Below-Average Ranking For Leonard Fournette
August 8th, 2022
Leonard Fournette
It’s tough to be a stud running back in your prime, a playoff hero, and endure a two-time All-Pro running back saying you’re below average among your fellow starters.
And that’s where Leonard “Lombardi Lenny” finds himself today.
NFL Network personality and ex-Jaguars and ex-Raiders running back Maurice Jones-Drew has issued his annual ranking of No. 1 backs across the league for NFL.com. Jones-Drew has Fournette ranked 19th among starters or projected starters, up only two spots from 2021.
(In 2020, Jones-Drew had Ronald Jones ranked 32nd among starters in his preseason rankings.)
Joe is stunned by this level of disrespect of Fournette. It almost feels personal. Lombardi Lenny is tied for the 10th highest salary ($7 million annually) among running backs with James Conner, who was re-signed by Arizona in March.
Backs like D’Andre Swift (Lions) and David Montgomery (Bears) are ranked ahead of Fournette, among others like brittle Saquon Barkley (Giants) and Elijah Mitchell (49ers), who still has a lot to prove, especially on third down.
Joe sure hopes Fournette sees this nonsense and finds some extra fuel for 2022 campaign. And no, Joe’s not talking about donut.
August 8th, 2022 at 4:27 pm
Fournette hasn’t peaked yet. He may really break out this year. Such an athlete.
August 8th, 2022 at 4:38 pm
MJD isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. I’ve rarely heard an opinion from him that makes any sense. His cerebral approach rivals that of a cinder-block. Stick to squats, not thinking. LOL!
August 8th, 2022 at 4:48 pm
Not worried in the least about Playoff Lenny. When the whistle blows, he will be ready. Thats the kind of Vet he is.
August 8th, 2022 at 4:52 pm
I would have to agree with this assessment. Off my head, I would put Lenny around 20. But who cares. It’s a Runningback. That position really doesn’t have much value, because a runningback is only as good or bad as the team surrounding them. Now if he was and overrated WR, DB or QB, that would be a different story. RB is the least important position on the whole football team.
August 8th, 2022 at 5:35 pm
I read that list yesterday.
MJD is a hack.
Lenny should have been at least 5 spots higher.
August 8th, 2022 at 5:37 pm
How many touchdowns do rankings score? How many receptions? Just words. Who cares. Wake me in September.
August 8th, 2022 at 5:39 pm
I’m sure that Lenny loses a lot of sleep each night because of where MJD has him ranked. Hope it doesn’t make him too tired to cash his $7 mil a year checks.
August 8th, 2022 at 5:59 pm
@Maniac,
As a previous fullback decades ago, I always gravitate towards the RB position. The LEAST important position? Gotta disagree with you. RB isn’t as valued a position as it once was due to the pass-happy league, but trust me, if a team does not have at least one very good RB, they will be sipping Margaritas while the top 8 teams with decent RB’s will be playing past week 17.
August 8th, 2022 at 6:03 pm
Below Average AND Lard A$$ Lenny should be well motivated for the season. LFG Lard A$$!!!!
August 8th, 2022 at 6:19 pm
D-Rok, I completely agree about MJD. Maybe it comes from a place of jealousy. Lenny is a top 10 back. He went from balls bouncing off his head, to the most targeted back in football, not to mention his running ability. Barkley is the single most overrated back in the history of the league.
August 8th, 2022 at 6:23 pm
Opinions are like excretment exits. Everybody has one but some are abnormal.
,
August 8th, 2022 at 6:24 pm
MJD also said there would 5 quarterbacks picked in the top 10 of the draft. They need to find another job for him.
August 8th, 2022 at 6:38 pm
Keep pissing my man off.
He doesn’t care until it is money time, aka, the playoffs.
August 8th, 2022 at 6:45 pm
I know Lenny is my first back drafted in fantasy this year.
August 8th, 2022 at 6:56 pm
GOB,
I don’t why, but everytime I hear MJD say anything, I almost always disagree with his take. I’m normally not in the position to talk crap about anybody else cuz I am not perfect by any means, but man, this guy.
I think at the end of the season Lenny will be a top-10 back at the least. He’s got that “it” that makes him elevate his game in key moments. There’s a QB in our fold who has similar traits. Great players play the greatest in the biggest moments. Lenny has shown us he’s raised his game when it counted most, and I love that.
Not saying he aint good, cuz he’s a freak athlete, but Barkley WHO?
August 8th, 2022 at 7:00 pm
Posters here are awfully defensive and angry; Lenny was 19th in rushing yards last year after an abysmal 2020. He was barely ahead of Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen.
August 8th, 2022 at 7:20 pm
Lombardi Lenny was pretty damn good last year.
Especially on third or fourth and short.
Money, baby.
August 8th, 2022 at 7:31 pm
I think as the pure ground game, between the tackles RB, Fournette is average to slightly above average starter material. However Fournette is also very durable, and he’s made himself versatile as a pass-catching back. He’s also very good at pass protection. Those attributes place him much higher than just 19th on a ranking list.
