
Meyer’s comments from earlier this year imply that the Jaguars will prioritize the running game. Etienne and Robinson will be a lethal combination alongside Lawrence’s mobility. There will be a high number of rushing attempts from the shotgun and RPOs tied to inside or outside-zone runs. Play-action passing will be critical for Lawrence and Meyer in 2021. There could be scenarios where Etienne and Robinson are on the field at the same time.
Etienne’s draft pedigree suggests he’ll be provided a high number of opportunities per game in 2021. According to NFL Network’s Insider Ian Rapoport, Etienne has no offset language in his four-year rookie contract and will be provided a large amount of his signing bonus up front.
Travis Etienne’s fantasy projection
Update: Travis Etienne will undergo surgery for a Lisfranc injury suffered in Week 2 of the 2021 NFL preseason. He is expected to miss at least 12 weeks and could miss the entire 2021 NFL season.
Etienne projects for around 215 opportunities, 1,100 total yards, and 7 total touchdowns in 2021. He will be used more as a receiver out of the backfield than Robinson. As a result, Etienne can be viewed as a low-end RB2 in PPR formats.
Robinson will have a similar opportunity share in the Jaguars’ backfield. Moreover, it would be a surprise if Carlos Hyde accumulated more than 40 opportunities this season.
Travis Etienne’s ADP
Etienne is being selected with the 58th pick when you review ADP data from Fleaflicker. However, he has an ADP of 45.07 in pay-to-play fantasy formats such as the National Fantasy Championship. Meanwhile, his ADP in half PPR formats on Sleeper is 47.0 as RB22.
Should you draft Etienne in 2021?
Yes, you should. I’m comfortable drafting Etienne at his ADP. He’s not a player I’d reach for in fantasy football. Still, Etienne is my preferred target in PPR formats, while Robinson is a better value in standard.
Eric is a Senior Fantasy Analyst for Pro Football Network and a member of the FSWA (Fantasy Sports Writers Association). You can read more of his work here and follow Eric on Twitter @EricNMoody.