The Jaguars cut Leonard Fournette this morning. It's surprising, but not entirely shocking -- the team has seemingly wanted to move on from him for a couple of years now. (Tom Coughlin clashed with him more than once.) The Jaguars are not so quietly starting over, and now it's a brand-new backfield in Jacksonville.
The team brought in Chris Thompson in free agency. Until he gets hurt, he'll be their third-down back. The direct backup for Fournette is Ryquell Armstead. He's their fifth-round pick a year ago and should get first crack at the starting job. But I think expectations should be fairly modest. Armstead didn't impress as a rookie. He started in Week 17 a year ago and carried 10 times for 33 yards.
Devine Ozigbo is next in line. He was undrafted out of Nebraska and was with New Orleans last preseason, before catching on with Jacksonville. He also didn't show much a year ago (9 carries, 27 yards) but has been having a strong camp for the Jaguars. I think the hesitance in getting too excited about Armstead is that Ozigbo isn't necessarily a lesser talent, and could easily be starting here soon.
I said elsewhere that I'd put Armstead around 35th at running back. That might be too conservative, but it also might be too generous (if the team decides to elevate Ozigbo early on). Ozigbo looks like a late-round fantasy pick, a flier with the potential to move into the starting lineup. So, wherever you would formerly have ranked Armstead, that's Ozigbo right now.
The only certain role is Thompson's. He's not starting, but he'll be their passing downs back. And it's a team that should do a lot more passing than running, particularly because it'll be playing from behind a lot. Thompson moves up a little from the latest Update's ranking, but not a ton. He was always going to be their passing downs guy.
As for Fournette. I don't know if he'll be claimed on waivers; nobody might want to pay his salary. But I think he'll get a job, and I think he'll start somewhere. We'll have to see; will a team like the Bears grab him, planning to start him until Montgomery is healthy? That would crush both players' value. Or will a team with a suspect starter sign him: say, one of the other Florida teams?
Fournette is a legit three-down running back, in that he's capable of running between the tackles and playing in passing situations. He is not, however, a great back. Teams generally don't just cut those kind of players. Doug Marrone, in an unusual admission, says the Jaguars weren't able to trade Fournette: "We couldn't get anything."
Fournette, as a for instance, is not a great scorer. Last year he had 265 carries, but scored only 3 touchdowns. In the last 10 years, 93 other running backs have had at least 250 carries in a season. None have scored fewer touchdowns; only one has scored as few.
| 250-CARRY BACKS, 2010-2019 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Att | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2016 | LeGarrette Blount, N.E. | 299 | 1161 | 3.9 | 18 |
| 2011 | LeSean McCoy, Phil. | 273 | 1309 | 4.8 | 17 |
| 2018 | Todd Gurley, LAR | 256 | 1251 | 4.9 | 17 |
| 2010 | Arian Foster, Hou. | 327 | 1616 | 4.9 | 16 |
| 2019 | Derrick Henry, Ten. | 303 | 1540 | 5.1 | 16 |
| 2016 | David Johnson, Ariz. | 293 | 1239 | 4.2 | 16 |
| 2012 | Arian Foster, Hou. | 351 | 1424 | 4.1 | 15 |
| 2016 | Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 322 | 1631 | 5.1 | 15 |
| 2019 | Christian McCaffrey, Car. | 287 | 1387 | 4.8 | 15 |
| 2014 | DeMarco Murray, Dall. | 392 | 1845 | 4.7 | 13 |
| 2012 | Alfred Morris, Was. | 335 | 1613 | 4.8 | 13 |
| 2010 | Rashard Mendenhall, Pitt. | 324 | 1273 | 3.9 | 13 |
| 2014 | Marshawn Lynch, Sea. | 280 | 1306 | 4.7 | 13 |
| 2017 | Todd Gurley, LAR | 279 | 1305 | 4.7 | 13 |
| 2019 | Dalvin Cook, Min. | 250 | 1135 | 4.5 | 13 |
| 2012 | Adrian Peterson, Min. | 348 | 2097 | 6.0 | 12 |
| 2010 | Michael Turner, Atl. | 334 | 1371 | 4.1 | 12 |
| 2019 | Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 301 | 1357 | 4.5 | 12 |
| 2013 | Marshawn Lynch, Sea. | 301 | 1257 | 4.2 | 12 |
| 2011 | Ray Rice, Balt. | 291 | 1364 | 4.7 | 12 |
| 2012 | Stevan Ridley, N.E. | 290 | 1263 | 4.4 | 12 |
| 2011 | Marshawn Lynch, Sea. | 285 | 1204 | 4.2 | 12 |
| 2010 | Adrian Peterson, Min. | 283 | 1298 | 4.6 | 12 |
