Leonard Fournette signed with the Bucs last night. It's not a completely shocking landing spot; some of us guessed Tampa Bay as a possibility back when he was released. The Bucs have talked out of both sides of their face when it came to their backfield all along.
The Bucs moved on from Peyton Barber, of course. GM Jason Licht said the team had "more faith than ever" in Jones, and Bruce Arians proclaimed Jones as "the main guy," while everyone else was just fighting for roles. Empty words.
Tampa Bay drafted KeShawn Vaughn in the third round. Perhaps because he failed to stand out early, they signed veteran LeSean McCoy. And now they'll pay Fournette $2 million this season, with a chance to make more through incentives.
The contract isn't huge, so not a given that Fournette moves atop the depth chart. Jones was dealing with a foot injury last week, which Arian said wasn't serious, but perhaps it was a factor in the team adding another player.
Our latest Update comes out this afternoon, so people will be able to see exactly where these backs rank before drafting tonight. My thoughts are as follows:
Fournette should be the Bucs' top back. If Tampa Bay was actually comfortable with Jones as their lead back, the dual McCoy and Fournette signings probably don't happen. Yes running backs get hurt a lot and no neither of these guys is making a ton of money. But it belies any expression of faith in Jones. If I were drafting tonight (I am!) and wanted to wade into this situation (I don't), I would select Fournette before Jones. I'd probably have him about 27-28 at the position in PPR leagues.
Jones may/will start in Week 1, assuming that foot isn't a concern, but we'll see if he's still there in Week 3. My guess is he won't be. Fournette will probably be the No. 2, but gradually the better back will play more. Fournette hasn't been a great NFL back, but he's been a lot better than Jones has shown his first two seasons.
Can we finally all agree that McCoy is done? A year ago Buffalo released him, for nothing. Kansas City signed him, but barely used him -- made him a healthy scratch down the stretch and for the playoffs. Claimed they were managing his reps or whatever. Please. Tampa Bay signed him to a minimum type deal, and after a couple of weeks of watching him in action went out and signed Fournette a day after he cleared waivers. Most likely, McCoy will be released in the next week. Then some other team will sign him, and fantasy coaches will get all nervous about the starter they drafted from that team, and McCoy will proceed not to play until that team releases him. It's over.
Dare Ogunbowale. On the strength of seeing him do some nice things last preseason, I kept him around on a dynasty team for a while. He might still be the passing downs back in Tampa Bay this year. But the next James White ain't happening. The Bucs aren't keeping 5 running backs and they might not even keep 4, so I don't think anyone will be stunned if both McCoy and Ogunbowale get axed in final cutdowns.
--Andy Richardson