Who Should I Start? Travis Etienne or Najee Harris

Wednesday, February 28, 2:04 PM

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr.'s 325 touches last year were third-most in the NFL for a RB, but head coach Doug Pederson said that Etienne as a workhorse back "is not the recipe" he prefers. Pederson mentioned that D'Ernest Johnson was injured in 2023, and Tank Bigsby was learning as a rookie. The head coach said he'd consider knocking some of Etienne's reps down next season in order to keep him healthy over the course of the year. All in all, the 25-year-old topped 1,000 rushing yards for the second time in his two NFL seasons, and he also improved as a pass-catcher with 58 catches for 476 yards. Etienne will remain the Jaguars' lead back and will be an RB1 target for fantasy managers, but you'll need to keep in mind that if the team has it their way, Etienne's total touches will be managed more.

Thursday, February 29, 6:09 PM

While Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan said that the team thinks "very highly" of running back Najee Harris, he was also non-committal on whether the team will pick up his fifth-year option. Harris' future is thus uncertain despite the fact that he's recorded three straight 1,000-yard seasons while making team history. Harris' fifth-year option, which was set at $6.79 million, must be decided on by May 2. If they pick it up, it would become fully guaranteed for the 2025 season. It would be a surprise if Pittsburgh didn't pick it up, considering they have invested heavily in a ground-and-pound offensive rushing attack and just hired Arthur Smith as their new offensive coordinator. The 25-year-old would figure to have a solid fantasy floor if he sticks with the Steelers, although Jaylen Warren will continue to be a thorn in his upside.