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It's Week 17, and plenty of fantasy managers are wondering who they should start in their running back and FLEX spots for the upcoming pivotal matchups in the second-to-last game of the NFL regular season. A trio of running backs have found their way onto plenty of rosters this season.
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones and Jacksonville Jaguars running backs Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne Jr. are three RBs in the league. Wow, what a profound statement! But you're probably wondering whether you should start any of these guys.
Let's break that down for you with some thoughts on each of these players and their matchups.
Should I Start Aaron Jones for Fantasy Football?
Yes. At this point, we've probably recommended this every week -- you start your good players on good offenses with good roles. Jones had 21 touches last week, and no one is threatening to take his starting role at this point. The production has been very good in recent weeks.
Aaron Jones just made quite a few fantasy managers very, very happy 👀pic.twitter.com/ysFVpmXuII
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) December 17, 2024
It's a revenge game against the Green Bay Packers that's coming up. The Vikings should be able to keep up on offense, meaning Jones won't be scripted out of the game by a lack of run plays. He's still well involved in the passing game, too. Start him.
Should I Start Tank Bigsby for Fantasy Football?
It's not the greatest idea. He has very little upside in PPR leagues from pass-catching, and aside from scoring a touchdown, it will probably be difficult for him to get double-digit PPR fantasy points this week. He only played 28% of the snaps last week, carrying the rock 12 times for 50 yards and a touchdown. He also caught his only target for one yard.
Tank Bigsby (6)
Jacksonville Jaguars
1 yard
pic.twitter.com/ClsfRpMVHG— NFL Touchdown Videos (@NFLTDsVideos) December 22, 2024
But he also fumbled for the fourth time this season, and this one was recovered by the defense. It's likely these issues caused his playing time to be reduced. It's tough to trust Bigsby in Week 16.
Should I Start Travis Etienne Jr. for Fantasy Football?
Etienne at least has a better floor than his backfield mate Bigsby. Etienne played 52% of the Jaguars' offensive snaps in Week 16, rushing nine times for 22 yards and catching two of his three targets for 15 yards. Still, the production was miserable.
Pretty hilarious that Travis Etienne only has 5 more PPR points than Ameer Abdullah on the season
What went wrong with Etienne & the Jaguars this year? pic.twitter.com/UAmuHhu1DF
— Own The League (@OTLFFootball) December 26, 2024
We don't think you should start him, either. He might need at least six or more receptions to make his day worthwhile, and that won't be easy to count on. The backfield carries are split too much for either back to make a consistent impact running the ball.
And Bigsby has been getting the goal-line carries, leaving little left over for Etienne. Bench him as well.
Popular Week 17 Searches - Start/Sit Comparisons
Below are some popular Week 17 searches and comparisons from our Who To Start tool for Aaron Jones, Tank Bigsby, Travis Etienne Jr. compared to others. You can also use the free Who Should I Start tool to run your own start/sit comparisons, up to four players at once:
Joe Mixon or Aaron Jones
Najee Harris or Tank Bigsby
Najee Harris or Travis Etienne Jr.
Isiah Pacheco or Tank Bigsby
Alexander Mattison or Tank Bigsby
Chuba Hubbard or Aaron Jones
Dandre Swift or Tank Bigsby
Tyjae Spears or Tank Bigsby
Ameer Abdullah or Travis Etienne Jr.
Brian Thomasjr or Aaron Jones
James Conner or Aaron Jones
Kendre Miller or Tank Bigsby
Kendre Miller or Travis Etienne Jr.
Breece Hall or Aaron Jones
Gus Edwards or Tank Bigsby
Ladd Mcconkey or Aaron Jones
Tyjae Spears or Travis Etienne Jr.
Tyrone Tracyjr or Travis Etienne Jr.
Ameer Abdullah or Tank Bigsby
Jerome Ford or Travis Etienne Jr.
Travis Etienne Jr. or Tank Bigsby
Alexander Mattison or Travis Etienne Jr.
Dandre Swift or Travis Etienne Jr.
Javonte Williams or Travis Etienne Jr.
Jerome Ford or Aaron Jones
Kareem Hunt or Tank Bigsby
Kenneth Walkeriii or Travis Etienne Jr.
Rico Dowdle or Tank Bigsby
Brian Robinsonjr or Aaron Jones
Dj Moore or Aaron Jones
Gus Edwards or Travis Etienne Jr.
Joe Mixon or Tank Bigsby
Najee Harris or Tank Bigsby
Ceedee Lamb or Aaron Jones
Deandre Hopkins or Tank Bigsby
Isiah Pacheco or Tank Bigsby
Jalen Mcmillan or Aaron Jones
Jaylen Warren or Tank Bigsby
Jaylen Warren or Travis Etienne Jr.
Kareem Hunt or Travis Etienne Jr.
Tony Pollard or Travis Etienne Jr.
