Breece Hall is out for the season after suffering a torn ACL in the Jets’ Week 7 win over the Broncos. A day later, New York found a notable replacement for its star running back, acquiring James Robinson from the Jaguars in exchange for a future sixth-round draft pick, as CBS Sports NFL expert Josina Anderson confirmed. Robinson bounced back quickly from his own serious injury to open 2022 in Jacksonville’s backfield, but Travis Etienne Jr. had emerged as the Jaguars’ primary ball carrier in recent weeks.
The sixth-round pick acquired by the Jaguars may become a fifth-round pick depending on how Robinson performs as New York’s presumptive RB1. Michael Carter had previously been slated to take over for the Jets after Hall was pulled from Sunday’s win and quickly ruled out. Now, Gang Green will have the 24-year-old Robinson not just for the rest of 2022, but possibly beyond. As CBS Sports contributor Joel Corry notes , the Jets can extend the veteran into a restricted free agent tender through 2023.
Robinson is two years removed from a 1,000-yard campaign as a rookie. The former undrafted standout had a similarly productive start to 2021 before suffering a torn Achilles in Week 16. This year, splitting snaps with Etienne, he wasn’t as efficient, averaging less four yards per carry in three different games. before taking zero snaps in Week 6. Etienne, meanwhile, a 2021 first-round pick out of Jacksonville, has emerged as one of the club’s best offensive playmakers of late.
In New York, Hall quickly made a name for himself as one of the best rookies this year, pacing the Jets’ ground game with 463 rushing yards in seven games. Given that he faces a potentially long road to recovery from his ACL tear, it’s possible that Robinson could also serve as the team’s starting ball carrier, or at least split carries , to also open in 2023.
Commercial degrees
Jaguars: B
No matter what, Etienne would become the focal point of their ground game, bringing dynamic ability as both a runner and receiver. So it makes sense that Jacksonville would be ready to unload Robinson, who likely would have gotten an original-round restricted free agent tender in 2023, at best. A fifth-round prospect is solid value for a veteran rental coming off injury at a replaceable position. The only reason it’s not a quick win is because Etienne has his own injury history and Robinson could have been a cost-controlled addition through 2023.
Jets: A-
New York is 5-2, threatening to make a surprise playoff run, and Robinson has shown he can be an all-around lefty. With Hall sidelined until — and potentially until 2023 — this is the perfect kind of low-risk, high-reward gamble for a contending team. What he lacks in explosiveness, Robinson makes up for in toughness, making him a plug-and-play candidate for heavy workloads alongside Michael Carter. In the worst case, it doesn’t work out, and New York is out by a single sixth round. At best, he thrives and can return with a modest RFA deal to handle touches next year as well.
Fantasy dam
How the James Robinson trade affects Michael Carter
From CBS Sports Fantasy analyst Dave Richard: When you think back over the last year or so for Carter, his inability to cement a significant role in the Jets’ offense as a rookie, watching his team draft a rookie in the ‘April and then trade for a good veteran power to replace the stud rookie; it’s hard to see him evolving into a serious fantasy asset. That would change if he could start commanding targets on a weekly basis, but the Jets’ offense doesn’t ask the running back many throws, and quarterback Zach Wilson has a tendency to look down, not throw short. .
Carter is also off to a great start. His rushing average sits at 3.5, his rushing attempts per game are 9.4 and his receiving numbers have all but dried up since Wilson took over at quarterback. His only highlight was scoring twice in a blowout win against Miami in Week 5.
Carter is obviously worth having on the roster, but he likely won’t be better than a No. 3 running back for as long as Robinson makes an impact. He should still be getting at least 10 touches per week and about 40% of the snaps with the Jets, but he’s unlikely to be used regularly in high-value situations like near the goal line.
For more on the trade and how it affects both the Jets and Jaguars, click here.