RADIO
Jaguars Feel Bhayshul Tuten Can be a Complete No. 1 Running Back
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten is being viewed as a complete running back, according to Mike Garafolo. It sounds like the Jaguars have a lot of faith in Tuten to step up and be the lead back this upcoming season. Tuten showed some flashes this past season, but will now get a real chance to show what he can do with Travis Etienne Jr. departing this offseason. Tuten has been working hard to improve as a pass-catching back during training camp. It sounds like Tuten could become a legit dual-threat back for the Jags this upcoming season. The expectation is that Chris Rodriguez Jr. will remain in the mix, but Tuten will be leaned on more than this past season.
Source: NFL Network
Source: NFL Network
LeQuint Allen Jr. Likely a Game-Time Decision for Week 1
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said on Wednesday that he will be "pleasantly surprised" if running back LeQuint Allen Jr. (undisclosed) plays in the Week 1 regular-season opener, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN. Allen will likely be a game-day decision for Sunday, Sept. 13, versus the Cleveland Browns. The 22-year-old has been dealing with an undisclosed soft-tissue injury and might need more time to recover. If Allen is unavailable to kick off the season, both Bhayshul Tuten (illness) and Chris Rodriguez Jr. will have higher fantasy ceilings against Cleveland. Rodriguez, in particular, will be a sneaky starting fantasy option in point-per-reception leagues as an RB3/flex, as he has looked like the better pass-catching option this summer over Tuten. When healthy, Allen figures to be Coen's preferred third-down back after he caught 10 of 11 targets for 54 yards in 17 regular-season games in 2025 as a rookie. He also had just 23 carries for 94 yards on the ground behind Tuten and Travis Etienne Jr.
Source: ESPN.com - Michael DiRocco
Source: ESPN.com - Michael DiRocco
Bhayshul Tuten Sent Home Sick
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten was sent home from practice Wednesday because of an illness, according to Ryan O'Halloran. There is no indication right now that Tuten is dealing with anything beyond being sick. The second-year back is coming off a rookie season in which he ran 83 times for 307 yards and five touchdowns while adding 10 catches for 79 yards and two more scores. Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. were listed as co-starters throughout the preseason, and Jacksonville's post-cutdown roster breakdown still projects both at the top of the backfield. The Jaguars open Sept. 13 against Cleveland, so there is plenty of time before game week. For now, this looks like a simple illness absence, with his next practice status the thing to watch.
Source: Ryan O'Halloran
Source: Ryan O'Halloran
Bhayshul Tuten Offers Intriguing Upside
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten will get a chance to be the full-time lead back this upcoming season. The 23-year-old will get an opportunity to show that he can be the cornerstone option in the backfield. Recent reports have been saying that Tuten is being more active as a pass-catcher lately. A legit dual-threat back is a rarity in football, and fantasy managers shouldn't pass up an opportunity to possibly land one. The Jags have Chris Rodriguez Jr. and LeQuint Allen Jr. as backup options, but neither player has shown the same upside as Tuten. He's ranked as the No. 25 running back in Rotoballer's rankings and has a great chance to rise quickly.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
LeQuint Allen Jr. Worth Stashing in Dynasty Leagues
Jacksonville Jaguars running back LeQuint Allen Jr. (undisclosed) may be third on the depth chart, but between his age and track record, he's someone worth stashing on the bench in dynasty fantasy football leagues. Allen saw limited involvement as a rookie last year, totaling 94 rushing yards and 54 receiving yards. He faces a complicated path to meaningful playing time again in 2026, but the good news is that Travis Etienne Jr. departed in free agency, making it somewhat easier for Allen to make a positive impression. Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. project as the Jags' top two backs, but neither player has a super strong track record in Jacksonville, so we could see the team look to get Allen more involved if either (or both) of those top two ball-carriers struggle. Allen represents the youth of this backfield, and although he's the RB91 in RotoBaller's redraft rankings, he has higher upside in dynasty formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Sees Key Pass-Protection Reps Over Teammate
Sports Illustrated's John Shipley points out that Jacksonville Jaguars running backs Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Bhayshul Tuten got seemingly equal reps throughout the entire training camp practice on Wednesday, but when the team went to their end-of-game drill in the final portion of practice, it was Rodriguez "who got the nod at RB." It mostly meant pass protection for quarterback Trevor Lawrence, although the Jags did throw a screen to Rodriguez earlier on the drive. It is important to note that pass-catching back LeQuint Allen Jr. (undisclosed) is out with a soft-tissue injury and will miss the rest of camp. Without Allen, there is a clear void when it comes to the passing-down depth chart. Shipley recently stated that he thinks C-Rod is the team's best pass-protecting RB with Allen injured, which means his fantasy stock could receive a significant early-season boost if Allen is not ready to handle his normal pass-blocking and third-down role. The 25-year-old Rodriguez has been lauded this summer for his power running as well, and his previous experience with head coach Liam Coen in college at Kentucky could eventually give him the upper hand over Tuten in 2026, despite Tuten's obvious explosive tendencies and home run ability at the position.
Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley
Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley
Bhayshul Tuten Showing Big-Play Upside
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten continues to display big-play upside at training camp and got outside and loose for a touchdown in practice on Tuesday after taking a handoff from quarterback Trevor Lawrence in 11-on-11 team drills, according to Jamal St. Cyr of WJXT4 Sports. The 23-year-old has reportedly been catching more passes out of the backfield lately after LeQuint Allen Jr. (undisclosed) recently suffered an undisclosed injury, although Chris Rodriguez Jr. could be the team's second-best pass-catching option behind Allen. Tuten is the highest-ranked fantasy RB at RotoBaller (No. 26) because of his home run ability anytime he touches the football. The former fourth-rounder from Virginia Tech only had 83 carries for 307 yards (3.7 yards per carry) and five rushing touchdowns as a rookie in 2025, adding 10 catches for 79 yards and two more TDs in 15 regular-season games. The presence of Rodriguez and Allen will hurt Tuten's overall fantasy upside, but he is still the best overall upside option in the Jags' backfield.
Source: WJXT4 Sports - Jamal St. Cyr
Source: WJXT4 Sports - Jamal St. Cyr
Trevor Lawrence Looking to Replicate Rushing Success from 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was the overall QB4 in fantasy football leagues last year. He achieved this personal-best mark thanks to increased productivity on the ground, including a career-high nine rushing touchdowns. It's not a lock that Lawrence will be as successful running the football in 2026, but it's worth noting that the departure of Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency may improve his chances of earning carries around the goal line. Regardless of Lawrence's exact rushing role, we expect him to remain a highly productive passer thanks to the weapons at his disposal. Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington both had breakout campaigns last year, Brian Thomas Jr. is enjoying a great camp and looks like he could return to his rookie form, and Travis Hunter should offer a spark whenever he earns offensive snaps. With these receivers (as well as tight end Brenton Strange) available to him, Lawrence has no excuse not to push for 30 passing touchdowns like he did last year. Perhaps the key this year is cleaning up the turnovers, as Lawrence did have 12 interceptions and three lost fumbles last year. Nevertheless, he remains in the mix as a top-eight quarterback for fantasy football purposes in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Impressing With his Power Running
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. has been impressive as a power runner in training camp, according to John Shipley of Sports Illustrated. However, fellow RB Bhayshul Tuten "has done nothing to diminish the early offseason hype." Tuten might be more explosive overall as a runner, but Rodriguez is going to have a key role in Jacksonville's backfield this year, and Shipley also thinks C-Rod might be the team's best pass-blocking RB outside of LeQuint Allen Jr. The 25-year-old is a full-go despite having offseason foot surgery, and the Jags have listed Rodriguez and Tuten as co-starters going into the 2026 regular season. Rodriguez is more of a bruiser between the tackles, which could earn him valuable goal-line touches in his first year in Duvall. But while sharing snaps and touches with Tuten and Allen, Rodriguez's fantasy value looks to be as a touchdown-dependent RB3/flex. If Allen misses any time this year due to injury, Rodriguez could become Jacksonville's preferred third-down back as well. RotoBaller has C-Rod as the RB39, with Tuten coming in at No. 26.
