As we inch toward the new season, the ever-changing NFL landscape has player fantasy values constantly on the move. Whether you’re used to the dynasty platform or are still learning the rules, let’s dive into the latest dynasty fantasy football value of Travis Etienne Jr.
Travis Etienne Jr.’s Dynasty Outlook and Value
On a similar trajectory to his teammate of five years now, Etienne is also poised to make a giant leap in his third (but really second) NFL season.
Etienne’s rookie campaign was lost before it began due to a Lisfranc injury. He returned as a sophomore fully healthy and ready to prove he was the same guy that was so prolific at Clemson alongside Lawrence.
If you just look at the final numbers, Etienne wasn’t all that impressive. He averaged 12.1 ppg, finishing as a low-end RB2. Given where he was taken in any draft (2021 rookie drafts, 2022 startups, and redraft), that was a disappointment. Yet, Etienne actually improved his stock with his 2022 season.
For the first six weeks, Etienne was James Robinson’s backup. He averaged a sub-50% snap share, and his 9.6 ppg from Weeks 1-7 was pretty much unstartable.
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In Week 7, the Jaguars handed Etienne the keys to the kingdom. From that point forward, he consistently played over 75% of the snaps. In his final 10 games (excluding Week 12, where he played just five snaps due to injury), Etienne averaged 14.6 ppg. Extrapolated over the full season, he would’ve been on the RB1/2 borderline.
Not only can we work with those numbers, but we also have every reason to believe in Etienne taking another step forward in 2023.
Etienne only scored five touchdowns last season but totaled 1,441 yards from scrimmage. In 2023, a fully healthy Etienne is poised to be one of the only bell-cow running backs remaining. He could push for 1,800 yards from scrimmage and has legitimate 15-touchdown upside as this offense and Lawrence continue to get better.
Etienne has genuine receiving upside. He only saw a 7.8% target share last season, but there’s no reason he can’t get that to 10%.
Etienne also displayed splash-play ability. He averaged 5.7 yards per touch, which was 10th in the league. An impressive 7.3% of his carries went for at least 15 yards. Only 11 running backs had a better rate.
Travis Etienne Jr.’s Fantasy Ranking
At just 24 years old, Etienne should remain a top running back in the NFL for the next half-decade. If he continues to improve, the Jaguars will likely pick up his fifth-year option, keeping him with the team through his age-26 season.
When it comes to running backs, dynasty managers cannot look more than two to three years down the line, given the turnover at the position. Etienne is locked in for at least that duration. He’s undoubtedly an RB1 in dynasty, and there’s an argument to be made for him inside the top five.
We currently have him just outside at RB6 (No. 27 overall) in our dynasty Superflex rankings. Etienne is someone you want on your fantasy rosters. I would gladly take him in the third round of dynasty startup drafts.