It’s simple math, really. In spite of the resurgence of the featured running back in Todd Gurley of the Los Angeles Rams and Le’Veon Bell of the New York Jets, the position is still undervalued. Adding Gurley’s injury woes to the mix, and teams could be reluctant to spend big money on any back unless he has unreal production. That’s the mountain that Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette must climb if he’s going to land a big contract and find a forever home with the team that drafted him No. 4 overall in 2017.
Fournette had his issues last season, specifically in staying healthy. He suited up in just eight games for the Jaguars and gained just 439 yards and, worse than that, averaged just 3.3 yards per carry. Even in a solid rookie campaign, the running back missed three games and averaged just 3.9 yards per carry, though he did score nine touchdowns and run for 1,040 yards.
There are big expectations for Jacksonville this season after the addition of Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles to the roster. Fournette has to deliver, and 3.9 yards per carry won’t get it done. It’s why his own home newspaper, the Florida Times-Union, is suggesting that this could be his final year with the Jags.
Leonard Fournette significantly regressed last season. He was unproductive, injury prone and had maturity issues to surface. If he doesn’t figure it out this season, it could be his last with the #Jaguars. https://t.co/FnWONXH0FP
— Florida Times-Union (@jaxdotcom) July 13, 2019
Fournette hasn’t exactly started off on the right foot. He was busted for driving with a suspended license in April, but got the case tossed after pleading no contest and paying a $303 fine. He could still face some discipline from the NFL over that.
Last year he was suspended for one game after getting into a fight while playing the Buffalo Bills. All that has cost Fournette $7.1 million in guaranteed cash in his rookie contract. There’s no reason the Jaguars have to keep him after this season.
″Some things I did in the offseason I admitted to that I was wrong,” Fournette said. “But we’ve moved on. We’re in a good place right now. It’s a clean start for a lot of guys. The past is the past. After the season we had last year, I think everybody kind of hit the restart button.″
For Fournette’s sake, he’d better hit that button running.
