The Bills cut Fournette from their practice squad Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Fournette provided depth behind lead back James Cook in Week 16 when Ty Johnson was out with a shoulder injury and again in Week 18 when Latavius Murray was a healthy scratch. The Bills then left Fournette on the practice squad for the wild-card round of the playoffs, with Johnson serving as the No. 2 RB and Murray the No. 3 in a 31-17 win over Pittsburgh. Fournette turns 29 on Thursday and will need to battle for a roster spot next summer if he wants to continue playing in the NFL.
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Bills' Leonard Fournette: Moves back to practice squad
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Fournette reverted to the Bills' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Fournette was elevated for two of the final three games of the regular season, and in those appearances Week 16 at the Chargers and Week 18 in Miami, he combined for 12 carries for 40 yards. On Sunday, he even got more snaps (16-13) than fellow running back Ty Johnson behind starter James Cook (48 of 78) while Latavius Murray was a healthy scratch, signaling Fournette may be the top reserve option at the position heading into the postseason. Fournette's next chance to suit up is this coming Sunday against the Steelers in the wild-card round.
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Bills' Leonard Fournette: Bumps up to active roster
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Fournette was elevated to the Bills' active roster Saturday.
Fournette didn't play in the Week 17 win over the Patriots, but the playoff-tested back appears ready to see some work in a win-and-in scenario come Sunday night. The veteran will likely split time with Latavius Murray and Ty Johnson when the Bills spell starting back James Cook.
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Bills' Leonard Fournette: Makes Buffalo debut Saturday
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Fournette rushed five times for 20 yards and was not targeted in the receiving game in Buffalo's 24-22 win over the Chargers on Saturday. He also returned one kickoff for 17 yards.
Perhaps Playoff Lenny, who was elevated from the practice squad earlier in the day, was brought up with just that in mind, as the Bills are fighting hard for a postseason spot. James Cook is the main back in this offense, but it now seems pretty open for backup work between Fournette, Latavius Murray and Ty Johnson (shoulder). Fournette looked strong and fresh in his limited work, and the coaching staff has to like the fact that he volunteered for return duty. We'll see if this continues as the Bills try to win their final two games to seal a playoff berth, while it's worth noting that Murray did not receive a carry Saturday and Johnson missed the contest.
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Bills' Leonard Fournette: Poised to make season debut Week 16
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The Bills are elevating Fournette from the practice squad for Saturday's game against the Chargers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Fournette has been on Buffalo's practice squad since Oct. 30, but the veteran running back is likely to finally make his Bills debut in Saturday's Week 16 matchup. The Bills have been more reliant on the ground game in recent weeks, and while Fournette likely isn't a threat to James Cook's lead role, he could mix in as a backup option alongside Latavius Murray and possibly Ty Johnson (shoulder).
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Leonard Fournette: Could be called up soon
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Coach Sean McDermott said Friday that calling Fournette up from the practice squad will be a "big-time consideration" in the weeks ahead, Maddy Glab of the Bills' official site reports.
While McDermott didn't rule out the possibility of it happening for Sunday's game against the Jets, it sounds more likely to occur later in the season, with the coach noting Friday that Fournette is still learning the offense. The Bills primarily have used James Cook and Latavius Murray in the backfield this year, with Damien Harris occupying a small role Weeks 1 through 6 before he suffered a neck injury and concussion. Harris now has missed the minimum of four games on injured reserve, but there haven't been updates on his progress, nor has he been designated to return and made eligible to practice.
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Bills' Leonard Fournette: Week 10 Waiver Priority List
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Fournette wasn't activated off Buffalo's practice squad prior to Week 9 at Cincinnati, but I would expect a promotion soon if he's ready to play. The Bills need help in their backfield with James Cook and Latavius Murray not producing at a high level, and maybe Fournette can add something to Buffalo's struggling offense. It's worth stashing Fournette for 5 percent of your FAB to find out. As crazy as this sounds, he could end up being the best Bills running back by the end of the season.
