Leonard Fournette Finishes Outside The Top-32
February 7th, 2023
Peaked?
As much as Joe likes Playoff Lenny, Joe has to be real.
If you are the No. 1 back on the worst running team in the NFL, you should get a low ranking.
And such is the case for Playoff Lenny. Former Jags running back and current NFL Network talking head Maurice Jones-Drew decided to rank from No. 1 to No. 75 every running back who started at least one game last season.
Playoff Lenny came in at No. 37.
2022 stats: 16 games | 189 att | 668 rush yds | 3.5 ypc | 3 rush TDs | 73 rec | 523 rec yds | 3 rec TDs | 0 fumbles lost
Fournette, who battled a foot injury in the second half of the season, failed to recreate the magic he brought to the Bucs’ offense in each of the previous two years. Losing his job midseason to rookie Rachaad White pretty much summed up his Year 6 performance.
Joe hopes this isn’t a trend but NFL trends suggest otherwise.
A few years ago an NFL source told Joe — at the time this guy worked in pro personnel — NFL data shows once running backs reach 26, that’s usually his final peak season. Fantasy football writer and podcaster Mike Tagliere did a deep data dive on running backs’ ages and notes there is a “deep dropoff” when a back gets to 27.
Playoff Lenny turned 28 last month.
Of course, one could argue if age is the only deciding factor if a running back can still tote the rock, why didn’t rookie Rachaad White, who ranked No. 41, do better? Fair question.
Yes, Playoff Lenny had a bum foot last year. He still was among the league’s best at YAC so it wasn’t like Playoff Lenny was a bum.
As a game-breaking back, has Playoff Lenny already peaked?
February 7th, 2023 at 8:34 am
Lenny played injured for the majority of the season, and admitted what he was dealing with, but I guess the “he must be hurt” excuse is only good for the Brady fanboys and no other buccaneers get that level of “he’s doing what he can playing through the pain” just the QB that some of you guys treat like a deity
February 7th, 2023 at 8:35 am
Lenny is slowing down some but Jones-Drew is the same guy that said 5 quarterbacks were going to be taken in the top ten of the 2022 NFL draft would not put much merit on whats coming out of his mouth.
February 7th, 2023 at 8:39 am
He had a foot injury. A serious one. So it’s no surprise that he was ineffective. The OL was not necessarily blasting holes open either.
The problem is Fournette pouts. He gets moody. And that does not fly. So he needs to go.
53 that want to be here and are willing to do what is asked. That’s what this team needs.
February 7th, 2023 at 8:42 am
My only complaint about Fournette is that he likes to stutter step to catch guys off guard but that slows him down and he is easier to tackle. He could have gotten 1-2 more yards on some plays by just straight line plowing into the defender. His poor numbers are also due to the Oline and Leftwich being unable to scheme worth a damn and his crappy play call of run on 1st then again on 2nd. Fournette also blocked and was a safety valve for Brady. 73 catches for 523 yards is another part of his magic.
February 7th, 2023 at 8:42 am
Lenny still finished 40th in rushing but 3rd in receiving yards by a running back still not to bad for a part time player. I would have him easily in the top 25.
February 7th, 2023 at 8:44 am
He peaked in college.
February 7th, 2023 at 8:44 am
Sorry posted before done. He is older and RBs don’t have a long career and injuries are taking their toll.
February 7th, 2023 at 8:48 am
Really, he is now a 3rd down back although he doesn’t fit the mental picture- has great hands, can pass pro with the best of them, pop the occasional big run
No doubt he was struggling with that plant foot, he was short stepping to a lot of holes this year, but in the open field he seemed okay
I might try to rework his deal for a few mil less or let him walk – he is now very replaceable
February 7th, 2023 at 8:49 am
YAC, as in yards after catch, not yards after contact.
Let’s not confuse the two.
February 7th, 2023 at 8:51 am
He got paid….that’s the underlying variable. Most RBs don’t get their first big pay day until 25-26. Once they get that lump sum in the bank, you’ve lost the carrot chase. Fournettee will essentially get prove it deals from this point on. There’s a list of guys that mailed it in after their pay day. Leveon Bell comes to mind, Ezekiel Elliott hasn’t been the same since his contract. NFL was wise to shift the game to more passing, less emphasis on every down workhorse RBs.
February 7th, 2023 at 9:06 am
That number seems to get lower and lower. I remember when the magic number was 29-30. Now it’s 27. And the irony is RBs are not asked to carry the load as much. So the usefulness is disappearing faster, but the mileage is decreasing.
I say if you only have an RB to age 26, run him till his legs fall off. Get every yard out of him.
