With the scary injury to Damien Harris during the Bills Sunday Night matchup, against the New York Giants, the Buffalo Bills are bringing in Leonard Fournette for a free-agent visit and I hope he signs a one-year deal. He may not be the same Fournette that helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win a Super Bowl but he's a powerful and physical running back that I think might have a little left to offer the Bills.
Leonard Fournette tells me he is visiting the #Bills tomorrow.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) October 17, 2023
Fournette has fielded interest from several teams, and there’s a good chance he signs in Buffalo if all goes well. pic.twitter.com/zs64rnZiK3
Fournette was on the field a season ago with the Bucs and started nine games. He had 668 yards and three touchdowns, with a 3.5 yards per carry average. He's 28 years old, so he's right at that proverbial running back wall. Last season with the Bucs, the issue wasn't with Fournette but his offensive line in Tampa was terrible. Can he have some success behind the Bills offensive line? I think he can, but he provides a physical style that will help wear down opposing defensive lines.
I like James Cook as much as anyone, but I would like to see a more physical presence in the Bills rushing attack, which is something that Latavius Murray provides and Fournette could be a solid addition to spell him in certain situations.
In his career, he's totaled 4,478 yards and 34 touchdowns. He has a career average per carry of 4.0 yards and has recorded two 1,000-yard seasons. He's a proven commodity in the passing game too, with 312 career receptions, including 73 just last season. He has also added another seven career touchdowns through the air.
If Fournette decides to sign with the Bills, reports claim several teams have reached out to him, then I see a limited role for him, given that Cook and Murray would likely remain the top two backs on the roster, but he would be a solid fit and give this team more depth at the position with Damien Harris out.