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Bills' Leonard Fournette: Week 9 Waiver Priority List
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Fournette signed with the Bills practice squad Monday, and we'll see if they elevate him to the active roster Sunday at Cincinnati. He could push to steal touches from James Cook right away, and Fournette is worth adding in all leagues with up to 5 percent of your FAB. Most likely, Fournette will settle in as the No. 2 running back behind Cook, ahead of Latavius Murray. But since Cook hasn't exactly been dominant this season, there's a chance Fournette could find his way into an expanded role, even at 28 years old. Despite his flaws last year in Tampa Bay, Fournette averaged 14.0 Fantasy points per game.
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Buccaneers' Leonard Fournette: Week 9 Waiver Priority List
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Fournette signed with the Bills practice squad Monday, and we'll see if they elevate him to the active roster Sunday at Cincinnati. He could push to steal touches from James Cook right away, and Fournette is worth adding in all leagues with up to 5 percent of your FAB. Most likely, Fournette will settle in as the No. 2 running back behind Cook, ahead of Latavius Murray. But since Cook hasn't exactly been dominant this season, there's a chance Fournette could find his way into an expanded role, even at 28 years old. Despite his flaws last year in Tampa Bay, Fournette averaged 14.0 Fantasy points per game.
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Leonard Fournette: Joins Buffalo's practice squad
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Fournette signed with the Bills' practice squad after passing his physical Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
The Bills will see how Fournette fares during his first week of practice with the team, but if he picks up the playbook quickly and impresses during his time on the field, he could be elevated from the practice squad or even signed to the 53-man roster ahead of Sunday's game against the Bengals. Though he served as a lead back in each of his first six NFL seasons split between Jacksonville and Tampa Bay, Fournette will likely be primarily competing with Latavius Murray for the No. 2 role behind James Cook while Damien Harris (concussion) is on injured reserve. Fournette brings superior pass-catching skills to the table, but Murray historically has been a tougher runner between the tackles. However, Murray is averaging just 3.6 yards per carry on 40 totes this season, so the 28-year-old Fournette could have an opening to steal work from him on early downs as well as passing downs.
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Leonard Fournette: In good shape, ready to sign
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Fournette has drawn interest from multiple teams and has kept himself in "great shape" as he prepares to sign later in the season, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Fournette has been unsigned since being released by the Buccaneers in February, with a workout with the Patriots in July being the lone known visit he's scheduled with a team while he's been a free agent. The 28-year-old had previously been expected to meet with the Bills on Tuesday in the wake of Damien Harris exiting Sunday's win over the Giants with a neck injury, but that visit has since been cancelled. Fournette will continue to work out on his own with the hope that an opportunity emerges over the next few weeks.
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Leonard Fournette: Working out for Patriots
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New England is hosting Fournette for a workout Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Released by the Buccaneers back in February, the 28-year-old is still searching for a new team seven weeks before the start of the regular season. The Patriots have a relatively open depth chart behind No. 1 back Rhamondre Stevenson, and Fournette could prove more reliable than current reserve options Pierre Strong, Ty Montgomery, Kevin Harris and J.J. Taylor. Last season with the Buccaneers, Fournette averaged 3.5 yards per carry -- his worst mark since 2018 -- but he's proven capable as a pass catcher with 254 receptions over 58 regular-season games the past four years (63.5 catches per season, 4.4 per game).
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Leonard Fournette: Will be released by Bucs
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Fournette will be released at the start of the new league year, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports.
Fournette signed a three-year, $21 million extension with the Bucs last offseason, but Tampa Bay is in the process of re-tooling, with Tom Brady calling it a career. Fournette turned 28 last month and is coming off a down year where he averaged just 3.5 yards per carry and rushed for three touchdowns. His release opens the door for second-year RB Rachaad White to take over lead-back duties for the Bucs.
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Buccaneers' Leonard Fournette: Quiet finish to season
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Fournette rushed five times for 11 yards and brought in his only target for six yards in the Buccaneers' 31-14 wild-card loss to the Cowboys on Monday night. He finished the regular season with 668 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 189 carries along with 73 receptions for 523 yards and three additional scores on 83 targets across 16 games.
