Tag: Leonard Fournette

10 things to know about new Bills RB Leonard Fournette

From dust ups with his current teammates to why he’s a free agent, 10 things to know about #Bills RB Leonard Fournette:

The Buffalo Bills added to their offense ahead of the 2023 NFL trade deadline…but not via trade.

The Bills (5-3) did make a deal, landing cornerback Rasual Douglas in a trade with the Green Bay Packers. However, another move came via the free-agent route.

Running back Leonard Fournette heads to Buffalo.

Fournette signs with the Bills and joins a backfield which still has James Cook at the top. But Buffalo has gotten subpar efforts from veteran Latavius Murray in recent weeks and Damien Harris is out indefinitely with a neck injury.

All in all, there was room for a bruising rusher next to Cook in western New York and here we are.

With that, here are 10 things to know about the new Bills running back:

Patriots rival signs RB Leonard Fournette to bolster depth

RB Leonard Fournette has reportedly signed with an AFC East rival.

Running back Leonard Fournette has reportedly passed his physical and signed with the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the news on Monday, via Fournette’s agents.

Fournette last played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022. He appeared in 16 games, starting nine of them. He recorded 668 yards and three touchdowns.

This move will help the Bills’ running back depth. Damien Harris is currently on injured reserve, while James Cook headlines the running back position with Latavius Murray serving as the primary backup.

Fournette was thought to be a potential fit for New England during the offseason, and the team even went as far as bringing him in for a workout. But nothing more came from the initial visit.

This is not a move that obviously pertains to New England’s current roster. However, this is a move that gives them another opposing weapon to contend with. Fournette may not be the back he once was, but his physical style of play could be an issue down the road for a Patriots defense that is already decimated.

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Former Bucs RB Leonard Fournette signs with Bills

Lombardi Lenny is heading to Buffalo the week after the Bucs played the Bills.

A key piece of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 2020 Super Bowl run is moving on to a new team.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported on Monday that running back [autotag]Leonard Fournette[/autotag] is set to sign with the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad. Fournette will sign with the Bills the week after the Bucs played them in Buffalo, so he’ll avoid a reunion with his former team.

Over the course of his Bucs career, Fournette amassed 1,847 rushing yards for 4.0 yards per carry and 17 rushing touchdowns. He was a dual-threat at running back, catching for 1,210 yards and five receiving touchdowns. Bucs fans will likely remember him most fondly for his efforts during the 2020 playoffs, where he ran for 300 yards on 4.7 yards per carry and four touchdowns, including the last touchdown of Super Bowl LV.

His best season in Tampa Bay came in 2021, when he rushed for 812 yards and eight rushing touchdowns along with two receiving touchdowns.

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Buffalo Bills sign RB Leonard Fournette

Leonard Fournette has joined the #Bills:

Leonard Fournette has (finally) signed with the Buffalo Bills.

According to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, the Bills (5-3) will be adding Fournette to their practice squad. The team has yet to officially announce the transaction.

Fournette, 28, previously had a free-agent workout scheduled in Buffalo earlier this month. It was anticipated that afterward he would sign with the team but the workout was canceled.

It appears something changed then… and has again.

At the time, it’s unknown what happened. There was speculation that Buffalo expected to lose running back Ty Johnson off their practice squad and did not.

Days after the initial Fournette connection, Johnson was signed to Buffalo’s 53-man roster and has gone on to make special teams contributions.

Fournette’s workout was originally scheduled after running back Damien Harris sustained a neck injury and has his been deemed out indefinitely. It’s unclear if Harris will return this season.

Over that same time period, veteran Latavius Murray has struggled as Buffalo’s secondary option in the backfield to James Cook. In Week 8’s 24-18 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers saw Murray rush five times for only seven yards.

Fournette was a first-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2017. He spent three years there and the past three with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He won a Super Bowl with the Bucs but asked for his release in March after Tampa began to prepare for life without quarterback Tom Brady.

A 6-foot, 228 bruising back, Fournette has averaged four yards per carry in his career and has 4,478 career rushing yards. Even with his size, Fournette has a pass-catching ability as well with 312 career catches with 2,219 receiving yards.

