LEONARD FOURNETTE NEWS

With Evans hurting, Bucs show they have lots of playmakers

Mike Evans’ status for Tampa Bay’s first playoff game in 13 years is uncertain, though his left knee injury does not appear to be as serious as the Buccaneers initially feared

JANUARY 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Reverts to complementary work Fournette rushed five times for 13 yards and secured both of his targets for 14 yards in the Buccaneers' 44-27 win over the Falcons on Sunday.

Impact With Ronald Jones returning from both a finger injury and the reserve/COVID-19 list, Fournette went back to his clear backup role after handling 17 and 12 total touches in Weeks 15 and 16, respectively. The 25-year-old figures to continue serving in the same role in the coming postseason, and his expected active status in the playoffs could render veteran LeSean McCoy (undisclosed) a healthy scratch. Fournette was serviceable while usually functioning as a complementary option during his first Bucs season, posting 600 total yards and six rushing touchdowns across 13 games while playing on a one-year deal.

JANUARY 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Likely bound for pass-catching role Fournette is expected to serve as the Buccaneers' top pass-catching/third-down back in Sunday's game against the Falcons, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.

Impact While Ronald Jones was sidelined for the past two games following his placement on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Fournette served as the Bucs' lead option on the ground, carrying 23 times for 83 yards and three touchdowns. After Jones was reinstated to the roster this week, head coach Bruce Arians suggested that the third-year player would slot back in atop the depth chart, leaving Fournette to fill more of a change-of-pace role. The Buccaneers could elect to rest their starters to some extent at during Sunday's game, but as it currently stands, Fournette will likely be in store for a downturn in carries compared to the previous two weeks.

JANUARY 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ready to face Atlanta Fournette (abdomen) has been removed from the Buccaneers' injury report for Sunday's game against the Falcons.

Impact Fournette went from a healthy inactive Week 14 to the lead role Weeks 15 and 16, taking 23 carries for 83 yards and three touchdowns over the past two games. He'll likely have a lesser role -- if he's even active -- with top option Ronald Jones (finger) cleared to return from a two-game absence.

JANUARY 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Logs limited practice Thursday Fournette (abdomen) practiced in a limited fashion Thursday.

Impact Fournette maintained his activity level for a second session in a row, while No. 1 running back Ronald Jones (finger) increased his own by logging a full practice Thursday after spending two weeks on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Because Fournette was a healthy scratch in Jones' last appearance Week 14, the same fate could befall him again in a backfield that otherwise has healthy options like Ke'Shawn Vaughn and LeSean McCoy. As a result, Fournette may watch Sunday's regular-season finale against the Falcons from the sideline.

DECEMBER 31, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Similarities between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning According to Bruce Arians and Leonard Fournette’s Journey | Carmen Catches Up Head Coach Bruce Arians talked about some of the similarities he sees in both his current quarterback, Tom Brady, and one of the guys he coa...

DECEMBER 31, 2020 • BUCCANEERS.COM

Limited by abdominal injury Fournette was limited at practice Wednesday due to an abdominal injury.

Impact Fournette received more work than normal the last two games with Ronald Jones (finger) on the reserve/COVID-19 list, earning 14 touches to Ke'Shawn Vaughn's 18 and LeSean McCoy's four. With Jones back in the saddle Wednesday -- albeit in a limited fashion -- the Buccaneers have their top four running backs poised to suit up Sunday in Atlanta. Still, the health of Jones and Fournette need to be monitored to get a sense of whether the former is set to reclaim his typical No. 1 role.

DECEMBER 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Jaguars set sights on Lawrence after years of failure at QB

The Jacksonville Jaguars are finally at least seemingly in a can’t-mess-this-up situation at quarterback

DECEMBER 28, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jaguars seemingly win Lawrence with 41-17 home loss to Bears

The Jacksonville Jaguars seemingly locked up No. 16 in Week 16

DECEMBER 28, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Solid in abbreviated start Fournette rushed nine times for 34 yards and a touchdown and secured all three targets for 32 yards in the Buccaneers' 47-7 win over the Lions on Saturday.

Impact Fournette made another start in place of Ronald Jones (finger/reserve/COVID-19) but wasn't in too long, as the Buccaneers already owned a 33-0 lead at halftime. Coach Bruce Arians thus opted to give seldom-used rookie Ke'Shawn Vaughn some extended run, but Fournette still delivered for fantasy managers on championship week with solid production on a per-touch basis and a walk-in four-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter. Jones is likely to suit up in a Week 17 battle against the Falcons, but Fournette has at least served a purpose for those who were able to pluck him off the wire at a critical point in the fantasy season by posting three total rushing scores over the last two games in Jones' stead.

DECEMBER 26, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

WATCH: Bucs go up 20-0 vs. Lions with Leonard Fournette TD run Turns out the cure for slow starts is playing against a Detroit Lions team with a coaching staff gutted by the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols. The...

DECEMBER 26, 2020 • USATODAY.COM

In line for another start Fournette is expected to get the start at running back Saturday in Detroit, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Impact There's a void at the top of Tampa Bay's backfield with Ronald Jones (finger) still on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Jones is missing his second game in a row, allowing Fournette a chance to be the team's primary RB again. While Fournette wasn't efficient with his looks last Sunday in Atlanta -- 17 touches for 65 yards from scrimmage -- he scored a pair of one-yard TD runs during that contest.