Fournette's season ended with a whimper Monday night, but he showed plenty during a successful regular season where he also went without a single fumble for the third time in his career. Fournette did average only 3.5 yards per carry while usually running behind an injury-hampered offensive line, but he should have a good chance of returning to Tampa Bay in 2023 considering his diverse skill set and the fact he carries what would be considered a relatively reasonable $8.5 million cap number for next season.
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Buccaneers' Leonard Fournette: Minimal action in finale
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Fournette logged just three snaps from scrimmage and brought in his only target for four yards during the Buccaneers' 30-17 loss to the Falcons on Sunday.
Fournette's minimal playing time was by design, as head coach Todd Bowles opted to give his bruising back's legs some much-needed rest ahead of the postseason. Rookie backfield mate Rachaad White saw slightly more work with four carries across 10 snaps, and both backs could work in a near-even timeshare during Monday night's wild-card clash against the Cowboys.
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Buccaneers' Leonard Fournette: Inefficient in Week 17 win
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Fournette rushed 10 times for 28 yards and secured all four targets for 19 yards in the Buccaneers' 30-24 win over the Panthers on Sunday.
Fournette's production left plenty to be desired from an efficiency standpoint, and he also logged two fewer touches than rookie backfield mate Rachaad White. Nevertheless, as recent weeks have shown, either back can set the pace in that regard in any given game, and it remains to be seen what the usage of each will be in the Week 18 road clash against the Falcons.
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Buccaneers' Leonard Fournette: RBs to Start
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Fournette has taken over the Tampa Bay backfield again, and he was awesome in Week 16 at Arizona with 20 carries for 72 yards and nine catches for 90 yards on 10 targets. He hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 10, but he does have seven games in a row with at least 10 PPR points, mostly due to his work in the passing game. Despite sharing playing time with Rachaad White, Fournette still has 25 catches on 28 targets in his past four outings. This week, he's taking on a Panthers team that has allowed just one running back to score more than 10 PPR points since Week 9, but Fournette will be tough to stop based on his role in the passing game right now.
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Buccaneers' Leonard Fournette: Massive workload in OT win
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Fournette rushed 20 times for 72 yards and brought in nine of 10 targets for 90 yards in the Buccaneers' 19-16 overtime win over the Cardinals on Sunday night.
Fournette was arguably the Buccaneers' MVP on the night, as it was his work during an early fourth-quarter drive in particular that sparked Tampa Bay's comeback from a 10-point deficit. The veteran bruiser's 44-yard catch-and-run play to open that possession helped set up an eventual Rachaad White three-yard touchdown catch, and Fournette subsequently helped position the ball for Ryan Succop's game-winning field goal in overtime on his last two carries. His reception and receiving yardage totals also led the Bucs on the night, and he tied with Chris Godwin for tops in targets. Fournette should be in line for another voluminous role in a critical Week 17 home clash against the Panthers that could decide the NFC South title.
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Buccaneers' Leonard Fournette: RBs to Start
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Fournette played more snaps than Rachaad White (58 percent to 39 percent) in Week 15 against Cincinnati, and we'll see if that continues again in Week 16 against Arizona. I think both Tampa Bay running backs can perform well this week, but I'll use Fournette as a low-end starter in all leagues and White as a flex. Despite his struggles, Fournette has actually scored at least 10 PPR points in six games in a row. He hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 10, but he has 16 catches on 18 targets in his past three outings. The Cardinals are No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs for the season, and Arizona has allowed five running backs to score at least 16 PPR points in the past four games. This could be one of Fournette's best games of the season.
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Buccaneers' Leonard Fournette: Flex Starter (Lineup Decisions)
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If I'm making the call based on the film, Leonard Fournette is the Bucs RB I'd want to start. He's solid for them and has produced consistently for Fantasy managers. There's also the possibility this game becomes so lopsided that both backs end up doing well, but I'm not hanging onto that hope for White. I'd start Fournette over Isiah Pacheco, Devin Singletary and both Lions RBs, but I'd start all those players over White.
