Tag: Travis Etienne

Trevor Lawrence hits Travis Etienne for Jaguars’ first touchdown of 2024

Trevor Lawrence hit Travis Etienne for a touchdown on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ opening drive in their preseason opener Saturday.

It didn’t take long for the Clemson Connection in Jacksonville to make an impact in the Jaguars’ preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs Saturday at EverBank Stadium.

Trevor Lawrence hit Travis Etienne for a 9-yard touchdown for the Jaguars’ first score of the 2024 NFL season. Lawrence’s pass capped off a four-play, 20-yard drive that was set up by a 73-yard Parker Washington kick return on Jacksonville’s opening drive.

From there, Lawrence completed a 13-yard pass to Luke Farrell before his touchdown throw off a slant route to Etienne out of the backfield. The Jaguars went on to defeat the Chiefs, 26-13.

Lawrence, who signed a five-year, $275 million contract extension with the Jaguars over the summer, started the team’s first two drives and finished the night completing 3 of 4 passes for 42 yards. Etienne had four carries for three yards.

A season ago, Lawrence threw for 4,016 yards and 21 touchdowns to 14 interceptions in 16 games. He ran for 339 yards and four touchdowns on 70 rushes. Etienne started all 17 games in 2023 and rushed for 1,008 yards (3.8 AVG) and 11 touchdowns on 267 carries. He also made 58 receptions for 476 yards and a touchdown.

In the Jaguars’ 20-10 victory over the Steelers in Week 8 in Pittsburgh, Lawrence connected with Etienne for a 56-yard score — Jacksonville’s only touchdown of the game. The Jaguars drafted Lawrence with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and selected Etienne with the No. 25 overall pick.

The Jaguars host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their next preseason game, Aug. 17 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Jacksonville opens the regular season against the Miami Dolphins Sept. 8 at 1 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium.

For more coverage of Lawrence, Etienne and the Jaguars, head over to Jags Wire.

Follow us at @Clemson_Wire on X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news, notes and commentary.

2024 Schedule Swings: Running Backs

Which RB gets an easier schedule for 2024? Who experiences the worst drop in schedule strength?

The schedule strength for running backs is always the more accurate among fantasy positions, thanks to their volume of work and the tendency of teams to feature the run and rely more consistently on individual players. That makes this analysis the most reliable.

The average fantasy points allowed by defenses to running backs last year were applied to each offense’s schedule to determine their true schedule strength of last year, and applied the same values to their 2023 schedule. This includes considering both home and away venues separately for each defense.

See Also: Quarterbacks | Receivers

The resulting fantasy point advantages are compared between years and the difference is their “swing points.”  The higher the Swing Points, the better their schedule is compared to last year. This analysis is more telling than standard schedule strength. You know what happened last year with players – do they get an easier or tougher schedule for 2024?

Best schedule swings

 Kenneth Walker/Zach Charbonnet (SEA) – After two seasons as the No. 20 fantasy running back, Walker gets a chance to take advantage of the most dramatic swing for the position. His schedule strength rockets up from No. 30 to No. 2 and that should be apparent so long as Charbonnet doesn’t take a hefty chunk away from him.

Aaron Jones (MIN) – The offensive line won’t be an advantage unlike back in Green Bay, but Jones’ first season with the Vikings with a boost from the No. 29 up to the No. 9 schedule. He wasn’t there last year, but he suffered through the worst schedule in 2023 while with the Packers. The schedule should help get him back on track.

Breece Hall (NYJ) – Hall already exploded last year when the Jets kicked off the training wheels and let Hall become the workhorse back. He’ll enjoy a lighter schedule this time around and maybe even a passing offense that can take the pressure of him.

Javonte Williams (DEN) – After a tough 2023 when he was still recovering from his torn ACL, Williams has a nice upgrade to his schedule but he seems to have lost a bit from his injury and the Broncos added Audric Estime. This isn’t as safe of an advantage as it might seem.