In 2022, Fournette appeared in 16 games with the Bucs and put up 1,191 all-purpose yards. He has 41 total touchdowns in his career.

Fournette’s addition comes on the heels of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. trade deadline. Stay tuned to Bills Wire for all updates before and after the deadline.

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Report: Bills were hosting Leonard Fournette on free-agent visit… but no more

After reportedly having interest in Leonard Fournette, the #Bills will not host him on a visit after all:

Leonard Fournette was going to have a free-agent visit with the Buffalo Bills… but the idea was short lived.

According to The Score’s Jordan Schultz, the 28-year-old running back was set to have a free-agent visit in Buffalo. Now it’s not happening.

Something changed… so what happened?

Per a follow-up report, the Bills (4-2) were expecting to lose running back Ty Johnson off their practice squad. Now they aren’t and he stays.

It’s unclear why Johnson is no longer leaving at this time. There’s a chance that another team decided not to sign him off Buffalo’s practice squad after all in some twist… or are the Bills going to sign Johnson to their 53-man roster now?

In Buffalo’s 14-9 win over the New York Giants in Week 6, running back Damien Harris was taken off the field in an ambulance. Updates have since been positive, but Harris is in the NFL’s concussion protocol. Could Harris end up on injured reserve?

Both scenarios are speculation at this time, but an update could be provided from the Bills in the coming days.

Regardless, there is some sort of interest in Fournette from Buffalo. Whether or not Fournette would hold this little back-and-forth against the team in the future remains to be seen, but he’s a player to keep in mind in the future if he remains a free agent.

There is reportedly interest in him from other teams, so there’s a chance he is scooped up soon.

Fournette was a first-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2017. He spent three years there and the past three with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He won a Super Bowl with the Bucs but asked for his release in March after Tampa began to prepare for life without quarterback Tom Brady.

Bills Wire will provide updates when information is made available.

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5 NFL free agents who could really help these 5 NFL teams after two weeks, including Leonard Fournette

These five NFL free agents could really help these five NFL teams after two weeks.

We’re already two weeks into the 2023 NFL season, and we’ve got a pretty good lay of the land for what some teams need to work on to stay afloat this season.

While some teams can only fix these issues with improved play, other teams might be able to go look out and see what free agents are still available.

While none of the players on the list will be monumental additions at this stage in the season, they could all play valuable roles to help areas where these five NFL teams could stand to improve.

Let’s break down five NFL free agents and five NFL teams who could really use them right now.

Six points with David Dorey

Friday’s quick look at six fantasy items to know

Week 1 is over, and now we have to decide about all those big and small performances, the unexpected changes, and more than a few disappearing acts. Was it real? No arguing that Week 1 was a slop-fest for most teams that just now are playing “for keeps” and not just to decide which 53 guys get a locker for the season.

We’ve already seen J.K. Dobbins’s much-hyped season turned into yet another disappointing trip to injured reserve. And the Aaron Rodgers era with the Jets only lasted three plays. There were a few surprises in various backfields, and running back is the position that always delivers several in-season surprise fantasy stars. Most often, it comes from injuries shaking up the depth chart.

Here are six players and situations that I’m watching this weekend on the hunt for fantasy opportunity.

