Will Travis Etienne be Traded? Top Landing Spots and Fantasy Football Player Outlook

May 29, 2025

John breaks down the latest in Travis Etienne Jr. trade rumors, top team destinations, fantasy football outlook, and impact on other Jacksonville Jaguars players in a potential trade.

It doesn't take long for things to change drastically in the NFL. Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. rushed for 1,125 yards and five touchdowns in 2022, following that with a 1,008-yard, 11 rush TD season, adding 478 receiving yards and a receiving score to those totals.

But the cracks were already showing -- he averaged just 3.8 yards per carry in 2023, and followed that up with an absolutely dreadful 2024. Last season, Etienne rushed for just 558 yards and two scores in 15 games. He added just 254 receiving yards, failing to eclipse 1,000 scrimmage yards on the year.

Now, a new coaching staff is in Jacksonville. And in their first draft, despite already having Etienne and RB Tank Bigsby on the roster, the Jags drafted both RBs Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen. These have obviously fueled trade rumors for ETN, so let's break down these and his top landing spots, and more!

Travis Etienne Jr. Trade Rumors

While the draft certainly got the ball rolling regarding trade rumors, a more recent development has added further fuel to that fire. Etienne didn't attend the team's OTAs (organized team activities) on Day 4, which fueled plenty of speculation that he'd be out the door soon.

However, Jaguars head coach Liam Coen was quick to attempt to quell these rumors. Apparently, ETN had an issue with his flight and thus wasn't able to make it. This is entirely plausible, of course.

Liam Coen says Travis Etienne had a flight issue, thus the absence at today’s voluntary OTAs#Jaguars | #DUUUVAL

— Mia O'Brien (@MiaOBrienTV) May 27, 2025

Still, the major drivers of the likelihood of him getting traded boil down to how many backs there are on the roster. At least Bigsby showed flashes last season. ETN did not. And Bigsby was drafted a year later. He also created a few huge explosive plays in 2024.

Tank Bigsby pic.twitter.com/a5bCdvpGWD

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) March 25, 2025

Travis Etienne Jr. Current Situation

The coaching upgrade would have been absolutely massive for Etienne to get his career back on track. Liam Coen operated one of the league's best rushing offenses (from a backfield perspective) in 2024, turning RB Bucky Irving into a league winner and helping Rachaad White, who's awful, somehow remain relevant.

Coen's run-blocking schemes are nothing short of elite, and Irving's highlight reel is full of beautifully blocked plays. The problem is that Coen made it a priority to draft both Tuten and Allen. There isn't enough room in that backfield for all four backs right now. And Coen likely got "his guys" to some degree.

Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen combined the last 2 seasons:

829 carries (356BT/473LA)
4,107 rush yards (2,022BT/2,085LA)
50 rush TD (25 each)
4.95 YPC

152 receptions (50BT/102LA)
1,051 rec yards (320BT/731LA)
9 rec TD (4BT/5LA)

A highly productive pair! #Jaguars pic.twitter.com/Hbx0erFPe2

— Jaguars Now (@JaguarsNow95) May 6, 2025

They also signed undrafted free agent Ja'Quinden Jackson, and still have a fifth-round pick, Keilan Robinson, from last year's draft. Teams simply don't go into the season with six backs on their roster. It's not insane to think they could cut Jackson and Robinson, though.

But the Jags spent a fourth-round pick on Tuten this season. It's likely he at least gets a shot. I'm bullish on him and think he will be the starter before long, but a three-way committee between Etienne, Bigsby, and Tuten would be terrible for ETN's fantasy prospects. And it looks like an optimistic scenario.

Travis Etienne Jr. Top Landing Spots

Unfortunately for every mediocre-performing RB in the league right now, the 2025 NFL Draft class featured an absolutely stacked group of backs. The list of RBs that could have a big impact in their backfields is simply too long to list.

The Houston Texans have a need for a solid pass-catching running back, though. ETN, thus far, has appeared to be better in this area than Texans RB Joe Mixon, who is more of a pure runner. Perhaps Etienne would fit well catching passes from quarterback C.J. Stroud and working on passing downs in a committee with Mixon.

There were legitimately concerns on this app that "Travis Etienne can't catch." 💀pic.twitter.com/SIfgjQnUWs

— Ahaan Rungta (@AhaanRungta) October 29, 2023

The Tennessee Titans could also benefit from having him in this role. Their "pass-catching" RB, Tyjae Spears, disappointed again last season, and even aside from his injury, didn't get much work at all. Spears ceded the vast majority of touches to RB Tony Pollard.

Pollard struggled through injuries for much of last season, so ETN could help take the load off his shoulders. I'm not sure I expect him to ever have a workhorse role again, so a place where he can secure the RB2 role, and potentially fight to be the RB1B at least, is the most reasonable way for a good outcome for him.

Travis Etienne Jr. Trade Impact On Other Jaguars Players

Honestly, I'm not sure it makes a huge difference for anyone except whoever ends up being the RB3 in the new regime. Maybe that's Allen, but who knows? Bigbsy is clearly the most intriguing of the RBs that remain there, and Tuten of the rookies they drafted.

I imagine that Tuten and Bigsby will be the primary RBs for the team moving forward. I don't think there's any way Coen could help himself from giving Tuten a big role. Tuten is so unbelievably, stupidly fast, that Coen knows if he can scheme his run-blocking well, and he can, the rookie could rip off massive plays.

One thing I really like to do is pause Bhayshul Tuten plays when they're over and the defense has no chance of catching him. Here it happens when he's 4 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Lmao pic.twitter.com/JywAULuwIB

— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) March 28, 2025

There's a lot of dialogue surrounding Tuten. He does have fumbling issues, sure. But he's by far the fastest and most explosive RB on the roster. When an RB is the most explosive player on a college team's offense, and is even good enough to return kickoffs for long touchdowns, you should pay attention.

Nothing to see here, just Bhayshul Tuten and Jahmyr Gibbs having the vision and explosiveness to return kickoffs 98-99 yards for touchdowns in college. The list of running backs who are 200+ pounds and can do this is very small pic.twitter.com/75huBVrG6T

— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) March 28, 2025

It's a bit harder to ascertain what Bigsby's role will be, though his ability to break tackles and gain yards after contact last season was impressive. He faltered after a few games of good production, and his fumbling was also an issue, though. And he wasn't impressive as a pass-catcher.

I'm intrigued by Allen's possible role, though it probably won't be fantasy-relevant. Allen was an elite pass-blocking prospect at the RB position -- regarded as the best -- and that will come in handy for an offensive line that's struggled to protect the QB in recent years. Tuten is a fine pass-protector, but not to Allen's level.

LeQuint Allen LOVES to block.

He took 144 snaps in pass pro (the most of any 2025 Draft RB) and allowed just 1 pressure and 0 sacks. He won’t blow you away with big hits but he’s hyperaware, proactive, and aggressive.

The best pass protecting RB in the draft, easily. pic.twitter.com/Ut7qomxo2b

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) February 3, 2025

Etienne being gone, and thus probably not taking as many passing downs, would give Allen a nice opportunity to see the field on those plays. And he's not a bad pass-catcher, so he could become a decent check-down option, though only relevant in very deep leagues.

It seems like Bigsby would be pretty well suited for short-yardage and goal-line carries, but Tuten is very capable there, too. The size difference comes into play, as Bigsby is a few pounds heavier than Tuten. I wouldn't be surprised if the rookie, or even Allen, took those carries, though.

He has elite elusiveness and good receiving upside as well pic.twitter.com/le75rsTtZ9

— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) March 25, 2025

Receiving upside for backs is often misconstrued. Because they're mostly fed short-depth targets, what a back can do with the ball in his hands is more important. And Tuten's blazing speed and ability to turn upfield quickly, as well as elite curvilinear acceleration, make him a massive weapon.

He'd benefit the most from an Etienne departure, and Tuten is the Jaguars RB you should target in all leagues for 2025.

LIKE ROTOBALLER?

CLICK HERE, ENTER ROTOBALLER.COM, THEN CHECK THE BOX

More Fantasy Football Analysis