Rachaad White (TB) – With the Buccaneers getting a rougher passing schedule, White may already be in line for more receptions from the backfield. But he also gets a solid upgrade in rushing schedule that should keep him on the field and productive. Bucky Irving was drafted to help out, but an easier schedule should keep White looking better and keep Irving from making inroads for a bigger share.

About the same schedule strength

The only notable teams are the Bengals and Colts who repeat what were already tough schedules from 2023.

Worst schedule swings

Christian McCaffrey (SF) – Okay, so the best running back from 2023 has the worst swing in schedule strength. Is that enough to sway you from taking him with the 1.01 pick? Probably not. McCaffrey’s problem is more about staying healthy but he’s always a monster when he plays because he just switches to being a receiver if the rushing lanes are clogged. Still, will be interesting to track.

Bijan Robinson (ATL) – Not Bijan too! The Falcons’ stud running back is hoping to become “all that he can be” now that Arthur Smith is gone and new OC Zac Robinson wants to use him extensively in any way they can get the ball into his hands. But the dip from No. 7 down to the No. 29 is concerning for any back. On the plus, Robinson’s volume should be much higher for 2024, and he was already the No. 8 fantasy running back last year with partial use.

Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) – While Christian McCaffrey and Bijan Robinson should be better than their schedules, the same may not be true for the aging Elliott, who has slowed down and is now back in Dallas for the second time for a team with a lesser O-line and now the worst schedule for running backs. Elliott is no lock to remain the RB1 in Dallas all season and has fallen deep in drafts. This won’t make him any more appealing.

Travis Etienne (JAC) – The schedule strength has taken a downturn from 2023, but like McCaffrey and Robinson, Etienne is a dual-threat back and the center of their backfield that contains no real competition.

James Cook (BUF) – This is a bit concerning for a lesser talented back than the above players. Cook ended as the No. 11 fantasy back last year as a surprise, but he was facing the No. 2 best fantasy schedule for the position. He drops below average for 2024, and the Bills offense will be different with their best wideouts gone. That may help Cook see more receptions, but he’s probably not “better than his schedule.”

Fantasy Football Top-10 Repeatability: Running Backs

Take a step back and see how the Top-10 RBs change from year to year.

A Top-10 running back is a difference maker because not they score among the highest fantasy points of any position, and do so with great consistency.  The position has fallen in value over the last several years and the reliance on a workhorse back wanes each season. But – there is still an undeniable advantage to owning a Top-10 fantasy running back.

Also see: Quarterback | Wide receiver | Tight end

Below are all running backs that produced a Top-10 finish in any of the past five seasons, and what they did in the other years. This shows the volatility of the position and how rarely backs actually return to the Top-10 the following season, despite the fact we all draft like they are going to repeat.

Chance of repeating Top-10 = 20%

Running backs have been on the decline for many years while backfields become more fragmented and workloads spread over more “specialists.” That’s accelerated greatly for the last two seasons, and it is not just injuries shaking up depth charts.

Consider that in the last two years, 18 running backs made the Top-10. Only Joe Mixon and Derrick Henry logged back-to-back Top-10 seasons. And both have changed teams for 2024. The volatility of the top players is dramatic and unlike any other position. Six of the 2023 Top-10 were no better than No. 33 in 2022. Austin Ekeler and Josh Jacobs were in the Top-2 for 2022 and yet fell to No. 24 and No. 27 respectively. That’s a high draft pick last year that did no better than a fantasy RB3 for your team.

The disturbing part of this is not so much the tremendous turnover at the top, but that the new batch of elite fantasy scorers are almost all coming from deep in the rankings for the one year. The position has become the host for the annual Cinderella’s to show up and then stumble the next year.

The 2023 Top-10 running backs are very well represented in fantasy drafts with seven of them again drafted in this year’s Top-10 (Christian McCaffrey, Breece Hall, Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Travis Etienne, Kyren Williams, and Derrick Henry). The only Top-10 backs who fell out of the Top-10 in drafts so far have been Rachaad White (No. 14), Joe Mixon (No. 17), and Raheem Mostert (No. 32).

Hard to argue against waiting on running backs. Very hard.

Let’s make this even worse. Consider how well the Top-10 of 2021 fared just two years later.

