Running Back 9 – Travis Etienne Jr. – JAX
This ranking could be too hot for some to handle! The dynasty crowd has pumped up Tank Bigsby as the next Emmitt Smith, but you and I know that is not going to happen. Travis Etienne Jr. has been lighting it up in the practice, and could have his career year in 2023. In 2022 he turned 225 touches into 1,441 scrimmage yards and 5 touchdowns (TD). 1,125 of those yards came via rushing, but he did manage 35 receptions too. Not bad for his first year to see the gridiron.
So what will Etienne Jr. do this year? To start with, The Jacksonville Jaguars should be a top five offensive in the second year of Head Coach Doug Pederson’s system. The Jaguars received great projection grades across every fantasy position on both sides of the ball, and they have fantasy starters at almost every position on the field. They also benefit from being in the worst division in the league, the AFC South. Etienne Jr. will see bad defenses and could see an increase in second half touches. Look for Etienne’s numbers to improve in 2023. More experience, great receiver out of the backfield, rhythm with quarterback Lawerence, and an amazing passing attack will prevent the box being loaded against him. Etienne’s ADP is currently 10-13 and that is a great price for the Jaguar RB. Draft him and let him carry you to the playoffs.

Linebacker 9 – Bobby Wagner – SEA
It is special to play for one organization for ten years, and Bobby Wagner is doing just that with the Seattle Seahawks in 2023. The 11 year vet is returning back ‘home’ after a year stint in LA with the Rams. Some may question how a linebacker (LB) in his 11th season is in the top ten. Put simply the future Canton, Ohio bound LB is one of the best to ever do it, and a few great LBs maintain a high level of play their entire career. On top of that he returns to a better team, in all three phases of the game. Wagner set a career high in sacks last year with 6, and the rest of his numbers were on par as well. 140 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 10 QB hits, 5 passes defended, and 2 interceptions. He earned his ninth consecutive All-Pro team in 2022, and has never had less than 104 tackles in a season… and that season he only played 11 games. Okay, some might say, he’s had a legendary career but what about 2023?
Wagner comes back to the franchise that appreciates him, and knows how to utilize his skill set best. There will be several familiar teammates, he will know most coaches (although the Defensive Coordinator Clint Hurtt is new), and the drive, the locker room, the equipment room, his parking spot, his favorite restaurants… it’s all there for him. The departure of Cody Barton, and Jordyn Brooks coming back from a late season ACL tear, add up to some heavy lifting for the future hall of fame(r). Not that he will mind, in fact he will likely thrive in a defensive that looks eerily similar to the ‘legend of boom’ that begin their super bowl quest a decade ago to the season. Oddly enough, with the same leader. Trust Bobby Wagner to deliver like the perennial All-Pro that he is.. and who knows maybe lead the Seahawks back to another Superbowl.

Thank you for reading Mano y Mano. Check in tomorrow for RB & LB #8.
Bet Smart, Be Lucky – Iggy

*Stats come from FantasyPros, Pro Football Reference, Sleeper, Statmuse, and NFL/Next Gen.
*Rankings are based on .5 PPR format and FF7s.