  1.  RB Melvin Gordon (BAL) – The first name mentioned here last week was J.K. Dobbins but he didn’t last long. The Ravens also used Gus Edwards (8-32) and Justice Hill (8-9, 2 TD). Hill was scraped off the waiver wire in every league after those two touchdowns, but the player who appears most likely to benefit from the Dobbins injury is Melvin Gordon. HC John Harbaugh said they would not add any backs but promote Gordon up from the practice squad. Gordon is no longer special, but Hill and Edwards have never been. Hill enters his fourth season with the team, and Edwards is in his fifth. Neither have done much in the past. It is a great offensive line in Baltimore and a decent schedule. The committee will persist, but Hill and Edwards have long been just depth players. Gordon could end up with reliable weekly value, though not as a difference-maker. One more name gets thrown into the ring next month – the rookie Keaton Mitchell who is on IR for now.
  2. RB Emanuel Wilson (GB) – Aaron Jones was productive in Week 1 but injured his hamstring and has missed practice. He has not been ruled out, and if he was, the expectation is that AJ Dillon becomes the primary with a significant chunk of carries. But also watch for Wilson if Jones is out. The rookie was a scratch in Week 1 but is the only other back on the active roster. The OC Adam Stenavich said that Wilson was a potential replacement for Jones if needed. He made the team as an undrafted free agent after rushing for 223 yards during the preseason.
  3. RB Kareem Hunt, Leonard Fournette – The Colts lost Evan Hull to injured reserve but may have Zack Moss ready for this week as he returns from a broken arm in the summer. But they’ve also contacted Hunt and Fournette this week and are “monitoring the market.” The Colts’ only other backs are Deon Jackson and Jake Funk, which isn’t optimal for the next 16 games. Jackson ran for 14 yards on 13 carries last week versus the Jaguars. Both Hunt and Fournette will end up somewhere this season, and yet they are already being dumped in fantasy leagues. This all goes away if Jonathan Taylor returns, but there is hardly any certainty that he will. 
  4.  RB Kendre Miller (NO) – The Saints 3.08 pick was inactive in Week 1 due to his hamstring strain. He returned to practice on Thursday and may make his debut this week. Jamaal Williams (18-45) wasn’t very effective rushing against the Titans and suspended Alvin Kamara is still out for three more games. The Saints have an out in Kamara’s contract next year, so any playing time that Miller gets could help him make the case that he should become the starter at least next year.
  5.  RB Roschon Johnson (CHI) – The rookie may be stuck in a committee, but he’s made the most of it. In his first NFL start, his seven targets tied for the highest on the team, and his six catches was the leader. Add in that he ran five times with a touchdown and a 4.0-yard-average, and Johnson already looks better than Khalil Herbert (3.0 yards per carry) and D’Onta Foreman (3.2 yards per carry). The Bears face a tough defensive line in Tampa Bay, but Johnson’s role as a receiver could lift him above the other two backs. No Chicago back had more than four catches in any game last year – Johnson just caught six.
  6.    WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (NE) – The ex-Chief signed a three-year, $25 million contract with the Patriots and then laid an egg in Week 1 with only four catches for 33 yards. Kendrick Bourne (6-64, 2 TD) became a waiver wire darling this week. The Pats offense looked better already with the addition of an actual offensive coordinator, except for Smith-Schuster, who was only on the field for 54% of the offensive snaps. He was on the sideline on the final drive. There is speculation that his knee injury of last year still lingers, even though they let Jakobi Meyers go. Bourne is in his seventh season and third with New England, and he is no sudden star. This week versus the Dolphins should give plenty of reasons to use Smith-Schuster, and if they don’t, there are problems that they haven’t been public with. DeVante Parker may return if only to face his old team, but Smith-Schuster is the one to watch.

And about last night…

Vikings 28, Eagles 34

At halftime, it was 13-7 in favor of the Eagles, and it appeared the standard sloppy play of last week, and too many Thursday night games had shown up again. It became a great game in the second half, with the Eagles leading 27-7 and then the Vikings putting on a show for the final quarter and a half – although too little, too late.

The Vikings offense is very good. Kirk Cousins threw for 364 yards and four touchdowns, and Justin Jefferson showed up in the second half with 11 catches for 159 yards and inches away from a touchdown. Jordan Addison (3-72, TD) scored for the second week, breaking free on a 62-yard touchdown down the middle. T.J. Hockenson (7-66, 2 TD) is getting a lead on all other fantasy tight ends.

Unfortunately, Alexander Mattison flopped for the second week, gaining just 28 yards on eight rushes and catching three passes for 11 yards. He also lost one of the four team fumbles. At some point, maybe soon, the Vikings may be rethinking the whole “let’s just use our second string” approach to the backfield.

Jalen Hurts has not thrown much this year. He totaled just 18-of-23 for 193 yards and one touchdown to DeVonta Smith (4-131, TD), who provided nearly all of the receiving yards, much to the dismay of A.J. Brown owners (4-29). Brown caught a score but was called back on a holding penalty. Hurts ran in two scores to pump up the fantasy points on his 12 rushes for 35 yards. Kenneth Gainwell picked a bad week to be out, since D’Andre Swift (28-175, TD) has to have leapfrogged the career depth running back.

