Trevor Etienne — 2026 Fantasy Outlook

Carolina spent a fourth-round pick on Etienne, who never had a full-time backfield role during stops at Florida and Georgia. Across three college seasons and 34 games, he piled up 2,081 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns on 371 attempts (a strong 5.6 yards-per-carry average), while adding 62 receptions for 432 yards and a score through the air. A rib injury cost him time in 2024, and Etienne was held out of Week 1 after a DUI arrest that was later dismissed.

On tape, his running style flows well: he reads blocks effectively and has the burst and lateral quickness to slip tackles both between the tackles and in space. Etienne's also got the hands, route savvy, and blitz-pickup ability to project as a legitimate third-down weapon. What's missing is top-end explosiveness. He doesn't have a true second gear for breaking off long runs, and Etienne can get caught off guard in pass protection when facing free rushers.

At 5'8" and 200 pounds, Etienne is on the smaller side for an NFL back and was just 21 when he entered the league. Despite a college resume that wasn't eye-popping, Etienne has the tools to outperform his draft profile at the next level. He clocked a 4.42 in the 40 at the Combine, and football fans will recognize the family name — his brother Travis Etienne went to Jacksonville in the 2021 draft.