Joe Mixon was the only running back to be Top-10 in 2021, and then again two years later. Half of the 2021 backs failed to place better than No. 33 just two seasons later.

Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne named a Top 10 college football playmaking duo of all time

Clemson had one of the best playmaking duos in college football history.

When discussing the greatest players in ACC football history, Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne’s names must be mentioned.

Lawrence is one of the best quarterbacks the conference and college football have ever seen, while Etienne is statistically the best running back the conference has ever had. The two were phenomenal as they led the Tigers to a National Championship win, and they did it as a duo.

Recently, 247Sports ranked the Top 50 college football playmaking duos of all time, with this Clemson duo landing at No. 9 all time.

Two of the ACC’s greatest players of all-time at their respective positions, Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne were key cogs in Clemson’s 15-0 national title-winning season in 2018 with incredible numbers. A former five-star recruit, Lawrence threw for 3,280 yards as a freshman that campaign with 30 touchdowns. He followed that up with a 36-touchdown season as a sophomore. Via Clemson Athletics, Etienne was part of a senior class that helped Clemson to four ACC titles, four College Football Playoff berths, two national championship appearances and a national title, all while becoming the first FBS senior class since 2010 to go undefeated at home (27-0 at Death Valley)

There’s no denying what this duo did during their time together in college football. They were a force, and the best part is that they remain together in the NFL as members of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Better than average: Running Backs

Which running backs fared the best against each NFL defense?

Given the proliferation of committee backfields, each NFL defense usually faces two or three running backs each game. Turning in one of the best eight games allowed by a defense is an elite performance.

Below shows how often a player logged the best game allowed by a secondary (Top-1), one of the four best performances allowed (Top-4), and one of the best eight performances (Top-8). With 17 games played, a Top-8 game is “above average” among the best running back from each opponent.

The “Better than Average” (BTA) score is a weighting of those games.

Better than average:
Quarterbacks |Wide receivers | Tight ends

Bottom line: This is a true measurement of how productive a running back was when schedule influences are  removed. It compares them to other backs that faced that same defense. If a player rates higher here than they did with 2023 fantasy points, it means they were limited by a schedule and are better than their last year’s stats suggest.

The position declined in perceived value for NFL teams but they still crank out plenty of fantasy-relevant stats each week and a top player offers consistency that rivals  a player that is still taken very highly in fantasy drafts.

But the Top-5 in this metric last year were Austin Ekeler, Josh Jacobs, Nick Chubb, Derrick Henry, and Aaron Jones – none of them repeating for 2023. It shows the volatility in the position and how those monster performances rise and fall dramatically the following year. On a winning fantasy team, you need difference-makers who can blow up in multiple games.

This highlights what a surprise that Breece Hall, Kyren Williams and Rachaad White were. And how this is a position where youth is a very good thing. It also shows what a disappointment Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley, and Jonathan Taylor were though all three are still hot properties in fantasy drafts this summer.

This is fascinating. The only running backs that managed to log more than one top game against a defense were led by Christian McCaffrey – no surprise. But the other four were all in the second year of their career.

Yes indeed. Youth be served in the backfields of the current NFL.

Jaguars ‘eager’ about RB Tank Bigsby entering second season

Jaguars ‘eager’ about RB Tank Bigsby entering second season

Hopes are high in Jacksonville for running back Tank Bigsby as he enters his second season with the Jaguars, despite his bumpy, 50-carry debut campaign.

Jacksonville’s third-round NFL draft selection in 2023, Bigsby was acquired to provide the Jaguars’ running back room insurance and a rotational contributor behind starter, Travis Etienne Jr.

But aside from scoring two touchdowns in as many games to begin his NFL career, Bigsby fumbled twice and struggled with rushing efficiency over the 13 games he logged a carry.

He finished the year averaging 2.64 yards per attempt, surpassing four yards per carry in only one game in which he rushed at least three times, the season finale against Tennessee.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor are optimistic that Bigsby is in for improved production in 2024. He’ll receive more opportunities as the team attempts to reduce Etienne’s workload and keep him fresh, as Etienne averaged over 19 touches per game in 2023.