5 NFL free agents teams should sign before the season, including Leonard Fournette

These five NFL free agents should find a home before the season starts.

The 2023 NFL season is right around the corner, and teams are gearing up to finalize their 53-man rosters for the fall.

Although, there are still a good number of veteran free agents who could still help NFL teams in need.

We’ve tallied up five NFL veterans that teams should be keying in on this month as they prepare to take on the 2023 regular season slate.

While none of these guys would necessarily be Pro Bowlers, they all could be reliable members of a roster and should have a chance to compete this fall.

Let’s check out who these players are and detail why they should be signed.

Ranking the best available free agent running backs

Will the Saints sign another running back in light of Alvin Kamara’s suspension and Eno Benjamin’s injury? These are the best available free agents:

Will the New Orleans Saints sign another running back in light of Alvin Kamara’s suspension? It’s a cold world for free agent running backs with more and more teams devaluing the position, but the Saints are one squad that still regards them highly — they’re paying $12.8 million to their running backs in 2023, per Over The Cap records, which ranks 11th-highest around the league.

And with Kamara sidelined for the first three games to open the season, it’s fair to wonder if they might spend more at the position. New Orleans did sign Jamaal Williams to a respectable three-year, $12 million contract in free agency while adding rookies Kendre Miller (third-round pick out of TCU) and Ellis Merriweather (undrafted from UMass), also holding onto backups Eno Benjamin and Kirk Merritt.

That should have been enough to get them through the first few games, but Benjamin’s ruptured Achilles injury (combined with Kamara’s suspension) is a big hit to the depth chart. If the group disappoints in preseason or the depth looks suspect, it shouldn’t shock anyone if the Saints add another veteran to the group at near-minimum salary.

If they are interested in adding another veteran to the mix, they’ll need to act quickly — in recent days free agents like Kenyan Drake (Indianapolis Colts) and Marlon Mack (Arizona Cardinals) have signed with new teams, thinning out the market. And if the Saints are going to sign someone, it’s more likely they’ll target a free agent on a minimum salary rather than one of the big names headlining these kinds of lists.

Still, here are the top 10 free agent running backs looking for work:

Sleepers and Value Picks: Running Backs

2023 Fantasy Sleepers – Running Backs

The Average Draft order shows a general picture of how your draft will unfold and where values/sleepers and bad values/busts likely exist. Any green highlight means the player is a good value that could be taken earlier. A red highlight signifies an overvalued player that is a bad value or just too high of a risk for that spot. No color means the pick is a reasonable value at that spot.

See also:
Sleepers and Value Picks: Quarterbacks
Sleepers and Value Picks: Wide Receivers
Sleepers and Value Picks: Tight Ends

