Travis Etienne Jr. Fantasy Outlook & Injury Update 2022 (Is a Big First Year Coming?)

Fantasy managers had running back Travis Etienne Jr. circled on their rankings as a rookie worth drafting heading into the 2021 season. However, a Lisfranc injury suffered during the preseason forced him to miss the entire campaign. Etienne will look to make an impact at full health in 2022.

With that being the case, it's no surprise to see fantasy managers weary of spending an early round pick on Etienne. His average draft position (ADP) has him going as the 21st running back off the board and as a mid-fourth-round selection.

Travis Etienne Jr. Fantasy Football Outlook

Travis Etienne Jr. is one of the most polarizing players from a fantasy football perspective this season. Some people expect him to break out due to his versatility on offense, while others project that it will take some time for him to adjust to the NFL. Being able to temper expectations and fall somewhere in between those two sides is important because Etienne hasn't played an NFL snap before.

The ceiling for Etienne is a being a reliable RB2 this fall. He reunites with his college quarterback in Trevor Lawrence and is set to have a major role in the passing attack. Keep in mind Etienne led the country in receiving yards (588) and ranked second in receptions (48) among RBs during his final year at Clemson. Head coach Doug Pederson also led the NFL with 67.0 plays per game during his five-year stint with the Eagles. A high-tempo offense does nothing but increase Etienne's upside.

It's important to note that Etienne is not alone in this backfield. The 23-year-old is joined by someone that has posted 2,403 yards from scrimmage across two seasons in James Robinson. The fact that Robinson is returning from an Achilles injury opens the door for Etienne to take over as the go-to starter, though. After all, the Jaguars didn't use a first-round pick for him to sit on the sideline.

Travis Etienne Jr. Injury Update

As mentioned above, Etienne was unable to play a single regular season snap in 2021 after suffering a Lisfranc injury before Week 1. He underwent foot surgery in early September and was able to beat his original recovery timeline. In fact, he may have been ready to go if Jacksonville made the playoffs.

That means Etienne entered training camp this July as close to fully healthy as he could be. Offensive coordinator Press Taylor has stressed that Etienne's speed hasn't taken a step back, either. A full offseason working with the new coaching staff has to be a major benefit to Etienne's game this year.

Travis Etienne Jr. Projections

Projections from the NFL odds on FanDuel Sportsbook expect Etienne to finish in the middle of the pack when it comes to his rushing output. He's 26th to lead the NFL in rushing yards (+5000) and 28th to lead the NFL in rushing touchdowns (+5000). Of course, Etienne's game is built around his ability to leak out of the backfield on receiving routes. When taking Etienne's senior season averages into account (4.0 receptions per game, 12.3 yard-average), the young ball-carrier has a chance to reach 800 receiving yards in 2022. Considering he also averaged 5.4 yards per carry that year, Etienne would only need 130 rushes to complete a 1,500-yard from scrimmage season.

Is Travis Etienne Jr. a Good Fantasy Football Pick?

When it comes down to it, is Etienne someone to target in the early rounds? Yes, but making sure a reliable backup plan is in place is vital. He's the No. 25 running back inThe Duel's PPR fantasy football rankings, and is a suitable target for managers waiting to grab an RB2.

Etienne's value obviously takes a hit in standard-scoring leagues, but this is a player that will be on the field a ton for the Jaguars. His upside greatly outweighs his downside, which makes him the perfect player to draft for managers looking to take a risk. That risk may just pay off in the end.

If you've drafted Etienne this year, or you're a Jacksonville fan, make sure to check out the best Jacksonville Jaguars fantasy football team names for your squad.

Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.