DECEMBER 26, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Positioned for another start Fournette is on track for a second straight start Saturday in Detroit after Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians said Ronald Jones (finger, reserve/COVID-19 list) is unlikely to be a...

Impact Even if Jones clears all COVID-19-related protocols in time to rejoin the Buccaneers this week, the running back will have to prove his surgically repaired left pinkie finger doesn't present any issues with his ball security in order to play. Arians believes it's doubtful that Jones will be able to overcome both obstacles on a short week, so look for the Buccaneers to once again roll with Fournette as their lead back. After being a healthy inactive in the Week 14 win over Minnesota, Fournette returned to the lineup for Sunday's 31-27 win over the Falcons and played two thirds of the offensive snaps while finishing with 49 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries to go with three receptions for 16 yards.

DECEMBER 22, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Ronald Jones COVID Update Solidifies Leonard Fournette Fantasy Outlook for Week 16 Championship Fantasy managers who have been counting on Ronald Jones this season have been burned in the playoffs. He missed Week 15 on the COVID/Reserve...

DECEMBER 22, 2020 • FANDUEL.COM

Mayor: Jets' win could be defining moment for woeful Jaguars

Jacksonville’s losing streak is cause for celebration and arguably the best thing to happen to the city since the NFL granted it an expansion franchise in November 1993

DECEMBER 21, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pair of TDs in spot start Fournette rushed 14 times for 49 yards and two touchdowns in the Buccaneers' 31-27 win over the Falcons on Sunday. He also brought in three of five targets for 16 yards.

Impact On paper, Fournette was set up for a tough matchup against a stingy Falcons run defense while drawing the start for Ronald Jones (finger/reserve/COVID-19), and that's about how matters played out. However, the big back salvaged his day from a statistical standpoint with a pair of one-yard touchdown runs in the third quarter. Fournette also was a solid part of the passing game out of the backfield, as his five targets actually tied him for second on the afternoon with Chris Godwin. Fournette performed well overall while handling his second-highest workload of the season on the ground, but Jones is likely reclaiming the lead-back role if he's healthy enough to suit up for a Saturday afternoon matchup versus the Lions.

DECEMBER 20, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Comeback, Part II: Brady breaks Falcons' hearts again, 31-27

Tom Brady staged another big comeback against the Atlanta Falcons and didn’t even need overtime this team

DECEMBER 20, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Leonard Fournette surges into the end zone for strong TD Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette rushes for a 1-yard touchdown.

DECEMBER 20, 2020 • NFL.COM

Leonard Fournette is back causing fantasy football headaches Few things have worked out as planned for anyone in 2020. Why should the fantasy production from the Buccaneers’ backfield be any different?...

DECEMBER 19, 2020 • NYPOST.COM

Prepared for start Coach Bruce Arians reiterated Friday that Fournette is being prepped for the start Sunday in Atlanta, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact A healthy scratch last week, Fournette now has his first chance to play a game for Tampa without any competition from Ronald Jones, who had finger surgery Tuesday and was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday. The starting assignment brings Fournette back to fantasy relevance, but it doesn't necessarily mean he'll handle the same type of workload Jones got last week (18 carries, two targets, 67 percent snap share). Arians mentioned that Ke'Shawn Vaughn has "come on like gangbusters," and the team still has LeSean McCoy on hand for passing-down work -- a role he took back last week after Fournette played his way out of it with drops and missed blocks.

DECEMBER 18, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Bucs feel fortunate to lean on running back Leonard Fournette Offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich acknowledged Ronald Jones is out on COVID-19 list

DECEMBER 17, 2020 • TAMPABAY.COM

Buccaneers: Leonard Fournette primed for starting role With an injury and surgery for Ronald Jones, the Buccaneers may have to move on to their more than capable backup, Leonard Fournette, this w...

DECEMBER 17, 2020 • THEPEWTERPLANK.COM

Will start if Jones can't play Coach Bruce Arians said Wednesday that Fournette will start Week 15 if Ronald Jones (finger/COVID list) is unavailable, Jenna Laine of ESPN reports.

Impact Fournette was a healthy scratch during last weekend's win over the Vikings, but with Ronald Jones having undergone finger surgery and been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list over the past two days, the state of Tampa Bay's backfield is newly in flux. LeSean McCoy, Ke'Shawn Vaughn and Kenjon Barner would all also be candidates to mix in if Jones is ultimately ruled out.

DECEMBER 17, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Could start this week? Fournette could have a key role on offense if Ronald Jones (finger) isn't able to play in Sunday's game against the Falcons, Rick Stroud of The Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The report even suggests Fournette might be the starter, one week after he was a healthy scratch for the 26-14 win over Minnesota. Jones' availability is up in the air after he had finger surgery Tuesday, and coach Bruce Arians said Fournette looked great during Wednesday's practice. Fournette's range of outcomes for Week 15 spans anywhere from 20-plus touches to another healthy scratch. Stay tuned throughout the week.

DECEMBER 16, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Week 15 Fantasy Busts: Leonard Fournette, DeAndre Washington among 'risky starts' in difficult matchups Leonard Fournette and DeAndre Washington could be in line for bigger roles in their respective backfields, but trusting them in Week 15 will...

DECEMBER 16, 2020 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM