Travis Etienne out for season - James Robinson fantasy stock rises

Jacksonville Jaguars first-round rookie running back Travis Etienne suffered a Lisfranc injury during Monday’s preseason game against the New Orleans Saints, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. There will be further exams Tuesday to determine the length of his absence.

Etienne, the 25th overall pick in this year’s draft, has been competing with 2020 rookie James Robinson and free agent signing Carlos Hyde for the primary role out of the Jacksonville backfield.

James Robinson to see a boost in fantasy football?

Fantasy impact: Obviously we’ll need to see what the further testing reveals, but you have to table any super-high aspirations for Etienne for the time being. Lisfranc injuries have a wide range of potential outcomes and recovery times, depending on the stability of the foot. But at the least, Robinson — last year’s UDFA who totaled 1,414 scrimmage yards and finished as the PPR RB7 — is in line for a lot of work early in the year until Etienne is back to 100%.

Expect to see Etienne’s fantasy football ADP fall a fair amount in the next few days (with just how much it falls depending on the testing) while Robinson rises. Robinson will probably end up being drafted as a low-end RB2 after this news, and Etienne will fall to the back of the flexes. If the injury is severe and Etienne has to miss an extended period (potentially as much as the whole season), Robinson could be a fantasy bargain in 2021.

Travis Etienne Out for Season – James Robinson Fantasy Value Rises

Tuesday afternoon update: Further testing on Etienne’s injury Tuesday afternoon confirmed it was a Lisfranc injury, one that will likely cost him most if not all of his rookie season. It’s a brutal blow for the Jaguars, Etienne and his fantasy managers, but those who got Robinson in the middle rounds of drafts so far this preseason suddenly have a great value. Robinson’s going to rocket up ADP and will probably settle in as a mid-/high-level RB2. Hyde is going to be involved in this offense to be sure, but Robinson is much more intriguing today than he was yesterday. — Daniel Kelley