Many NFL draft experts were puzzled why the Jacksonville Jaguars took Clemson running back Travis Etienne with the No. 25 overall pick this year when the Jags already had a good young back in James Robinson and a huge need on the offensive line. Etienne, who was a spectacular college player, had been listed +2200 at Caesars Sportsbook to win 2021 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, but anyone who wagered that prop already has lost as he likely will miss the season with a foot injury.
Etienne suffered a Lisfranc injury in his foot – being called a tear -- during Monday night's preseason loss at New Orleans and will require surgery that probably will cost him all of 2021. Etienne caught one pass for 3 yards and carried the ball once for 1 yard prior to the injury.
New Jags coach Urban Meyer had said he planned to Etienne at receiver in addition to running back, similar to the way Meyer used Percy Harvin at Florida. Etienne, the ACC's all-time leading rusher and a two-time ACC Player of the Year, had been given season Over/Under totals of 625.5 rushing yards, 4.0 rushing touchdowns and 44.5 receptions. While anyone who bet on Etienne to win Offensive Rookie of the Year loses that wager, all bets on his individual totals are void because the injury happened before the regular season.
This is a huge boost to Robinson's Fantasy status in 2021. The 2020 undrafted free agent out of Illinois State probably helped win many leagues last year as his 1,414 scrimmage yards were the most by an undrafted rookie in NFL history while his 1,070 rushing yards ranked second all-time among that group. Robinson was the fourth undrafted rookie, and the fastest ever, to reach 1,000 rushing yards in league history. He also finished with 10 total touchdowns (seven rushing, three receiving) in 14 games.
Robinson had been set at Over/Under 670.5 rushing yards and 4.0 rushing TDs this season, but needless to say those props have been taken off the board and will be changing dramatically with the Etienne news. Jacksonville did sign veteran Carlos Hyde as a backup this offseason.
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