Two Struggling Stud RBs: What to Do?

Nothing feels worse than watching your sure guy who is supposed to be a key contributor to your success, dragging our fantasy team down due to not living up to expectations. But, unfortunately, it happens to us all. I’m going to list some players who are underperforming assets in which you may be heavily invested. I’m going to lay on the panic button with you. I’ll tell you what I’d do with these guys. Timing is everything. We will navigate two trade proposals per player from each side of the fence. One trade we will buy. The other we are dealing away. 

Let’s begin with perhaps the biggest player disappointment there is. 

Stud RB #1 

NYJ RB Breece Hall

Due to his value and the investment we made to acquire him, I’m a full-blown 10 panicking about this top asset. 

The Jets offense isn’t looking so good. They were on the struggle bus once again, across the pond in London against the Vikings. Breece had nine carries for 23 yards. What’s nasty about that, and not speaking positively? Hall’s YPC went up. He also caught three passes for 14 yards. After Week 5, there are 33 running backs this season who have more rushing yards than him. Where does he stand in YPC on the season compared to everyone else? He’s at the bottom of the barrel. Hall hasn’t gone over 25 yards total on the ground in back-to-back games. As far as selling Breece, unless someone is willing to pay his pre-season value for him, I’m more than likely holding. But to maximize value, if looking to deal him away, your best bet is to wait on a big game to expand the value of your return. With that said, let’s consider The Jets’ next four matchups and the defenses they face. At home against Buffalo, then Sunday Night Football playing the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Then, at the Patriots and home against the Texans. Those are four consecutive tough defenses. 

This further concerns me if I’m someone attempting to trade for Hall.  Braelon Allen isn’t going away. I’m not saying Braelon Allen is going to overtake Hall’s job. However, he has looked so good that he will continue getting opportunities. Even if this offense trends up, I don’t know if that will mean Breece Hall will become superstar fantasy-relevant again because I do see Allen still getting his.

I have serious doubts Hall will help me win any championships this year. How low do I set the bar on pricing Breece? I wouldn’t trade a projected top 5 rookie pick in next year’s class to acquire him, as of now. So I would take a sure-fire first-round top 5 pick in the 2025 Draft for him. That’s a solid stance from my end. I’m not itching to deal him away. If I am trading away Hall, these are players I’m targeting to trade for, and there’s a good chance these player’s owners would ask for other assets on top of Breece. Depending on what that asset is, I’m willing to mingle. 

• NYJ WR Garret Wilson
• Det TE Same Laporta 
• NYG WR Malik Nabers
• CHI QB Caleb Williams
• ARI WR Marvin Harrison Jr
• ATL RB Bijan Robinson
• CIN QB Joe Burrow
• WSH QB Jayden Daniels. 

Unless I can pivot from Breece Hall to one of these types of players or a top future draft pick, I’m probably holding. Every dog has his day, and I’m not selling low on a dog who will eat. 

Here are two trades where I would trade away Breece Hall. 

Trade away:

1. NYJ RB Hall and IND WR Michael Pittman for NYG WR Malik Nabers. 
2. NYJ RB Hall and NOLA QB Derek Carr for Cin QB Joe Burrow 

(I would also attempt to gain another RB with Burrow, such as Dal RB Rico Dowdle, or even a young flier guy, such as DEN RB Audric Estime. I’m high on Min QB Sam Darnold, and would much rather deal Carr than him. However, if landing Burrow here in Superflex, it’s worth it to me.)

Trading for Breece, I’m offering these players straight up:

• MIA WR Jaylen Waddle
• MIA WR Tyreek Hill 
• SF WR Brandon Aiyuk

There is wiggle room to add to your offer to acquire Breece, if your willing to fight the uphill battle with the split backfield he is facing. 

Trade for:

1. MIA WR Jaylen Waddle and TB RB Rashaad White for NYJ RB Hall and LAR WR Jordan Whittington
2. MIA WR Tyreek Hill and DEN RB Javonte Williams for NYJ RB Breece Hall

Stud RB#2 

JAX RB Travis Etienne (ETN)

ETN was not drafted as a top three dynasty RB, as Breece Hall was, but he is a top 10 dynasty RB in most circles. It’s getting concerning if you are not ignoring what is happening with that Jacksonville backfield. Tank Bigsby has emerged as a post-hype sleeper. The past few weeks, Bigsby has been doubling Eteinnes‘ production in these regards. In the last two weeks, Tank has 20 total carries and 190 rushing yards, averaging a whopping 9.5 ypc. 60% miss tackle rate. Bigsby has had more carries inside the red zone. He has received every carry inside the five-yard line. Looking at the box score, and judging without eyes, Bixby looks like the better RB of the two. As a matter of fact, it looks like ETN is the handcuff RB of this backfield. Could it be Tank is the better player/playmaker fit for this team? One of the main reasons ETN has been a desirable piece to own over the past two years is his large workload at running back. However, now the receipts are pointing to a split backfield. If ETN isn’t getting the full workload, along with not being efficient, what do we do here? He still is being used in the passing game. To shine some positive, in Week 4, he received seven targets. He will see better days as well. But being a weekly top 10 guy as we have invested and expected, it is not happening. ETN has yet to finish higher than RB21 this season so far. I don’t see how anyone can feel good about that. I think ETN could now be considered more a flex play rather than the must-start RB he was valued as. 

Myself, I’m desperate to trade away ETN. 

Trade away:

1.  I am trading JAX RB ETN  and LV RB Zamir White for MIA RB Devon Achane
2. JAX RB  ETN for DET WR Jamison Williams, and I’m so for real on this! However, have confidence in your negotiating skills and get something plus on the Jamo end, if possible. 

I’ll now grind my teeth and make an offer for ETN, honestly hoping he is traded to a spot such as Dallas. That would be a major stock-up event for Etienne. I’ll also say I would not make a trade for a player based on hopes of being traded. 

Trade for:

1. I’m offering CLE RB Jerome Ford and BAL TE Mark Andrews for JAX RB ETN
2. KC RB Isiah Pacheco and LV WR Davante Adams for JAX RB ETN and KC WR JuJu Smith-Schuster 

I hope this advice can help your Dynasty build. If it does, I would love to hear your trade stories of Breece Hall and Travis Etienne. Don’t hesitate to hit me up on Twitter @fantasybuff_

I appreciate those of you who took the time to read this article. I vow to bring can’t-beat winning, spice advice into your life. Just like Dynasty, we don’t stop. Information to become dominant. Let the good times roll. Till next time. You can find me on Twitter/X @fantasybuff_ #DFFArmy #cantbeatwinning #alwaysbebuilding