“Tank has done a great job going into year two. He’s a smart player … he’s a hard worker. [He] practices extremely fast, which I love,” Pederson described Bigsby. “Eager to get the pads on and see what he can do.”

As he aims to boost his efficiency, Bigsby’s offseason focus has been his ball-carrying vision within the Jaguars’ offensive scheme, per Pederson. According to Pro Football Focus, Bigsby averaged three-tenths of a yard before a defender made contact with him in 2023.

“For him now, it’s just understanding what he is seeing particularly in the run game, anticipating where the hole is going to be,” Pederson explained. “It’s like a movie screen and that screen is constantly moving and changing. For him, it’s being able to see that and react.”

Taylor expressed some regret for Bigsby’s relative lack of involvement in the offense, admitting there were instances he kept Etienne on the field when Bigsby likely could have accomplished a particular concept Taylor called.

Bigsby averaged just five offensive snaps per game over his 16 backfield appearances last year. His 80 offensive snaps on the season ranked No. 10 among the 15 running backs drafted in 2023 who received at least one handoff.

“I mean, we would’ve liked to say we would get more usage, opportunity for Tank as the season went. Looking back, there is a lot of things that we probably could have done better,” Taylor said. “You try to be as critical of everything that you can be, and — how do we utilize every single player available to us on game day?

“I think there are things Tank could have provided that we maybe didn’t give him opportunities to or maybe we’re quick to give Travis another rep on something that Tank could have done well for us. You live, learn, grow from it and adapt moving forward.”

Addressing Bigsby and second-round tight end Brenton Strange’s scarce contributions compared to 17-game starter, first-round offensive tackle Anton Harrison, Taylor mentioned the shallows of the learning curve both players experienced as rookies and how they’ve entered their second offseason prepared for their responsibilities.

Now, he said, Bigsby and Strange are better equipped for the speed of the NFL game, the pace of practice, their roles in the Jaguars’ offense and requirements within the scheme. Their growth has translated to the practice field, and Taylor is hopeful the trend will continue into the season.

Appearing to be on the right track, Taylor believes Bigsby is ready for an uptick in usage, and the Jaguars plan to accommodate it.

“Tank is in a great headspace in terms of where he goes in year two,” Taylor stated. “We are looking to get the most out of him as well.”

Jaguars’ Travis Etienne reacts to CFB 25: ‘Sad I missed the NCAA era’

Jaguars’ Travis Etienne reacts to CFB 25: ‘Sad I missed the NCAA era’

What could have been.

Jaguars running back and former three-time All-American Clemson star Travis Etienne Jr. appeared to feel that way when Electronic Arts released gameplay footage of the upcoming “EA Sports College Football 25” video game this week.

“Pre-ordering it today. Sad I missed the NCAA era,” Etienne wrote via X.

EA is scheduled to release “College Football 25” on July 16, revamping its “NCAA College Football” video game series that was discontinued in 2013 amid licensing and legal disputes between the NCAA, college athletes and the production company.

Notably, Etienne’s younger brother, Georgia running back Trevor Etienne, will appear in the game.

The older Etienne, one of Jacksonville’s two first-round picks in 2021, averaged an incredible 7.2 yards per carry over 686 college career rushing attempts between 2017-20, posting 4,952 yards and 70 touchdowns on the ground. He also caught 102 passes for 1,155 yards and eight touchdowns.

He shined with the Tigers alongside Jaguars quarterback and fellow 2021 first-round selection, Trevor Lawrence.

Etienne has rushed 487 times for 2,133 yards and 16 touchdowns and hauled in 93 receptions for 792 yards and one touchdown over 34 games with the Jaguars.

If EA Sports College Football or the former NCAA video games while Etienne and Lawrence were still with Clemson, what overall player grades do you believe they would have received?

Let us know your thoughts via social media at JaguarsWire on Facebook and @TheJaguarsWire on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Fantasy Football Consistency Rankings – Running Backs

Running backs are the most consistent of all positions since they handle the ball the most. But which backs were money almost every week?

