Bucky Irving Is Back, Travis Etienne Is In Trouble

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Two usage takeaways from the running back position in Week 1, one good and one bad.

The good one is Bucky Irving. He comfortably outworked Kenneth Gainwell in snaps, carries and, most surprisingly, targets, turning 15 combined touches into more than 90 yards and a touchdown. Sean Tucker was inactive, but Irving looked a lot like his 2024 self in an offense that ranked second in both play action rate and pre snap shift or motion. He moves back up as an upside RB2.

The bad one is Travis Etienne. Kendre Miller matched him carry for carry, and while nine targets looks great on paper, it came in a trailing game script with Tyler Shough throwing the ball 50 plus times and Alvin Kamara inactive. Three headed backfield committees are really tough to trust in fantasy, and Etienne is falling down the ranks.

Ian Hartitz breaks down the fantasy football landscape every week.