Quinshon Judkins
vs Travis Etienne

““ Quinshon Judkins had a surprisingly solid performance last Thursday night against the Steelers, but I still don’t buy it. The Browns are winning, yet Judkins is still having a tough time getting going. The second-year back is averaging an abysmal 3.0 yards per carry this season and hasn’t topped 70 rushing yards in a game yet.”

“Judkins is averaging 0.64 yards before contact per rush, 33rd on that same list. He has been targeted on 24.3% of his routes (RB15) but has still run a route on only 35.6% of dropbacks (RB26), sharing passing duties with Raheim Sanders . Pittsburgh is 24th in expected points allowed per game to running backs , coming off allowing 69 total yards on 15 touches to Chase Brown on Sunday.”

“Judkins has a 68.3% snap rate with 53.3% of the rushing attempts, a 38.5% route share, and a 13.5% target share. He has handled all three of the Browns’ red zone rushing attempts this season. Unfortunately, he has been woefully inefficient with his workload, with zero explosive runs, 1.42 yards after contact per attempt, and an 8% missed tackle rate.”

“Quinshon Judkins is the Ballers consensus RB22 and can be benched if you have better options.”

“Quinshon Judkins has had 12 carries in each of his first two games and hasn’t had a run of 10 or more yards. He’s averaging 2.3 yards per carry behind a rebuilt Browns offensive line that ranks dead last in the run-blocking metric adjusted line yards. But Judkins gets a favorable home matchup against a Panthers defense that has given up the most rushing yards to RBs.”

“Quinshon Judkins is the RB33 in fantasy points per game, averaging 15.5 touches and 49 total yards per game.”

“Judkins is averaging 2.25 YPC on 24 carries (54 total yards), but he did have five receptions this week with Dylan Sampson out of the lineup. That may be enough to convince another owner that he is a true workhorse back and worthy of an RB2 trade. Maybe an opportunistic Chuba Hubbard owner would consider swapping for Judkins, knowing that the Browns are fully committed to him as their RB1?”

“Etienne has posted a respectable 11.8% explosive run rate and 18% missed tackle rate. Etienne could be an RB2 with a bad matchup this week, but he’s best viewed as a risky flex at this point until his usage improves. The Raiders have allowed the tenth-lowest explosive run rate, the seventh-lowest rushing success rate, and the fourth-lowest missed tackle rate.”

“Kamara is clearly the more involved receiver (6 targets to Etienne’s 2); Etienne is the marginally more efficient runner (3.1 vs. 1.7 YPC). First-half usage: Kamara handled the bulk of it — 5 carries for 10 yards across Q1-Q2 (all of Q2’s carries were his) vs. just 2 carries for 9 yards for Etienne (both in Q1, on the opening drive).”

“As long as this offense funnels heavily through Chris Olave , Etienne looks like a completely non-useful fantasy asset who is utterly dependent on TD efficiency to crack your starting lineup. Conclusion: Sell Travis Etienne Jr . if you still can. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Cleveland Browns Denzel Boston (93%) It is time to officially sound the breakout alarm for rookie second-rounder Denzel Boston .”

“I noted on the Friday DFS Pod that I thought Travis Etienne was a really interesting leverage play as he was essentially the only Saints player not getting steamed up this week. Once Alvin Kamara was ruled out (Knee), I thought Etienne became an even better play given that we could project a bump in his pass catching role. Again, the result didn’t go my way here with Shough passing stacks getting that insane come-from-behind pass volume, but I was really happy with my ownership read, getting him at just 12% in this contest.”

“It’s easily Travis Etienne for me, and I’m struggling to understand why we’re still getting him at RB17. Etienne was the RB6 in points per game in 2023 and RB12 last season, and his career 13.2 PPG is essentially identical to Kenneth Walker ‘s 13.3.”

“” – Adam Dove ( The Fantasy Couriers ) Travis Etienne Jr. (RB – NO) “ Travis Etienne is sitting around RB18 in Half-PPR ECR after finishing as the RB13 in points per game last season and putting up 1,399 total yards.”

“He signed a massive deal with the Saints this offseason after rushing 260 times for 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns last season, while also catching 36 passes for 292 yards and six more scores. Etienne will get plenty of action in the passing game and will be the team’s undisputed No. 1 RB.”

“Travis Etienne Jr. bounced back in a big way last season, amassing 1,100 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns for the Jaguars. He's headed into arguably an even better situation in New Orleans, at least in terms of backfield competition. Etienne posted an RB10 overall finish in 2025 with a 65.1% snap share. If that climbs up closer to the 75% range in New Orleans (which feels realistic given the depth chart), I don't see why he can't hit 1,500 rushing yards.”

“The Saints signed Travis Etienne to headline their backfield, but among 43 running backs with at least 150 touches last season, Etienne was 27th in yards per carry (4.3) and 33rd in percentage of rushes that went for zero or negative yards.”

“Etienne is too good a talent for the Saints to put him in a legitimate time share of any kind. Kellen Moore's offense has been capable of producing big fantasy numbers for running backs as well.”

“Travis Etienne is a free agent in 2026 (signed with the New Orleans Saints). They did draft two RBs in last year's draft, likely knowing they could lose ETN on the open market.”