Who Should I Start? Travis Etienne Jr. or Zach Charbonnet

Sunday, September 7, 9:09 PM

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. had a monster game in his team's 26-10 Week 1 victory over the Carolina Panthers. Etienne Jr. rushed 16 times for 143 yards and added three catches for 13 yards as well. It wasn't clear coming into the season how Jacksonville would split backfield work between running backs Etienne Jr., Tank Bigsby, Bhayshul Tuten, and LeQuint Allen Jr. However, it was Etienne Jr. who dominated touches in Week 1. His 16 carries were almost double what Jacksonville's other three backs earned combined (nine). Allen Jr. was also the only other Jaguars running back to earn a target, so Etienne Jr. looks like he could be in line for a three-down role. As long as he continues to work in a clear lead role, Etienne Jr. could provide fantasy RB2 production going forward.

Monday, September 8, 3:48 AM

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet hit paydirt early in the second quarter on Sunday to put his team's first points of the 2025 season on the board. Unfortunately for the Seahawks, Charbonnet's touchdown was the only one the team scored in their 17-13 Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. ESPN's Adam Schefter suggested prior to the game that Seattle would lean on Charbonnet more frequently on Sunday than they had in his past two seasons. That was exactly what played out in Week 1, with Charbonnet outsnapping Kenneth Walker III 30 to 21 and taking the lead in carries and rushing yards, with 12 rushes for 47 yards. Walker's injury history makes Charbonnet a top-tier handcuff, but if this new usage continues, Seattle's backfield might be the latest to produce two stand-alone fantasy producers. The Seahawks are on the road against the Steelers in Week 2.