Travis Etienne and Jaguars RB room pop up in top half of PFF's latest ranking

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a difference maker in Travis Etienne. Even though the offensive line couldn't create holes in the running game, the former Clemson Tiger was able to record his second straight 1,000-yard season last year. With a renewed emphasis on pounding the football, he should have more success in 2024. But how does the rest of the Jags' running back depth chart stack up against the rest of the NFL? Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus thinks it's in the top half.

Sikkema recently ranked all 32 running back rooms and placed Jacksonville's at No. 12, noting that Etienne is a game changer but the depth behind him isn't that great.

"Travis Etienne’s yards per carry average dipped in 2023, but he forced the most missed tackles (64) of any back in the NFL in the regular season and ranked fourth in PFF wins above average (0.17), showcasing valuable talent as a rusher and receiver.

It’s a bit less consistent after him, with D’Ernest Johnson and Tank Bigsby spelling the Clemson product, but Etienne’s talent carries this unit to the top 12."

Tank Bigsby is coming off an underwhelming season. Expected to take some of the workload off Etienne's shoulders, he struggled when he saw the field. Besides averaging less than 3.0 yards per carry, he made mistakes that led to turnovers.

Looking back, offensive coordinator Press Taylor says that maybe the Jags didn't give Bigsby many chances to hit his stride. But despite his struggles, the team's brass believes the former Auburn Tiger can make a leap in 2024.

Johnson, on the other hand, became RB2 late in 2023. While his yard-per-carry average wasn't that great either, he made a handful of plays that moved the chains. The team's brass was pleased enough with his performance that they re-signed him earlier this year.

Going back to Sikkema's ranking, the only AFC South team that had a better spots than the Jags were the Indianapolis Colts at No. 7. The Tennesse Titans got the 15th spot, and the Houston Texans landed at No. 23.

Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby will be pivotal to the Jaguars' success

The Jaguars realized the offensive line was one of the reasons they couldn't establish the run last year. That's why they took steps in the offseason to remedy the issue. With the changes they made, Travis Etienne should find more success running the football. That said, getting Bigsby involved should also increase his productivity.

By splitting the workload (it doesn't have to be 50/50), Etienne can stay fresh and make the most of his carries. That said, Bigsby will need to show that he's ready for a bigger role. If he isn't, the Jags will need to lean on D'Ernest Johnson once again.

The wild card in the room could be rookie Keilan Robinson. At 5'8, he doesn't have the size to carry a robust workload but he's got he's got the speed to break off long runs. The former Texas Longhorn is projected to earn a role on special teams but maybe he could carve a niche on offense.

Overall, the Jaguars have a solid running back room. However, it will be much better if Tank Bigsby lives up to expectations. If he does, the group should rank among the best in the league.

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