Zach Charbonnet or Aaron Jones
Zach Charbonnet or Tank Bigsby
Alvin Kamara or Aaron Jones
Ameer Abdullah or Tank Bigsby
Brian Robinsonjr or Travis Etienne Jr.
Darnell Mooney or Travis Etienne Jr.
George Pickens or Aaron Jones
Isaac Guerendo or Tank Bigsby
Jalen Mcmillan or Tank Bigsby
James Cook or Aaron Jones
Javonte Williams or Tank Bigsby
Jaxon Smithnjigba or Aaron Jones
Joe Mixon or Aaron Jones
Josh Downs or Tank Bigsby
Rachaad White or Tank Bigsby
Rachaad White or Travis Etienne Jr.
Rhamondre Stevenson or Travis Etienne Jr.
Rico Dowdle or Aaron Jones
Tony Pollard or Aaron Jones
Tyrone Tracyjr or Tank Bigsby
Xavier Worthy or Aaron Jones
Adam Thielen or Aaron Jones
Alexander Mattison or Aaron Jones
Alexander Mattison or Tank Bigsby
Alexander Mattison or Travis Etienne Jr.
Alexander Mattison or Travis Etienne Jr.
Bucky Irving or Aaron Jones
Bucky Irving or Aaron Jones
Calvin Austiniii or Tank Bigsby
Chase Brown or Aaron Jones
Cooper Kupp or Aaron Jones
Cooper Kupp or Travis Etienne Jr.
Devonta Smith or Tank Bigsby
George Pickens or Tank Bigsby
George Pickens or Travis Etienne Jr.
Gus Edwards or Travis Etienne Jr.
Isaac Guerendo or Tank Bigsby
James Conner or Aaron Jones
Jameson Williams or Tank Bigsby
Jayden Reed or Tank Bigsby
Jayden Reed or Travis Etienne Jr.
Joe Mixon or Aaron Jones
Jonathan Taylor or Aaron Jones
Jonathan Taylor or Aaron Jones
Josh Downs or Tank Bigsby
Josh Downs or Travis Etienne Jr.
Josh Jacobs or Aaron Jones
Khalil Shakir or Tank Bigsby
Mark Andrews or Tank Bigsby
Marquise Brown or Tank Bigsby
Marvin Harrisonjr or Tank Bigsby
Najee Harris or Aaron Jones
Najee Harris or Tank Bigsby
Najee Harris or Travis Etienne Jr.
Rashod Bateman or Tank Bigsby
Rashod Bateman or Travis Etienne Jr.
Rhamondre Stevenson or Tank Bigsby
Rhamondre Stevenson or Tank Bigsby
Rico Dowdle or Aaron Jones
Rico Dowdle or Aaron Jones
Rico Dowdle or Travis Etienne Jr.
Tank Bigsby or Travis Etienne Jr.
Tj Hockenson or Tank Bigsby
Travis Etienne Jr. or Tank Bigsby
Tyjae Spears or Aaron Jones
Zay Flowers or Aaron Jones
Zay Flowers or Tank Bigsby
Adam Thielen or Aaron Jones
Adam Thielen or Travis Etienne Jr.
Alexander Mattison or Tank Bigsby
Alexander Mattison or Tank Bigsby
Alexander Mattison or Travis Etienne Jr.
Ameer Abdullah or Tank Bigsby
Breece Hall or Aaron Jones
Breece Hall or Aaron Jones
Breece Hall or Tank Bigsby
Brian Robinsonjr or Tank Bigsby
Bucky Irving or Aaron Jones
Bucky Irving or Aaron Jones
Bucky Irving or Tank Bigsby
Chase Brown or Aaron Jones
Chig Okonkwo or Aaron Jones
Chuba Hubbard or Aaron Jones
Chuba Hubbard or Aaron Jones
Chuba Hubbard or Tank Bigsby
Chuba Hubbard or Travis Etienne Jr.
Chuba Hubbard or Travis Etienne Jr.
Cooper Kupp or Aaron Jones
Cooper Kupp or Travis Etienne Jr.
Dandre Swift or Tank Bigsby
Dandre Swift or Travis Etienne Jr.
Davante Adams or Aaron Jones
Deandre Hopkins or Travis Etienne Jr.
Deebo Samuelsr or Aaron Jones
Deebo Samuelsr or Tank Bigsby
Deebo Samuelsr or Travis Etienne Jr.
Demario Douglas or Travis Etienne Jr.
Devon Achane or Aaron Jones
Dk Metcalf or Aaron Jones
Dk Metcalf or Tank Bigsby
Gus Edwards or Aaron Jones
Gus Edwards or Tank Bigsby
Gus Edwards or Tank Bigsby
Gus Edwards or Tank Bigsby
Gus Edwards or Tank Bigsby
Gus Edwards or Tank Bigsby
Isaac Guerendo or Aaron Jones
Isaac Guerendo or Tank Bigsby
Isaac Guerendo or Tank Bigsby
Isaac Guerendo or Travis Etienne Jr.
