Odds on Leonard Fournette’s Week 1 Team After Being Released by Jaguars – Bears Favored
By Robert Duff in NFL Football
Updated: March 9, 2021 at 4:07 pm ESTPublished:
- The housecleaning continued Monday for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who released running back Leonard Fournette
- On Sunday, the Jags traded defensive end Yannick Ngakoue to the Minnesota Vikings
- The Chicago Bears are the +265 favorites to sign Fournette
Leonard Fournette is the latest starter to be shown the door by the Jacksonville Jaguars. One day after trading disgruntled defensive end Yannick Ngakoue to the Minnesota Vikings, the Jags announced that they were releasing running back Leonard Fournette.
If the oddsmakers are to be believed, it’s going on to be NFC North teams loading up on ex-Jags. Sportsbooks are already establishing the Chicago Bears as the favorites to be Fournette’s next NFL employer.
The Bears are given odds of +265 to sign the two-time 1,000-yard rusher.
Odds on Leonard Fournette’s 2020 Week 1 NFL Team
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | +265 |
| New England Patriots | +285 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | +350 |
| Washington Football Club | +375 |
| Houston Texans | +900 |
| Seattle Seahawks | +1100 |
| Atlanta Falcons | +1100 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | +1200 |
Odds as of Aug. 31st
Other top contenders include the New England Patriots (+285), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+350) and Washington Football Club (+375).
Jaguars Insist Fournette Didn’t Fit
Under new offensive coordinator Jay Gruden, the Jaguars are going from a power running style to the West Coast offense. The team is insisting that this move is related to Fournette not fitting into the new scheme as well as their other backs.
There’s no questioning that Fournette put up numbers. However, his relationship with the Jaguars was often strained.
Jaguars did all they could to trade RB Leonard Fournette in the spring and then again this summer. But as Jaguars’ HC Doug Marrone said today: "We couldn't get anything, a fifth, a sixth, anything. We couldn't get anything."
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 31, 2020
During the 2018 season, he was assessed a one-game NFL suspension for fighting with Buffalo’s Shaq Lawson. The Jags voided the remaining guarantees in his rookie contract following the league’s disciplinary action.
Fournette was also arrested in the spring of 2019 for driving with a suspended license.
He’s Put Up Numbers
Jacksonville’s first-round draft choice in 2017, Fournette was the second Jaguars rookie runner to go over 1,000 yards. He rambled for 1,040 yards and nine touchdowns as Jacksonville went to the AFC Championship Game.
His 2018 campaign was rife with injuries and disciplinary issues but Fournette ended up bouncing back strongly last season. He carried the ball 265 times for 1,152 yards and caught 76 passes for 522 yards.
We’ll always have The Wave, @_fournette. https://t.co/zoMzJgKszz
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) August 31, 2020
Fournette has certainly been a workhorse back. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Fournette’s 666 rushes over the past three seasons are the fifth most in the NFL. He also rates fifth with 101.1 scrimmage yards per game among players with a minimum of 30 games played over that same span.
He’s owed $4.17 million for the final year of his rookie contract. That makes it doubtful any team would put in a waiver claim for Fournette. They’ll wait until he clears and seek to get him at a cheaper rate.
A Bears Market
Chicago could find itself without #1 running back David Montgomery (groin) for the season opener against Detroit. Montgomery’s absence is exposing the lack of backfield depth on the Bears’ roster.
Which team would be most dangerous with @_fournette? ⏬ pic.twitter.com/ww12JmMSPI
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) August 31, 2020
Fournette’s arrival would alleviate that issue. Combined with Montgomery, they could provide a power running game to an offense currently in search of an identity.
Considering who the Bears have at quarterback – Nick Foles or Mitchell Trubisky – being able to hand the ball off a lot to capable running backs looks to be a solid Plan A.
Bucs Are Going for It
If there’s a team where Fournette makes the most sense, it’s the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Signing Tom Brady and luring Rob Gronkowski out of retirement, the Bucs are going for it.
Arians on Leonard Fournette: "We'll wait and see. He's been a good player. We have to see where he fits."
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 31, 2020
They go two-deep in 1,000-yard receivers but lack a stellar ballcarrier. Fournette, a 25-year-old power back with a chip on his shoulder in search of a big-ticket contract might be the last piece of the puzzle for Tampa Bay.
Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+350)
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
