Fantasy Football Rankings 2021: Top rookie running backs
By Drew DeLuca
Fantasy Football Rookie Running Back No. 2: Travis Etienne
Etienne, a two-time Doak Walker Award finalist and two-time ACC Player of the Year, finished his college career as the conference’s all-time leading rusher. With a resumé like that, he’s not sneaking up on anyone in fantasy football circles this season, and will be an early-to-mid first round pick in just about all dynasty and keeper league rookie drafts.
Unlike Hubbard, Etienne managed to stay in the Top Three at this position despite a measurable drop in rushing performance, marked by a significant drop in yards per carry: Etienne managed 5.4 per tote in 2020 after logging 8.1 (2018) and 7.8 (2019) the previous two seasons. However, Etienne showed impressive growth as a receiver, as he turned his biggest weakness into a strength.
After hauling in 49 passes in 30 games in 2018-2019, Etienne caught 48 balls in 12 games, a 64 reception pace over the course of 16 games. Thanks to his contributions in the passing game, Etienne averaged over 125 yards from scrimmage per game this past season, a mere modest drop from the 136.4 yards per game he piled up in 2019.
The fantasy community is hardly in lockstep with Etienne as the second best back in this class. Some analysts have faded Etienne behind both Williams and Gainwell, pointing to Etienne’s mildly disappointing 2020 rushing performance as the reason. Others, like Charlie Campbell of Walter Football, rank the Clemson standout as the top running back in the 2021 draft class.