This ranking considers running backs that started at least 10 games in 2023. Fantasy points were derived using one point per 10 yards rushed or received, six-point touchdowns rushed and one point receptions. Running backs may be devalued in fantasy and the NFL, but they are still likely the most consistent players on your team.

See Also:  Quarterbacks | Wide Receivers | Tight Ends

NAME 15 PTs % GMS 15 PTS 25 PTS 100 YD GMS TD GMS
Christian McCaffrey 88% 16 14 6 12 13
Kyren Williams 75% 12 9 5 9 9
Alvin Kamara 62% 13 8 3 6 4
Derrick Henry 59% 17 10 1 7 9
Rachaad White 59% 17 10 1 7 8
James Conner 54% 13 7 2 6 7
Breece Hall 53% 17 9 5 6 8
Tony Pollard 53% 17 9 0 4 5
Travis Etienne 53% 17 9 2 5 8
Isiah Pacheco 50% 14 7 2 3 8
Jonathan Taylor 50% 14 7 3 5 6
Saquon Barkley 50% 10 5 1 3 7
Bijan Robinson 47% 17 8 2 6 7
Joe Mixon 47% 17 8 1 5 10
Jahmyr Gibbs 47% 15 7 4 5 8
Raheem Mostert 47% 15 7 3 4 12
De’Von Achane 45% 11 5 3 5 6
Kenneth Walker III 40% 15 6 1 4 7
Josh Jacobs 38% 13 5 1 3 5
D’Andre Swift 38% 16 6 1 4 6
Austin Ekeler 36% 14 5 2 4 5
James Cook 35% 17 6 2 8 5
Najee Harris 35% 17 6 0 3 7
Rhamondre Stevenson 33% 12 4 0 3 4
David Montgomery 29% 14 4 1 3 11
Zack Moss 29% 14 4 1 3 6
Aaron Jones 27% 11 3 1 4 2
Javonte Williams 25% 16 4 0 1 5
Khalil Herbert 25% 12 3 0 3 3
Gus Edwards 24% 17 4 1 1 9
Jerome Ford 24% 17 4 1 3 7

Only nine backs topped 15 fantasy points in more than half of their games. While top fantasy scorers are obviously well represented, Alvin Kamara, Rachaad White, James Conner, and Tony Pollard were in that group. Only six running backs managed that mark last year and just Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry repeated from 2022. Five years ago, there were 11 that hit the mark and seven that exceeded 80%. Now there is only one.

The volatility from year to year is dramatic.  And the truly consistent with high production have all but disappeared.

25-Points Gms 100-total-yard  Gms Touchdown Gms
Christian McCaffrey 6 Christian McCaffrey 12 Christian McCaffrey 13
Kyren Williams 5 Kyren Williams 9 Raheem Mostert 12
Breece Hall 5 James Cook 8 David Montgomery 11
Jahmyr Gibbs 4 Derrick Henry 7 Joe Mixon 10
Alvin Kamara 3 Rachaad White 7 Kyren Williams 9
Saquon Barkley 3 Alvin Kamara 6 Derrick Henry 9
Raheem Mostert 3 James Conner 6 Gus Edwards 9
De’Von Achane 3 Breece Hall 6 Rachaad White 8
James Conner 2 Bijan Robinson 6 Breece Hall 8
Travis Etienne 2 Travis Etienne 5 Travis Etienne 8
Isiah Pacheco 2 Saquon Barkley 5 Isiah Pacheco 8
Bijan Robinson 2 Joe Mixon 5 Jahmyr Gibbs 8
Austin Ekeler 2 Jahmyr Gibbs 5 James Conner 7
James Cook 2 De’Von Achane 5 Jonathan Taylor 7
Bijan Robinson 7
Kenneth Walker III 7
Najee Harris 7
Jerome Ford 7

No question why Christian McCaffrey is a top draft pick every summer. Kyren Williams was the biggest surprise even though Blake Corum may interfere this season. There’s been several player moves that will make repeating the above marks in 2024. Saquon Barkley, Joe Mixon and Austin Ekeler changed teams. The annual influx of young (and cheap) running back talent also could erode some of the workloads.

