Who Should I Start? Travis Etienne Jr. or Jahmyr Gibbs

Sunday, June 15, 1:24 PM

SI.com's John Shipley guesses that Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. opens the year as the team's lead back. However, Shipley also writes that Etienne, Tank Bigsby and rookies Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen will get some run at some point. Under a new coaching staff, many believed that Etienne's stock would continue to fall after another disappointing showing in 2024, when he had career-lows across the board in carries (150), rushing yards (558) and touchdowns (two) while catching 39 of 52 targets for 254 yards through the air in 15 starts. That could still be the case, especially since the former first-rounder now has to fight off a pair of rookies in addition to Bigsby. Etienne has fallen all the way to No. 35 in RotoBaller's preseason rankings for 2025, but he still has a chance to prove himself in a new offense as the RB1.

Thursday, June 5, 12:13 PM

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that running back Jahmyr Gibbs has stood out this spring during voluntary organized team activities. This news really shouldn't surprise anyone. Gibbs, who was taken 12th overall in the 2023 NFL draft, has made the Pro Bowl in each of his two NFL seasons and took a step forward in 2024 with 250 rushing attempts, 1,412 rushing yards and a league-leading 16 rushing touchdowns, adding 52 receptions for the second straight season, 517 receiving yards and four receiving TDs in 17 regular-season games (four starts). Gibbs' increased production had a lot to do with David Montgomery missing time with a knee injury, but even with a healthy Montgomery stealing touches away from Gibbs in Detroit's backfield, the 23-year-old is so explosive and efficient that he'll remain a high-end RB1 in fantasy.