Average Draft order – Value picks 

ADP Tm Running Back Starter Values
1 SF Christian McCaffrey Finally  healthy after two bad injury years and looked great behind the SF O-line. Consistent points every week. And that’s a lot of points.
2 LAC Austin Ekeler Final year of his contract and no worse than the No. 2 fantasy RB for the last two years. He may or may not get paid next year, but he’s golden for your fantasy team in 2023.
3 ATL Bijan Robinson This is ridiculous for a guy who hasn’t played an NFL down. But he is undeniably   talented and landing on a team that will build around him and that has a very good O-line. There’s nothing wrong with reaching for an exciting player that you want to own and Robinson could replicate Saquon Barkley’s rookie year when he was the No. 1 fantasy RB. Go ahead, you know you want to.
4 NYG Saquon Barkley Signed the one-year deal so 2023 is a safe and productive “go” for the RB who, like McCaffrey, comes off a thrilling healthy season.
5 CLE Nick Chubb The No. 5 fantasy back of last year may be in his final year of the CLE contract since they have an out for 2024 when they could save $12M by releasing him. Everything to play for and should have the best quarterback of his career.
6 IND Jonathan Taylor Taylor, when healthy and happy, is a beast. He wasn’t healthy last year and he isn’t happy this year. He wants to be traded. Until his situation is certain, he is a coin flip with a huge payoff or a huge risk.
7 DAL Tony Pollard It took four years to become someone in the NFL but Pollard now takes over as the RB1 in Dallas behind a good O-line and for a team that wants to be more conservative. Never more than 193 carries a year so far, so Pollard has to prove durable but the opportunity is golden.
8 LV Josh Jacobs Well. Last year was pretty good. The holdout is happening but the consensus is that he’ll end up back with the Raiders. When is another question. He hasn’t fallen far enough in drafts to compensate for the risk he has so far.
9 TEN Derrick Henry Top-5 every year since 2019 when healthy and only hurt once. This feels like a good value and he’ll fall even further in a few drafts. He has at least one more monster season left in him. Or four or five. He’s always an outlier.
10 NE Rhamondre Stevenson Pats opted to turn Stevenson into a workhorse last year as the No. 7 fantasy RB. But he carries risk since the Pats historically preferred a committee backfield and they’ve poked the tires of most notable free agent backs. His upside looks likely limited while the risk of a Year 3 decline is a reality.
11 PIT Najee Harris Opened career as the No. 3 fantasy back but dropped back to No. 14 last year while PIT didn’t fare well post-Roethlisberger. O-line is no longer a liability and there’s a nifty leap into an easier rushing schedule this year.
12 NYJ Breece Hall Agreed – tremendous rusher and the ROY of 2023 until Week 8. But he returns from a torn ACL. He may be ready by Week 1, but maybe not. And how “back to form” will he immediately be? Will they take it easy with him? Hey, how many free agent backs are they going to try out? This is too early of a pick to accept so much risk. He won’t immediately be 100% in health and usage to start – lot’s of questions so early in your draft.
13 JAX Travis Etienne Etienne missed his rookie season with a Lis Franc injury to his foot but looked good enough in 2023 to let James Robinson go mid-season. Ran for 100 yards five times over his final ten games. Slated to do more as a receiver this year on a dangerous looking Jaguars offense.
14 SEA Kenneth Walker III Slow start last year with a groin pull but once Rashaad Penny had his annual season-ender, impressed with three 100-yard games to end the season. Rarely catches and the Seahawks drafted Zach Charbonnet to rekindle a committee. Schedule also takes a downturn making him less attractive than this early RB2 price.
