Buffalo Bills General Manager Brandon Beane shared his thoughts on the acquisition of Leonard Fournette, a powerful running back, just before Week 9. While the Bills’ offense had a strong showing in Week 8 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team has struggled with consistency.
Factors like quarterback Josh Allen’s turnovers, the development of the passing offense, and challenges in the running game, particularly in between the tackles and in the red zone, have contributed to this inconsistency.
In response, Brandon Beane took action hours before the trade deadline by signing the veteran running back Leonard Fournette through free agency. Fournette will join running backs James Cook and Latavius Murray, forming a committee in the backfield. The specific role Fournette will play in Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey’s plans is yet to be determined, but it’s likely he will cut into Murray’s playing time, if not replace him entirely.
Brandon Beane emphasized his commitment to fostering competition within the team and praised Fournette’s pedigree as a proven player who was drafted fourth overall in 2017. He acknowledged that while Fournette faced challenges in Jacksonville, his time in Tampa Bay, where he played alongside Tom Brady, was more successful.
During his tenure with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Fournette accumulated 2,631 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns over three seasons, including two 1,000-yard seasons. However, his performance did not fully meet expectations. In Tampa Bay, he matched his touchdown total on fewer attempts and gained the nickname “Playoff Lenny” due to his impressive playoff performance, including a Super Bowl victory in 2020.
Brandon Beane attributed Fournette’s ability to score touchdowns to his physicality and size, describing him as a “bruiser” weighing in the mid-230s. Fournette is considered to be in good football shape, and once he becomes familiar with the team’s playbook, he is expected to have a similar impact to his time in Tampa Bay. Murray, on the other hand, has struggled as a goal-line back this season, emphasizing the importance of consistency in the running game when Buffalo decides to rely on it.
In a recent game against the New England Patriots, Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey used James Cook for inside rushes, but Cook’s inconsistency limited the variety of plays the Bills could run and hindered offensive drives.
Fournette may not possess the same playmaking abilities as Cook, but he can help keep the younger back fresh while maintaining proficiency, which is vital to the Bills’ success. For now, Fournette remains on the practice squad, but there is a clear path for him to make an impact and score touchdowns for the Bills in the playoffs come January.
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