| 2013 | Jamaal Charles, K.C. | 259 | 1287 | 5.0 | 12 |
| 2015 | Adrian Peterson, Min. | 327 | 1485 | 4.5 | 11 |
| 2012 | Doug Martin, T.B. | 319 | 1454 | 4.6 | 11 |
| 2010 | Chris Johnson, Ten. | 316 | 1364 | 4.3 | 11 |
| 2012 | Marshawn Lynch, Sea. | 315 | 1590 | 5.1 | 11 |
| 2011 | Michael Turner, Atl. | 301 | 1340 | 4.5 | 11 |
| 2013 | Eddie Lacy, G.B. | 284 | 1178 | 4.2 | 11 |
| 2010 | Peyton Hillis, Cle. | 270 | 1177 | 4.4 | 11 |
| 2012 | Trent Richardson, Cle. | 267 | 950 | 3.6 | 11 |
| 2015 | Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 265 | 1056 | 4.0 | 11 |
| 2018 | Saquon Barkley, NYG | 261 | 1307 | 5.0 | 11 |
| 2013 | Adrian Peterson, Min. | 279 | 1266 | 4.5 | 10 |
| 2011 | Arian Foster, Hou. | 278 | 1224 | 4.4 | 10 |
| 2016 | Melvin Gordon, S.D. | 254 | 997 | 3.9 | 10 |
| 2017 | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 321 | 1291 | 4.0 | 9 |
| 2013 | LeSean McCoy, Phil. | 314 | 1607 | 5.1 | 9 |
| 2016 | DeMarco Murray, Ten. | 293 | 1287 | 4.4 | 9 |
| 2013 | Matt Forte, Chi. | 289 | 1339 | 4.6 | 9 |
| 2017 | Jordan Howard, Chi. | 276 | 1122 | 4.1 | 9 |
| 2013 | Frank Gore, S.F. | 276 | 1128 | 4.1 | 9 |
| 2017 | Leonard Fournette, Jac. | 268 | 1040 | 3.9 | 9 |
| 2012 | Ray Rice, Balt. | 257 | 1143 | 4.5 | 9 |
| 2018 | Jordan Howard, Chi. | 250 | 935 | 3.7 | 9 |
| 2011 | Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac. | 343 | 1606 | 4.7 | 8 |
| 2019 | Nick Chubb, Cle. | 298 | 1494 | 5.0 | 8 |
| 2014 | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 290 | 1361 | 4.7 | 8 |
| 2017 | Melvin Gordon, LAC | 284 | 1105 | 3.9 | 8 |
| 2011 | Frank Gore, S.F. | 282 | 1211 | 4.3 | 8 |
| 2012 | Shonn Greene, NYJ | 276 | 1063 | 3.9 | 8 |
| 2010 | Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG | 276 | 1235 | 4.5 | 8 |
| 2017 | Kareem Hunt, K.C. | 272 | 1327 | 4.9 | 8 |
| 2014 | Alfred Morris, Was. | 265 | 1074 | 4.1 | 8 |
| 2016 | Jay Ajayi, Mia. | 260 | 1272 | 4.9 | 8 |
| 2014 | Arian Foster, Hou. | 260 | 1246 | 4.8 | 8 |
| 2012 | Frank Gore, S.F. | 258 | 1214 | 4.7 | 8 |
| 2010 | Cedric Benson, Cin. | 321 | 1111 | 3.5 | 7 |
| 2019 | Chris Carson, Sea. | 278 | 1230 | 4.4 | 7 |
| 2013 | Alfred Morris, Was. | 276 | 1275 | 4.6 | 7 |
| 2016 | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 261 | 1268 | 4.9 | 7 |
| 2018 | David Johnson, Ariz. | 258 | 940 | 3.6 | 7 |
| 2011 | Michael Bush, Oak. | 256 | 977 | 3.8 | 7 |
| 2018 | Adrian Peterson, Was. | 251 | 1042 | 4.2 | 7 |
| 2013 | Zac Stacy, St.L. | 250 | 973 | 3.9 | 7 |
| 2010 | Steven Jackson, St.L. | 330 | 1241 | 3.8 | 6 |
| 2018 | Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 304 | 1434 | 4.7 | 6 |
| 2015 | Doug Martin, T.B. | 288 | 1402 | 4.9 | 6 |
| 2017 | LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 287 | 1138 | 4.0 | 6 |
| 2013 | Ryan Mathews, S.D. | 285 | 1255 | 4.4 | 6 |
| 2013 | Chris Johnson, Ten. | 279 | 1077 | 3.9 | 6 |
| 2016 | Todd Gurley, LAR | 278 | 885 | 3.2 | 6 |
| 2012 | BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Cin. | 278 | 1094 | 3.9 | 6 |
| 2012 | Chris Johnson, Ten. | 276 | 1243 | 4.5 | 6 |
| 2011 | Cedric Benson, Cin. | 273 | 1067 | 3.9 | 6 |
| 2015 | Latavius Murray, Oak. | 266 | 1066 | 4.0 | 6 |
| 2014 | Matt Forte, Chi. | 266 | 1038 | 3.9 | 6 |
| 2015 | Frank Gore, Ind. | 260 | 967 | 3.7 | 6 |
| 2011 | Shonn Greene, NYJ | 253 | 1054 | 4.2 | 6 |
| 2016 | Jordan Howard, Chi. | 252 | 1313 | 5.2 | 6 |
| 2014 | LeSean McCoy, Phil. | 312 | 1319 | 4.2 | 5 |
| 2010 | Ray Rice, Balt. | 307 | 1220 | 4.0 | 5 |
| 2010 | Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac. | 299 | 1324 | 4.4 | 5 |
| 2012 | Jamaal Charles, K.C. | 285 | 1509 | 5.3 | 5 |
| 2019 | Joe Mixon, Cin. | 278 | 1137 | 4.1 | 5 |
| 2016 | Lamar Miller, Hou. | 268 | 1073 | 4.0 | 5 |
| 2011 | Steven Jackson, St.L. | 260 | 1145 | 4.4 | 5 |
| 2016 | Frank Gore, Ind. | 263 | 1025 | 3.9 | 4 |
| 2011 | Chris Johnson, Ten. | 262 | 1047 | 4.0 | 4 |
| 2012 | Steven Jackson, St.L. | 258 | 1045 | 4.1 | 4 |
| 2014 | Frank Gore, S.F. | 255 | 1106 | 4.3 | 4 |
| 2017 | Frank Gore, Ind. | 261 | 961 | 3.7 | 3 |
| 2019 | Leonard Fournette, Jac. | 265 | 1152 | 4.4 | 3 |
We'll need to see where Fournette ends up; that will greatly influence his value. But I don't see him as a highly desirable player. And I'm not sure Jacksonville will have a top-30 running back this season.
--Andy Richardson