Fantasy Football 2021: 3 Rookie breakouts, 3 busts

1) Travis Etienne RB/Jacksonville Jaguars ADP 11.03

So, with the rookie guys, I have to say that to call them busts feels harsh, but with these next three players they just aren’t going to deliver the goods that I think most fantasy football owners are hoping for, and we start with Travis Etienne.

I have one big concern regarding his production, and I will use this term a lot going forward, committee language.  “Committee Language” is when the head coach or OC comes out with a statement that instantly sounds, or implies, that the player is not going to be a workhorse.

As fantasy football players know, bell cow backs are worth their weight in gold. Travis Etienne is already being marred in a swamp of committee language. Urban Meyer is having him work as a receiver because he wants him on the field a lot.

Well, that sounds really nice, except that means less opportunity to push James Robinson out of the starting running back position.  I love him getting reps, but if I am drafting him as a running back, I need him getting handed the ball by Trevor Lawrence.  I love what this guy did at Clemson, but pass-catching wasn’t what wowed us. He was fine, but not other-worldly in terms of his receiving skills.

I just don’t know if he can sustain meaningful production with this hybrid role.  Draft him for the upside, but if you went zero RB and end up with Etienne as anything other than a bench stash, be afraid…be very afraid.