Source: SI.com - John Shipley
Source: SI.com - John Shipley
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Can Find Weekly Fantasy Relevance
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. quietly put together one of the position's most efficient seasons in his final year with the Commanders, routinely churning through contact to find additional yards over expectation. Reconnecting with his former collegiate offensive coordinator after signing a two-year free agent deal, there is an expectation that Rodriguez can earn a meaningful role near the goal line, as Liam Coen, now the Jaguars' head coach, has witnessed first-hand the difficulty defenders have in bringing him to the ground. Offseason foot surgery caused Rodriguez to miss all of OTAs and minicamp, allowing second-year back Bhayshul Tuten to gain steam in the competition to replace the 307 vacated opportunities of Travis Etienne Jr. from a season ago. Still, both backs could see heavy involvement in 2026, with their complementary skill sets providing each with a path to fantasy relevance. While a true committee will cap both players' ceiling, Rodriguez's touchdown upside still makes him a strong potential value, currently being drafted as the RB47.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Bhayshul Tuten More Involved in Passing Game in Jacksonville
Sports Illustrated's John Shipley wrote that it "felt like" Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten "caught as many passes on Sunday as he has all training camp." The Jaguars were clearly focusing on the passing game, and Tuten "looked good as a receiver out of the backfield." It is important to mention that second-year pass-catching back LeQuint Allen Jr. (undisclosed) is currently missing from action due to an undisclosed soft-tissue injury. It is unclear right now if Allen's injury will jeopardize his availability for the start of the 2026 regular season, but if it does, it would be a plus for Tuten's overall fantasy football upside. The 23-year-old former fourth-rounder last year from Virginia Tech ran for 307 yards and five touchdowns on 83 carries while adding only 10 catches for 79 yards and two more TDs in 15 games in his rookie campaign in 2025. Tuten is the team's highest-upside and most explosive fantasy back, but his overall upside will be limited while sharing early-down and potentially goal-line work with Chris Rodriguez Jr. And when healthy, Allen is expected to be the Jags' primary passing-down back. RotoBaller has Tuten ranked as the No. 25 fantasy RB in 2026.
Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley
Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley
Bhayshul Tuten "Looked Like an Absolute Star" in Joint Practice
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten "looked like an absolute star" in the team's joint practice with the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday, according to John Shipley of Sports Illustrated. A fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Tuten recorded 386 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns on 93 touches across 15 games as a rookie. With former Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. now a member of the New Orleans Saints, Tuten could have a chance to break out as the clear RB1 in Jacksonville in 2026. The Jaguars signed veteran back Chris Rodriguez Jr. in free agency, and the team is currently listing Tuten and Rodriguez Jr. as co-starters. However, it appears as though Tuten could be separating himself with his play in training camp. The 22-year-old profiles as a high-upside running back who could wind up as a steal for fantasy managers at his current redraft ADP of RB25.
Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley
Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley
LeQuint Allen Jr. to Miss the Rest of Training Camp
Jacksonville Jaguars running back LeQuint Allen Jr. (undisclosed) suffered a soft-tissue injury on Monday and will not return for the remainder of training camp, according to Ryan O'Halloran of The Florida Times-Union. One of the best pass-blocking backs in the league as a rookie in 2025, Allen is projected to hold a significant role on passing downs, so any prolonged absence should provide further opportunity for 2026 breakout candidate Bhayshul Tuten to find the field. Allen saw the second-most running back snaps on the team behind Travis Etienne Jr. in 2025, and he has added complication to one of the league's more intriguing training camp battles between Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr., so his status will need to be monitored as the regular season approaches.
Source: Ryan O'Halloran
Source: Ryan O'Halloran
Liam Coen Expects Jaguars RB Committee
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said the running back room will likely be "more of a committee" this season. After their 24-20 preseason victory over the New Orleans Saints, Coen was asked how they would replace 2025 starter Travis Etienne. He replied, "We'll never be able to replace what he was able to do for us." Ultimately, it's their job to take. "We're going to have to be more by committee, and those guys are going to have to play their part." Running backs Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez Jr., and LeQuint Allen are expected to have distinct roles in the offense, with Tuten the favorite to take over the backfield. Fantasy managers should recognize the risk of drafting Tuten, given his low NFL draft capital and lack of production in his rookie season.
Source: Jacksonville Jaguars
Source: Jacksonville Jaguars
J'Mari Taylor Heavily Featured Against Saints
Jacksonville Jaguars undrafted rookie running back J'Mari Taylor was a main contributor in a 24-20 win over the New Orleans Saints in the preseason opener on Saturday. He finished with 22 carries for 78 yards and a touchdown, which ended up as the game-winning score for the Jaguars. He also ran in a two-point conversion. Taylor has lots of competition in the running back room, so it's doubtful he is worth consideration in redraft anytime soon, but this promising performance should draw the eyes of dynasty managers. Veteran DeeJay Dallas was also involved in the rushing attack but had a much less efficient 2.6 yards per carry on 10 carries. The clear top three running backs of Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez Jr., and LeQuint Allen Jr. surely will make the roster, but as of now, it seems Taylor is the favorite if Liam Coen decides to keep four backs on the roster. He is worth taxi consideration in dynasty leagues for now.
Source: J'Mari Taylor
Source: J'Mari Taylor