15 DET Jahmyr Gibbs Any first-round RB is fantasy relevant and this ex-Alabama is a threat whenever he touches the ball. Runs a 4.36/40-time and is an outstanding receiver. Pairs with David Montgomery but plays behind an elite O-line. One of the more exciting picks to be made in any fantasy draft.
16 HOU Dameon Pierce The fourth-rounder on a bad Texans’ team was a delightful surprise through Week 10 but he slowed down in the second half of the year, then landed on IR for final month with an ankle injury. Texans’ also ran him as much from a lack of passing success. New coaches, new scheme, improved passing, and a guy named Devin Singletary all work against Pierce repeating the same success.
17 CIN Joe Mixon Restructured contract to remain the RB1 for the Bengals and was a Top-10 for the last two years. Had a career best 60 catches last year as well. This feels very cheap.
18 CAR Miles Sanders Easy to find wildly different forecasts for Sanders. True – leaves the best O-line   in the biz but CAR is at least average. He also leaves a dedicated committee approach for the Panthers’ new offense that still only has Chuba Hubbard as the RB2. Rookie QB Bryce Young won’t run much, and maybe won’t throw deep, but Sanders was brought in to be a dual threat on a team that will likely need him in the passing game.
19 GB Aaron Jones Come on. Yes, Aaron Rodgers went to New York. And Jones comes off four-straight Top-10 fantasy back seasons. Maybe Jordan Love won’t throw him the standard 50 completions but maybe he will. Packers have a great O-line and a far better rushing schedule this year.
20 BAL J.K. Dobbins So many reasons to love and hate Dobbins. Better rushing schedule, top O-line, better passing should be less defensive focus on him. Big fan of new OC Todd Monken. But missed 2021 with a torn ACL and then needed a clean-up midseason missing eight games last season. Never catches the ball but had three nice yardage efforts last year. But apparently is holding out in final year of rookie contract. Maybe he returns to team, stays healthy and produces this level of production. And maybe continues to hold out with almost zero leverage and/or gets hurt yet again.
21 MIN Alexander Mattison Have to like his ascension into being the RB1 with Dalvin Cook gone. But his four NFL seasons have all been sub-500-yard rushing efforts with minor work as a receiver. Vikes did not add any obvious challengers to him. He’s probably worth around this pick but any upside from here would not follow from what   he’s done so far.
22 TB Rachaad White I am liking White more as the summer wears on, and he’s impressed coaches with no real competition for touches on the roster. The Bucs’ rushing schedule is also much better this year but the O-line has declined to one of the worst. He’s worth this pick, and seems to have a little upside, but that depends on how well the Bucs can throw post-Brady.
23 FA Dalvin Cook Was a lock for 1,500 total yards and eight touchdowns for the last four years, but the Vikes moved on and saved a ton of cash. This end of the RB2 level is comfortable since he should step into a fantasy relevant role before the season starts. He’ll be adjusted depending on where he lands.
24 PHI D’Andre Swift He is better than you probably think, and never worse than the No. 21 fantasy back for his three years. Trades one great O-line for another. But Eagles will use a committee and Swift misses at least three games per year. He’s likely to see more catches and fewer runs while in Philly. He’s a far better “best ball” pick than someone to rely on every week as a fantasy starter.

