What is Travis Etienne's Fantasy Football Value After The James Robinson Trade?

October 26, 2022

Colin Gorini takes a look at Travis Etienne's fantasy football value after RB James Robinson was traded from the Jaguars to the Jets and looks at how the trade affected Jets RB Michael Carter in fantasy.

The New York Jets wasted no time in replacing their star rookie running back Breece Hall. Hall's debut season was stopped in its tracks when he tore his right ACL in the second quarter of Week 7's win over the Denver Broncos. Over 24 hours later, the Jets worked out a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars for running back James Robinson.

James Robinson was acquired by the New York Jets in exchange for a conditional sixth-round pick. The move was executed a day after Robinson failed to touch the ball on a season-low 12 snaps.

The emergence of Travis Etienne empowered Jacksonville to part ways with James Robinson. Etienne has totaled over 100 scrimmage yards in three consecutive weeks and is averaging 6.9 yards per touch this year. James Robinson's trade indicates the trust Jacksonville has in Etienne moving forward. Robinson joins Michael Carter in a Jets backfield that has been targeted 59 times this year, the fourth-most across the league.

How Does James Robinson's Trade Affect Travis Etienne in Fantasy Football?

Week 7 was a glimpse of how valuable Travis Etienne will be without sharing Jacksonville's backfield with James Robinson. Etienne dominated the snap share, playing 80% of the snaps. The former Clemson Tiger amassed 14 carries for 114 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. Etienne managed to reel in one of his five targets from this past Sunday's game.

Travis Etienne is averaging a 15+ yard run once every 9.7 rushes. The second-year running back has looked electric since returning from a Lisfranc injury that forced him to miss his rookie year. Etienne has the sixth-most rushing yards (271) over the past three weeks despite handling just 34 carries.

The most significant impact James Robinson's departure has on Travis Etienne is the increase in red zone usage. Robinson rushed the ball 17 times to Etienne's 12 inside the 20-yard line. Prior to Week 7, Robinson out-touched Etienne 10-2 inside the 10-yard line. Travis Etienne's fantasy value skyrockets with an increased workload and more opportunities to hit paydirt.

How Does James Robinson Impact Michael Carter in Fantasy Football?

Michael Carter was on the field for 73% of the Jets' offensive plays this past week against the Denver Broncos. Carter amassed 74 scrimmage yards from 15 touches (13 rushes and two receptions). The second-year running back from North Carolina has showcased his receiving abilities this year by reeling in 20 of 24 targets.

James Robinson and Michael Carter are both complete backs capable of doing it all from the backfield. Robinson tallied 80 receptions between his first two seasons. Both backs are undersized and not the most athletically gifted. New York predominantly uses two running backs on gameday. As Robinson settles into the offense, their snap share will be split fairly evenly.

The biggest thing to monitor with the Jets backfield is the involvement of third-string running back Ty Johnson. If Johnson mixes into the equation, this entire backfield could be a fantasy nightmare. Another thing to track is the red zone usage of Robinson and Carter. Both have been relevant from close range this year. Robinson has 18 touches to Carter's 15 inside the 20.

Should I Trade For Michael Carter or James Robinson in Fantasy Football?

The Jets' running backs have produced the sixth-most fantasy points among backfields this year. Breece Hall's excellent start to the season misleads the value coming out of the New York backfield. Hall averaged over a fantasy point per opportunity (rush or target), a rare figure for a running back.

Breece Hall's 12.8% target share is up for grabs, however. Given Michael Carter's success through the air this year, Carter is expected to be the receiving back. Michael Carter has been effective with the ball in his hands, averaging 7.6 Y/Rec. James Robinson's 219-pound frame suggests he will be utilized more frequently between the tackles.

Michael Carter is a more appealing fantasy option than James Robinson, assuming he handles the aerial work. Do not be overly excited about James Robinson's fantasy value after this move. Both running backs will have a diluted workload and struggle to be anything more than a flex. Do not overpay for either Jets running back.

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