Who Should I Start? Travis Etienne Jr. or Jerome Ford

Tuesday, May 27, 2:39 PM

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. was absent from Day 4 of the team's OTA practices, and Jaguars reporter Carlos Sanchez believes "signs are pointing toward" a potential trade for the former first-round pick out of Clemson. After missing his rookie season with a Lisfranc injury, Etienne racked up consecutive 1,000-yard rushing campaigns in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, he saw his production dip, rushing 150 times for 558 yards and two touchdowns in 15 contests. Tank Bigsby began eating into his workload last year, and now, the team has brought in fourth-round and seventh-round rookie running backs, Bhayshul Tuten (Virginia Tech) and LeQuint Allen (Syracuse). There is a new general manager in Jacksonville and a third head coach since the team selected Etienne, so the two sides could be headed toward a split this offseason. If Etienne is dealt, the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, and Denver Broncos could be potential suitors that could increase his fantasy football value.

Friday, May 2, 11:25 PM

Cleveland Browns rookie running back Jerome Ford agreed to a pay cut with the team on Friday, reducing his 2025 salary from $3.486 million to a guaranteed $1.75 million, a league source told The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot. It means that free-agent RB Nick Chubb will likely not be re-signing with the Browns this offseason. The move to reduce Ford's salary comes after the Browns selected former Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins with the 33rd overall pick in last week's NFL draft. Cleveland also added to the RB room and took former Tennessee rusher Dylan Sampson at No. 126 overall. Ford, a fifth-rounder in 2022, led the team with 565 yards on 104 carries (5.4 yards per carry) and three touchdowns with Chubb coming off a serious knee injury in 2023. The 25-year-old Ford is technically still atop the team's RB depth chart, but his reduction in pay is a clear sign that Judkins will have the opportunity to become the RB1 sooner than later in 2025.