 

Sleepers and overvalued players

ADP Tm Running Back Depth Considerations
25 LAR Cam Akers Never better than the No. 32 fantasy back in his three seasons so this already feels optimistic. The Rams sport the worst O-line in the NFL and are trying   to dust themselves off from the collapse of 2022. Struggled last year until final three games had him with 100+ yards versus the three worst run defenses. Lacks consistency at best, and looks good only against really bad opponents.
26 DEN Javonte Williams Encouraging rookie season was followed by blowing out multiple knee ligaments in Week 4 of last year. He’s back in practice though has been limited in some practices as he returns to health. He’ll likely be better later in the season but offers some upside for a RB3 pick.
27 ARI James Conner He’s always good for 1,000 total yards and eight scores or so.  Cardinals O-line is not a strength but the rebuilding team is situated to run the ball more than they should this year, and Conner offers a good set of hands from the backfield when they pass. He will miss three games or more since he always does. But he’s a fair RB3 with no real competition for touches. He’s never been worse than No. 19 while with the Cardinals.
28 KC Isiah Pacheco The summer sensation of 2022 eventually took the lead role in the second half of the season. He ended with around 80 total yards per game and scored in four of the final seven games while playing through a torn labrum that has since been fixed. Chiefs will involve other backs, but Pacheco emerged as their best runner and they own the No. 1 best rushing schedule this year.
29 BUF James Cook Improved over his rookie season as the No. 2 back, Devin Singletary left and now Cook gets his shot. He has impressed this summer but the Bills added Damien Harris and have always used a committee. But Cook carries upside in this offense and could rise in the rankings this summer.
30 DET David Montgomery Has never been worse that the No. 24 fantasy back and won’t have a quarterback stealing yards and touchdowns. Lions own one of the top O-lines and Montgomery is a dual threat. Has to share with Jahmyr Gibbs, but the offense is far better than he had in Chicago.
31 WAS Antonio Gibson New OC Eric Bieniemy is talking up Gibson as a receiver and he’s been no worse than this level in three seasons. He’s a cheap RB3 in a reception point league.
32 GB AJ Dillon Dillon won’t offer RB1 stats ever, but he’s a solid complement for the Packers and   their great O-line. There is risk with Jordan Love taking over, but Dillion is a reliable back with around 1,000 total yards and six or so touchdowns. That should continue and potentially even get a small bump if the Packers struggle to connect with their wideouts.
33 NO Alvin Kamara He was a lock for Top-10 stats but fell to only No. 16 last year during the Saints struggles. Is he a RB3 now? This all depends on the resolution/suspension from his legal issues. The Saints O-line is no longer an advantage but the schedule is kind and the addition of Derek Carr should help the passing effort. Carr doesn’t run, so Kamara should get back to his higher level of receptions. Pending the suspension, this feels like a good value for a player that has appeared to be back in shape and reinvigorated. Even if he misses some games.
34 WAS Brian Robinson Jr. He’s the rushing half of the backfield and new OC Eric Bieniemy looks to improve the production. Robinson missed the first month of 2022 and enters the season as a healthy starter with no new holes that need to heal. Not a ton of upside, but he’s a decent RB4 to fill in when needed and at worse, a handful of points each week.
35 NO Jamaal Williams The hope in Williams joining the backfield is that they can reprise the Mark   Ingram role from a few years back.  Williams blew up last year with 17 touchdowns for the Lions and should be a great complement for Alvin Kamara and even better if Kamara misses any games from suspension.
36 MIA Devon Achane The Dolphins already have a logjam in the backfield and that’s without them adding one of the free-agent running backs by the start of the season. Achane draws attention because he ran a 4.32 40-time at the NFL combine and looks great in camp. But he is only 5-9 and 188 yards and likely won’t offer any consistent production. But – rookie rusher with jaw-dropping speed always deserves a roster spot.
37 CHI Khalil Herbert Spent two years behind David Montgomery but now has a chance to be the RB1 in Chicago. Hasn’t rushed more than 129 times in a season so far but was effective. He’ll contend with a quarterback that runs and scores, plus D’Onta Foreman who could end up taking over after his big year with the Panthers. Herbert missed at least three games each season despite never having more than 138 touches.
38 DEN Samaje Perine Lands in Denver along with new HC Sean Payton in an offense that wants to rebound from 2022. He’ll safely be the RB2 there unless Javonte Williams struggles in his return from knee surgery.
39 PHI Rashaad Penny What a great best ball pick and a bad redraft league option. Penny may well start the year as the Eagle’s primary rusher. But they rely on a committee, D’Andre Swift is also there, and Penny’s career consistency with landing on IR is at 100% for his five NFL seasons. He’ll have at least two great games, maybe a few more, but history says it is not a name you’ll mention in December. Maybe not November. October? Which part?
40 SEA Zach Charbonnet The UCLA stud was the third running back drafted this year and is slated to pair with Kenneth Walker. At least when he is healthy. He’s out “indefinitely” with a shoulder injury and that could mean anything since there is no official injury reporting until the season starts. Until there is clarity, or he returns, he is fantasy roster depth and a great handcuff for the Walker owner.