February 7th, 2023 at 9:06 am
Yup.
February 7th, 2023 at 9:14 am
Lenny is Earnest Byner at this point. A better receiver than runner. They even have the same stuttering running style. There’s some value there, but not as a starting running back in this league.
February 7th, 2023 at 9:22 am
It didn’t help Lenny to be 25-30 pounds over weight when he reported to camp…
Seems like the comment above might be accurate – Lenny got paid and put that nice big chunk of money in the bank. No more carrot to chase.
I know he played hurt most of last year but he seemed slow and sluggish even earlier in the season.
Perhaps he should come into camp in shape this summer instead of 260 lbs and looking like a fullback.
February 7th, 2023 at 9:31 am
Bigger backs typically need to drop weight later in their career to stay effective
February 7th, 2023 at 9:34 am
Hard to give Lenny all the blame behind that o-line and with the worst play calling you could imagine.
February 7th, 2023 at 9:43 am
Lenny is on his way out. Too old.
February 7th, 2023 at 9:48 am
Unfortunately, we are stuck with Lenny……another casualty of pushing the envelope for Brady’s last year……
He helped us win a SB….for that I am grateful.
We need to get younger and faster…..at many positions including RB……
We need a back like Isiah Pacheco……a 7th round pick by KC……big, fast, aggressive….they are out there…..no need for a high draft pick on a RB.
February 7th, 2023 at 9:49 am
Yeah, that what NE Paul said. Agree 1000%
February 7th, 2023 at 10:29 am
NEfakefan. Yeah especially when you have a old quarterback that’s afraid of getting hit . Your daddy is gone why are you still here?? You said it yourself if Brady goes to the dolphins you will be a dolphins fan !! You said you would be on their website . It’s time for all you Brady worshipers and fan boys to go this is a bucs fan website .
February 7th, 2023 at 10:48 am
Bucs rushing attack was historically bad, and Lenny was part of the reason. So was White. But they were only part of the reason.
Like NE Paul said … ‘Hard to give Lenny all the blame behind that OLine and with the worst play calling you could imagine.’
But I agree with TBBF; we’re pretty much stuck with Lenny for another year. Hopefully the new OC has his act together, our OLine gets healthy & actually decides to open some holes, and oh ya, Fournette & White (and Vaughn) show up for camp ready to kick arse.
February 7th, 2023 at 11:14 am
Trade this guy if possible draft capital to move up some spots 🥊
February 7th, 2023 at 11:58 am
Brady trusted Fournette – Pass Pro and to be where he needed to be…Brady’s gone now…you really need to be all world as an RB to earn $7m a year….Pacheco for KC seems to run so much harder…I blame nothing on Lenny…we just need to get younger, faster, and cheaper at some of our positions. RB is a good place to start…
Go Bucs!
February 7th, 2023 at 12:25 pm
Stick the fork in him
February 7th, 2023 at 12:28 pm
too many fans are holding on to the SB season
LET IT GOOOOOOOO
That magic is gonzo.
Move on…and let’s rebuild.
February 7th, 2023 at 5:24 pm
Most un-creative playcalling in the league + a bad o-line (at run blocking) = any running back would have had dismal numbers.
The running game was HISTORICALLY BAD.
February 7th, 2023 at 8:44 pm
We need to add a back but get younger
February 7th, 2023 at 10:30 pm
It’s impossible to take much of anything from last year as the running game was so bad, and that was 100% on Leftwich being ultra predictable, and everyone in the NFL, and sitting at home, knew what was coming on every 1st down (until the game was out of hand).
With that said, Fournette has, in the NFL, always looked lumbering and slow footed, and yet he’d still get 50 yard breakaway runs where corners and safeties can’t catch him. I think it’s just a style issue. But no, he’s not quick by any means, also not a power runner, he’s just sort of a guy who accelerates when he has space and has good balance, but also doesn’t run guys over. Not a bad mix when you have excellent blocking, but with bad blocking, it’s not a good combo.
From a cap standpoint it wouldn’t make a ton of sense to dump Lenny this year, so I think he sticks around. Of course my info is based on what the cap websites say, so if their info is wrong, then that would change my take. But in the meantime I have no issues with him splitting carries with White, since you’re saving some wear and tear on White, who I think will be a star NFL runner. But in 2023 the team is likely going to stink, so no reason to get White meaningless hits and injuries being the sole back.
February 8th, 2023 at 5:47 pm
Lenny is still a very good to great option on 3rd down. He was never a bell cow beyond his first years in JAX. I think you keep him for one more year and see if he can handle the mental change of not being the 1 heading into the season.