August 8th, 2022 at 7:33 pm
Ohh come on leaper, those three are destined to have short careers. They’re only still running cause the rules and the zebras keep them from getting their just dos. When you can call your own # anytime you want it gives you an advantage over a player that has to block and receive to earn his keep. And of course wait for them to call your play which is happening less and less if your name isn’t Henry
August 8th, 2022 at 7:38 pm
Drew-Jones never a Buc fan at all. {Plus Fournette was a Jag.
Not surprised. And who cares?
August 8th, 2022 at 8:02 pm
IMO…..these stories are being planted by someone at One Buc Place to keep him motivated. I was never a fan of Rojo but he did bring competition to Fournettee, which brought out the best in Fournettee. That edge is somewhat gone, White might be the only back to challenge Lenny for touches. Maybe some bad press gets under his skin and he proves them wrong.
August 8th, 2022 at 8:09 pm
@joe – I put this in your comments on another subject the other day when I read that crappy article from Jones-Drew ! He had players that had no business even being on the list in front of Lenny ! I also put it on Twitter for everyone to see . What a hater ! Is it because he’s an ex Jaguar ? I mean he had a few good years but he’s half the RB Lenny is and Lenny is definitely a top 5 RB ! I mean he even listed the STATS for all the RBs and Lenny was better than ALL but 3 or 4 and he missed 3 games ! Crazy how people just jot things down and don’t even put any time or effort into their own job. If I did that at my place of employment , I would lose the 27 year and still running contract that my father passed to me and I will pass to my son who works with me every day. Take pride in your work and maybe 🤔 you can get lucky and make a great name for your work and yourself ! Go Bucs
August 8th, 2022 at 8:28 pm
I usually agree with the PFF grading system. I don’t when it comes to backs. Lenny was near the upper echelon, when you look at productivity. PFF had him ranked as the twenty first back in football last year. To the nay sayers, are there 20 backs you’d rather have then Lenny?
Lenny’s impact on the team is a much better way to rank his impact. PFF has backs with much fewer touches, ranked higher than him. His receiving numbers are better than Chubb, Mixon, and Harris from the Steelers. As we all know, running backs have a short shelf life. This is undoubtedly Lenny’s last big contract. But, for the next two years, there are only about 8-10 guys I’d rather have.
August 8th, 2022 at 9:18 pm
Sucks he let himself go in the offseason.
Losing rapid weight trashes the body
August 8th, 2022 at 9:30 pm
Sour grapes from a sour former teammate.
August 8th, 2022 at 9:33 pm
Well, not teammate since they didn’t play together, but y’all know what I mean.
August 8th, 2022 at 9:34 pm
The more surprising thing is that they both are 1 biscuit away from being the fat arse Elvis. You would think MJD would take it a little easy on his fellow Ben & Jerry’s at midnight eatin fool.
August 8th, 2022 at 9:47 pm
Lombardi Lenny is entering his peak years. He may have 2 or 3 left where he can really pound the rock and still have a little speed as well.
I’m glad he’s getting all this “motivation” before the season starts. He should be a real beast this year and we have talent behind him to give him a rest when he needs it. I like the way the Bucs look at RB right now.
August 8th, 2022 at 9:55 pm
Fishhawk, don’t you dare insult the King like that. Fried PB and banana sandwich is my go to guilty pleasure. Even though E. let himself go, the voice never failed him.
August 8th, 2022 at 10:13 pm
Suspect there is a Jags connection somewhere. The Jags tried to blacklisted Lenny.
August 8th, 2022 at 10:19 pm
As a former RB, and an Offensive Coordinator in charge of putting offenses together, the last position I’m worried about is offense. I’m going to build my line, build my QB, build my receivers for my passing attack and as long as I got all that in good position, I can throw any half decent athlete in the backfield and manage a decent running attack, as needed.
If you have a great back, that’s different. Those guys are rare at any level of football. There are maybe 5-7 of those guys on the entire earth in their prime at any given moment. Everybody else is a product of their surroundings. Not saying I’m right, but that’s just my view as an offensive guy.
August 8th, 2022 at 10:20 pm
Last comment was @ D-Rok
August 8th, 2022 at 10:46 pm
It’s strange because MJD is a huge Fournette fan and always talks him up whenever he gets the chance. But who cares really, we all know what Lenny brings.
August 8th, 2022 at 11:19 pm
Let’s see, below average speed and quickness, good enough hands, blocks well, feet completely quit moving on contact. Sounds like an average starter to me.
August 9th, 2022 at 2:00 am
Why should you be stunned, Joe (and anyon else)? Lenny isn’t that great. His entire career has been overhype. The actual product has been average to slightly better than average on his best days. A totally average starter. Not fast or quick, goes down easily on contact, average blocker, decent receiver. Completely replaceable.
August 9th, 2022 at 6:17 am
Man, tough crowd. Lenny’s production last year was top 10 in the league. 1200 scrimmage yards and 10+ TD’s. I think only 7 other RB’s had similar or more production. I don’t think he has peaked either. This could be a career year for him.
August 9th, 2022 at 9:38 am
He’s clearly biased. Poor little feller had to waste his best years in Jax.
August 11th, 2022 at 2:45 pm
All-Pro? When?