41 BUF Damien Harris Harris was productive with the Pats with as many as 15 touchdowns in 2021. But he’s often injured and lost his job to Rhamondre Stevenson. Now he lands with the Bills which sounds interesting, but they use a committee approach and James Cook is getting all the hype this summer.
42 SF Elijah Mitchell Great handcuff for the Christian McCaffrey owner and upside if Mitchell filled in as the primary. Missed at least six games injured himself every year, so there is downside as well. Would never merit a fantasy start if McCaffrey was healthy.
43 CHI D’Onta Foreman The Bears moved on from David Montgomery and replaced him with Foreman who ran   for 914 yards and five TDs for the Panthers last year. Almost zero experience as a receiver, and any touchdown role will be decreased thanks to Justin   Fields, but Foreman could end up with the bulk of carries competing with just   Khalil Herbert.
44 KC Jerick McKinnon He’s 31 years old and found no takers as a free agent so re-signed with the Chiefs. He’s been highly productive for small stretches of games but never used consistently. Worth a RB4 pick just in case he gets hot again for a month.
45 PIT Jaylen Warren Just a backup to Najee Harris but may see more work as the RB2 since the Steelers want to focus more on the run this season. The UFDA ran for 379 yards and caught 28 passes for 214 yards, so he’s bye-week filler if the matchup is right.
46 FA Kareem Hunt He’s only 27 and hasn’t been worked into the ground. But he fell to 3.8 yards per carry behind the Browns line last year and now as a free agent is rarely spoken about. He’s one of the group of free agent backs wishing for the old days, and probably the least likely to end up with a significant role this season.
47 JAX Tank Bigsby Solid backup for Travis Etienne who is impressing as an inside rusher and definite RB2 for the Jags improving offense. Great handcuff for Etienne and could produce stand-alone fantasy value in any case.
48 ATL Tyler Allgeier Handcuff for Bijan Robinson but won’t yield fantasy relevant stats barring an unthinkable injury to the rookie.
49 HOU Devin Singletary Played out four years in Buffalo with around 1,000 total yards and six or so   touchdowns per year. Never was set loose with a high if 188 carries in that offense and now pairs with Dameon Pierce which should ding both backs potential fantasy points. But the offense is new and Singletary could carve out a third down role plus Pierce hasn’t proven durable yet.
50 NO Kendre Miller Solid pick with upside and a handcuff for Alvin Kamara who appears likely to be suspended for a stretch. Miller was the fourth back drafted this spring and is a play for the future with Kamara helping to mentor him. Jamaal Williams is likely the RB2 so Miller may be underused other than filling in for any suspension games of Kamara.
51 DAL Ezekiel Elliott So maybe that previous monster contract fed into the current reticence of the   NFL to pay any running back. But Elliott is only 27 and by report in better   shape now that the cruise control is broken. As a RB5, he’s a solid stash in the second half of your draft that should end up somewhere, mostly relegated to goal line, short yardage and relief work. But he won’t be signed to just watch where ever he ends up which may be back home in Dallas.
52 MIA Raheem Mostert The Dolphins use a committee and there’s always the chance that they add another free agent back before the season starts.  Offers a great bye-week filler if he is healthy still and managed three 100-totl yard efforts last year.
53 TB Leonard Fournette Same as the other free agent backs – waiting by the phone. There’s speculation that Fournette’s biggest problem is that he isn’t as dedicated to his craft as he could be and that his inattention to his weight is just one symptom.  Still, he could become fantasy relevant at some point, particularly if a team loses their RB1 during the season and needs quick help.
54 TEN Tyjae Spears He could have future appeal and the ex-Tulane back was the fifth rookie back taken. But as long as Derrick Henry is wearing a helmet, Spears is just a handcuff.
55 CHI Roschon Johnson The ex-high school quarterback switched to running back at Texas but then ended   up watching Bijan Robinson peel off highlight reels. Johnson’s ceiling is still not known and he’ll be behind Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman but nothing is set in stone in Chicago.
56 CAR Chuba Hubbard When they let Christian McCaffrey go last year, Hubbard didn’t take over. D’Onta Foreman finally caught his career on fire while Hubbard got hurt and was overall worse than his rookie season. The Panthers brought in Miles Sanders as the RB1 and Hubbard is just a handcuff.
57 ATL Cordarrelle Patterson The 32-year-old Patterson trailed off badly last season and is finally showing his age. If Patterson offers any consistent fantasy value, it will happen alongside every Bijan Robinson owner screaming “get up! Get up! Noooo!”
58 PHI Kenneth Gainwell Gainwell may offer fantasy value during the season should other injuries occur and the committee approach adds him back into the mix, but he’ll end up as one of your first throwbacks during free agent waivers.
59 MIA Jeff Wilson He’ll be in the mix for the Dolphins but likely won’t offer more than a bye-week filler unless Raheem Mostert is injured. And – they don’t sign another free agent back.
60 CLE Jerome Ford Handcuff for the Nick Chubb owner. The former fifth-round pick of last year steps up to take Kareem Hunts RB2 role and may end up with minor fantasy value.

Best of the rest

Gus Edwards (BAL) – Deserves a fantasy roster spot as the RB2 on a Ravens’ team that wants to run. J.K. Dobbins is unhappy and not all that durable.

Zamir White (LV) – The rookie of 2022 did nothing but will gain a role if Josh Jacobs holds out. Worthwhile final round pick to see what happens.

Deuce Vaughn (DAL) – He’s too small for an every down role at 5-5 and 179 pounds but the backfield is in transition and could make room for others behind Tony Pollard so long as Ezekiel Elliott doesn’t end back up in Dallas.