Jaguars beat writer John Shipley believes new RB Chris Rodriguez will lead the team in carries in 2025. He also thinks the workload could be close to even with second-year RB Bhayshul Tuten. The Jaguars were rumored to be interested in moving up for a RB ahead of the NFL Draft, but they drafted none and added only UDFA J’Mari Taylor to the room. For now, Rodriguez, Tuten, and LeQuint Allen appear set to make up the active gameday roster at the position.

The Jaguars signed Virginia RB J’Mari Taylor after he went undrafted. It took four seasons at North Carolina Central for Taylor to seize a lead role, but he delivered once he got there. His 2024 campaign produced 1,146 yards and 15 TDs on 196 attempts, including 700 yards after contact, per Pro Football Focus. That blend of power and persistence translated well after his transfer to Virginia. In a zone-heavy system, Taylor topped 1,000 rushing yards again, despite just 4.8 yards per carry. That included three 100-yard efforts across his final five games. Add in 43 receptions, and the resume looks solid. Among the 20 RBs invited to the NFL Combine, Taylor ranked ninth in 2025 rushing market share (44.1%), and 10th in yards after contact per attempt (3.39). He ranked sixth in 2025 missed tackles forced per attempt (0.25) and 10th in receiving yards per route run (0.91). He is currently 24 years old.

Jacksonville's signing of RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. in free agency has generated debate on whether he or second-year RB Bhayshul Tuten would prove to be the better 2026 fantasy football value. But HC Liam Coen says Tuten isn't the only 2025 rookie RB who should expect to see more work this coming season. Seventh-round pick LeQuint Allen also impressed his coaches with his passing-down work last season and remains part of the backfield plan.

The Jaguars have agreed to a two-year deal with RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. NFL Network reports that it's worth $10 million total, with $6.2 million of that guaranteed and a max value of $12 million.

Jaguars RB Bhayshul Tuten is set for surgery to repair a finger injury suffered in the Week 15 win over the Jets, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports. "He’ll miss a few weeks but should be back for the playoffs," Garafolo adds. The rookie seems safe to drop during waiver runs this week. Tuten's absence should leave RB Travis Etienne in a workhorse role the rest of the way. LeQuint Allen will be the No. 2 RB, but he's totaled just 18 carries and 11 targets all season. Allen is worth stashing in deeper fantasy leagues in case Etienne gets hurt in this weekend's game vs. the Broncos.

Jaguars RB Travis Etienne lit up the score board going 3-73-3 through the air on 4 targets while struggling on the ground going 12-32-0. This comes with QB Trevor Lawrence throwing 5 TDs (and running for one more). Lawrence and Etienne led the Jaguars to 48 total points against the Jets as they continue fighting to win the AFC South.

The Jaguars scored all three of their TDs on the ground in Sunday's win over the Raiders, but lead RB Travis Etienne got none of them. QB Trevor Lawrence scored from 7 yards out early in the fourth quarter and then again from a yard out in OT. RB Bhayshul Tuten scored the other rushing TD from a yard out, also in the fourth quarter. And that score came in a particularly bothersome spot. Etienne sound up with 84 rushing yards on 22 carries and a nice 5-31 receiving line on five targets.

Jaguars RB Travis Etienne Jr. ran for a season-low 27 yards in Sunday's loss to the Seahawks. He averaged just 2.3 yards across 12 carries but did help his PPR line with 4 receptions for 28 yards among five targets. This marked Etienne's second straight week with just 12 carries and setting a season-low in rushing yardage. That would be more worrisome if not for a couple of key factors.

The Jaguars are trading RB Tank Bigsby to the Eagles. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Philly's sending fifth- and sixth-round picks in the 2026 draft to Jacksonville.

No matter how you look at it, Travis Etienne dominated the Week 1 Jacksonville backfield. The rushing numbers are obvious. He racked up a 16-143 rushing line. A 71-yard second-quarter run delivered a big boost; but even without that, his other 15 rushes averaged 4.8 yards. Etienne also played 40 of 66 offensive snaps (60.6%) vs. just 14 for Tank Bigsby, nine for LeQuint Allen, and four for Bhayshul Tuten. Etienne's 15 pass routes also accounted for more than half of the backfield's total. Bigsby and Allen combined for the other 13.

John Shipley of Sports Illustrated believes the Jaguars will look to move either RB Travis Etienne or Tank Bigsby.

Jacksonville's backfield will be one of the most interesting to watch through summer. SI.com Jaguars beat writer weighed in (mildly) this week by positing, "My guess is Travis Etienne is the lead running back." That came as part of a full 53-man roster projection, and he followed that with "but all four get some run at some point." The other three: Tank Bigsby, fourth-round rookie Bhayshul Tuten, and seventh-round rookie LeQuint Allen. The standing seems particularly noteworthy for Etienne because he's been a subject of recent trade rumors.

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Syracuse RB LeQuint Allen with the 236th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Allen is one of the best receiving backs in the 2025 class, notching 103 receptions for 731 yards and five TDs over the past two seasons. He also has two straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons as Syracuse’s primary RB. Allen’s track background equips him with solid speed and change of direction ability to be a rotational back in the NFL. His power and forced missed tackle metrics are underwhelming, though. Among 82 RBs with 150+ carries, Allen ranked 72nd in yards after contact per attempt and 72nd in Pro Football Focus Elusive Rating. There’s also plenty of improvement needed as a pass blocker. Allen is at least on the young side for a rookie, turning just 21 in August.