Isiah Pacheco or Tank Bigsby
Isiah Pacheco or Tank Bigsby
Isiah Pacheco or Travis Etienne Jr.
Jahmyr Gibbs or Travis Etienne Jr.
Jakobi Meyers or Aaron Jones
Jakobi Meyers or Tank Bigsby
Jalen Coker or Tank Bigsby
Jalen Mcmillan or Tank Bigsby
Jalen Mcmillan or Travis Etienne Jr.
Jalen Mcmillan or Travis Etienne Jr.
Jalen Mcmillan or Travis Etienne Jr.
Jalen Mcmillan or Travis Etienne Jr.
Jalen Mcmillan or Travis Etienne Jr.
Jalen Mcmillan or Travis Etienne Jr.
Jalen Mcmillan or Travis Etienne Jr.
Jalen Mcmillan or Travis Etienne Jr.
James Conner or Tank Bigsby
James Conner or Travis Etienne Jr.
James Conner or Travis Etienne Jr.
Jameson Williams or Tank Bigsby
Jauan Jennings or Aaron Jones
Jauan Jennings or Travis Etienne Jr.
Javonte Williams or Tank Bigsby
Jayden Daniels or Travis Etienne Jr.
Jayden Reed or Travis Etienne Jr.
Jaylen Warren or Tank Bigsby
Jaylen Warren or Tank Bigsby
Jaylen Warren or Travis Etienne Jr.
Jerome Ford or Aaron Jones
Jerome Ford or Tank Bigsby
Jerome Ford or Tank Bigsby
Jerome Ford or Travis Etienne Jr.
Jerome Ford or Travis Etienne Jr.
Jerome Ford or Travis Etienne Jr.
Jerry Jeudy or Tank Bigsby
Joe Mixon or Aaron Jones
Joe Mixon or Aaron Jones
Joe Mixon or Aaron Jones
Joe Mixon or Travis Etienne Jr.
Jonnu Smith or Tank Bigsby
Jordan Addison or Travis Etienne Jr.
Josh Downs or Aaron Jones
Josh Downs or Tank Bigsby
Josh Downs or Tank Bigsby
Josh Downs or Tank Bigsby
Josh Downs or Tank Bigsby
Kareem Hunt or Travis Etienne Jr.
Keenan Allen or Aaron Jones
Keenan Allen or Tank Bigsby
Keenan Allen or Tank Bigsby
Kendre Miller or Travis Etienne Jr.
Kendre Miller or Travis Etienne Jr.
Kenneth Walkeriii or Travis Etienne Jr.
Khalil Shakir or Tank Bigsby
Kyren Williams or Aaron Jones
Ladd Mcconkey or Tank Bigsby
Marquez Valdesscantling or Travis Etienne Jr.
Marquise Brown or Tank Bigsby
Marvin Harrisonjr or Travis Etienne Jr.
Najee Harris or Aaron Jones
Najee Harris or Tank Bigsby
Nick Westbrookikhine or Travis Etienne Jr.
Patrick Taylorjr or Tank Bigsby
Quentin Johnston or Travis Etienne Jr.
Rachaad White or Aaron Jones
Rhamondre Stevenson or Tank Bigsby
Rhamondre Stevenson or Tank Bigsby
Rhamondre Stevenson or Tank Bigsby
Rhamondre Stevenson or Travis Etienne Jr.
Rico Dowdle or Travis Etienne Jr.
Rico Dowdle or Travis Etienne Jr.
Sam Laporta or Tank Bigsby
Sincere Mccormick or Tank Bigsby
Tank Bigsby or Travis Etienne Jr.
Tank Bigsby or Travis Etienne Jr.
Terry Mclaurin or Aaron Jones
Terry Mclaurin or Aaron Jones
Tj Hockenson or Tank Bigsby
Tony Pollard or Aaron Jones
Tony Pollard or Aaron Jones
Travis Etienne Jr. or Tank Bigsby
Travis Etienne Jr. or Tank Bigsby
Travis Etienne Jr. or Tank Bigsby
Travis Etienne Jr. or Tank Bigsby
Tyjae Spears or Tank Bigsby
Tyjae Spears or Tank Bigsby
Tyjae Spears or Tank Bigsby
Tyjae Spears or Travis Etienne Jr.
Tyreek Hill or Tank Bigsby
Tyrone Tracyjr or Travis Etienne Jr.
Tyrone Tracyjr or Travis Etienne Jr.
Tyrone Tracyjr or Travis Etienne Jr.
Zach Charbonnet or Travis Etienne Jr.
Zay Flowers or Aaron Jones
Zay Flowers or Travis Etienne Jr.
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