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Ever since Tank Bigsby was drafted with the 25th pick in the third round by the Jacksonville Jaguars, questions have emerged about his role in this emerging offense. At Auburn in 2022, Bigsby was a do-it-all back with 179 rush attempts, 30 receptions, and 10 total touchdowns. In Jacksonville, however, he faces tough competition with incumbent Travis Etienne.
Reports out of Jacksonville's training camp have all have been rave reviews for the rookie and that he is making a serious case for a large role in the Jaguars' offense. His usage in their preseason games also tells the same story. Should we be drafting Tank Bigsby on our fantasy teams and what kind of role should we expect early in the season?
Today we look at the hype around Bigsby and where it makes sense to draft him right now.
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Tank Bigsby Was Featured in Jacksonville's Latest Preseason Game
In the Jacksonville Jaguars' second preseason game against the Detroit Lions, all of the projected backups and roster bubbles players took the field while the offensive starters rested. This allowed an interesting trend to emerge. Tank Bigsby became the featured piece of the offense in a game the Jaguars won easily, 25-7. Bigsby handled 14 opportunities (13 carries plus one target), while no other position player saw more than eight.
Tank Bigsby
13 rushes
70 yards
5.4 Yards Per Carry pic.twitter.com/UM9zx1nYYE
— Jamal St. Cyr (@JStCyrTV) August 19, 2023
Unlike in the first preseason game, Bigsby did not score a touchdown against the Lions, but he did look like he is ready for a big role in his rookie season. He broke several big runs including a tough 17-yard scamper on his way to 70 rushing yards on 13 attempts.
Combine this performance with the nine-carry, 52-yard output from the first game against Dallas, and Bigsby has proven all the glowing camp reports to be right.
Should You Draft Tank Bigsby at His ADP?
The Rotoballer staff rankings for 12-team PPR leagues slot Tank Bigsby at 51st among all running backs for 2023. This aligns with the consensus industry ranks which have Bigsby at RB50 ahead of the last week of the preseason. Considering the increased confidence his coaches and teammates are showing him on the practice field and in these exhibition games, he should start to move up draft boards.
Re: Tank Bigsby
“it's LIKELY his role will expand as the season progresses.”https://t.co/7PEsO45l9J
— Derek Brown (aka Ugly John Daigle) (@DBro_FFB) August 20, 2023
Looking at the running backs taken directly ahead of him, give me Tank Bigsby all day long over players with less defined roles like D'Onta Foreman, Devin Singletary, and Elijah Mitchell. Travis Etienne isn't going anywhere and might be the featured rusher on this Jaguars team in 2023.
However, Bigsby is being put to the test throughout camp as Jacksonville prepares to deploy him in a variety of ways during the regular season. I will be drafting him ahead of RB50 for the rest of preseason.
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