Jaguars exercise fifth-year options for Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne Jr.

The Jaguars officially picked up fifth-year options on the contracts of quarterback Trevor Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne Jr.

The Jacksonville Jaguars officially picked up fifth-year options on the contracts of quarterback Trevor Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne Jr. on Monday, the team announced.

The move comes as no surprise: Jacksonville general manager Trent Baalke said their options would be exercised when asked about both on Saturday.

“Before I do that, I’m going to look to have a beer,” Baalke quipped while meeting with reporters on Saturday after the 2024 NFL draft. “I’m joking. Yes.”

According to Over the Cap, Lawrence’s option would be worth $25,664,000 fully guaranteed in 2025. Etienne’s would be worth $6,143,000.

Both Lawrence and Etienne became eligible for contract extensions this offseason, following their first three campaigns in the NFL. Jacksonville can continue to negotiate and ultimately implement new deals for both players, with the fifth-year option effectively expanding the negotiating window, and of course, their tenures with the team.

Now six-year teammates dating back to 2018 at Clemson, Lawrence and Etienne have started 66 games together since college, including in the NFL playoffs.

If not for a Lisfranc injury before Etienne’s rookie campaign and Lawrence’s positive COVID-19 test ruling him out of two Tigers games in 2020, that number could have been as many as 85.

With the Jaguars, Lawrence has completed 63.8% of 1,750 passes for 11,770 yards with 58 touchdowns and 39 interceptions, adding 964 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. Etienne has recorded 2,133 yards and 16 touchdowns over 487 rushing attempts and 792 yards and one touchdown over 93 receptions.

Jaguars reveal option decisions for Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne Jr.

Jaguars reveal option decisions for Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne Jr.

The Jaguars intend to pick up the fifth-year options for quarterback Trevor Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville general manager Trent Baalke said Saturday.

“Before I do that, I’m going to look to have a beer,” Baalke said with a laugh when asked about each player’s contract option immediately following the 2024 NFL draft. “I’m joking. Yes.”

Jacksonville Jaguars 2024 NFL draft recap

The deadline for teams to pick up fifth-year options for 2021 first-round picks is May 2. According to Over the Cap, Lawrence’s option would be worth $25,664,000 fully guaranteed in 2025. Etienne’s would be worth $6,143,000.

Lawrence was Jacksonville’s clear option with the No. 1 selection in the 2021 NFL draft, considering the Jaguars’ extended need for a franchise quarterback and his pedigree as one of the better passing prospects to come out of college in recent years.

Thus far, Lawrence has lived up to the billing.

Through 50 regular-season games with the Jaguars, each of which he’s started, Lawrence has completed 63.8% of 1,750 passes for 11,770 yards with 58 touchdowns and 39 interceptions. He’s added 964 yards and 11 scores on the ground.

Following the disaster that was Urban Meyer’s lone year as Jacksonville’s head coach, the Jaguars clinched back-to-back winning seasons in 2022 and 2023 for the first time since 2004-2005, including the team’s run to the AFC divisional round in January 2023.

Accordingly, Jacksonville initiated conversations regarding a long-term contract extension for Lawrence this offseason, as he became eligible to sign one in March.

“We’re working at it, we’ll continue to work at it,” Jaguars general manager Baalke said on April 18. “Ownership is involved, obviously. Coach [Doug Pederson] is involved; we’re going to put our best foot forward and hope to get something accomplished here.”

Etienne, Lawrence’s six-year teammate dating back to Clemson in 2018, missed his entire rookie season in 2021 with a Lisfranc injury.

But he returned to the form Jacksonville expected of him in the two seasons to follow, churning out 2,133 yards and 16 touchdowns over 487 rushing attempts and 792 yards and one touchdown over 93 receptions.

While Etienne’s rushing efficiency took a step back in 2023 compared to 2022 — down to 3.8 yards per carry from 5.1 — his 12 total touchdowns scored last season led the Jaguars.