Travis Etienne Jr. Shines Early with Two Touchdowns as Jaguars Take on Saints

Travis Etienne Jr. made his mark in the game against the New Orleans Saints, scoring two touchdowns for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars drove the ball down the field on two of their first three drives, both resulting in a touchdown by Etienne. However, his performance declined for the remaining duration of the game.

In other news, Alvin Kamara maintained his status as a PPR king, reaching double-digit receptions for the second time this season. No other running back has achieved more than eight receptions in a single game.

The game took an unexpected turn for Calvin Ridley, the Jaguars’ top outside receiving option, as he was held to just one reception. This disappointing outcome may not be indicative of his future performance.

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Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New Orleans Saints

Travis Etienne Jr.:

• 14 carries, 53 yards, 2 touchdowns
• 3 receptions, 24 receiving yards

Alvin Kamara:

• 17 carries, 62 yards
• 12 receptions, 91 receiving yards

Jamaal Williams returns to New Orleans:

The Saints running back, Jamaal Williams, made his return after spending the last four weeks on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury. Williams had previously served as the clear starter in Weeks 1 and 2 while Alvin Kamara was serving his suspension. This was the first game where Kamara and Williams played together, and the Saints utilized them interchangeably. Kamara played a few snaps, and Williams joined for a play or two. Williams played a significant role in short-yardage situations and passing plays. Kamara’s fantasy production remained strong due to his high target share, but any regression in his target rate could impact his value. Kamara currently leads all running backs in receptions this season, with a total of 35, despite missing the first three weeks.

Third-round rookie Kendre Miller has been demoted to RB3 on the depth chart. He had limited playing time and no opportunities with the football in this game. He can be safely dropped in shallower leagues.

Calvin Ridley’s Disappointing Performance:

Calvin Ridley played the same amount of time as he has throughout the season, but he was not a priority in the passing game until late in the fourth quarter. This may have been part of the Jaguars’ game plan, considering quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s knee injury. Lawrence’s average depth of target was lower than usual, and his time to throw was below average. Ridley had the highest average depth of target among active Jaguars players, but he received limited targets until the game was tied late in the fourth quarter. The Jaguars’ offensive strategy, along with Lawrence’s injury, likely impacted Ridley’s low target share. Marshon Lattimore, the Saints cornerback, did not shadow Ridley during the game. However, Ridley should be considered a buy-low candidate as he has the potential to rebound in future games.

Miscellaneous Notes:

• Derek Carr played through an injury in the final minutes of the game, which should be monitored for next week.
• Zay Jones missed his fourth game in five weeks due to a knee injury. Christian Kirk and Jamal Agnew took his place in different personnel formations.
• Brenton Strange out-snapped Luke Farrell for the first time last week, but Farrell regained his position this week.
• Juwan Johnson was absent for the fourth consecutive game due to a calf injury.
• Foster Moreau had increased involvement, while Taysom Hill’s playing time decreased compared to the previous week.
• Evan Engram and Michael Thomas were the only two players with 30-plus receptions but no touchdowns. Thomas ended the streak by scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Table Notes:

• Snaps include plays called back due to penalties, such as offensive holding or defensive pass interference.
• Targets may differ from official NFL sources, as plays where the ball is thrown away may not be counted as targets in this data.
• Carries only include designed plays, excluding quarterback scrambles.

Reference