6 candidates to replace Dalvin Cook for the Minnesota Vikings
By Adam Patrick
Running Back No. 4
Leonard Fournette
2022 Stats (with Tampa Bay Buccaneers):
- 16 games (9 starts)
- 189 carries, 668 rushing yards (3.5 average)
- 3 rushing touchdowns
- 73 catches, 523 receiving yards (7.2 average)
- 3 receiving touchdowns
Crazy to think, but Leonard Fournette was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the fourth overall pick way back in the 2017 NFL Draft. After three productive seasons with the Jaguars, Fournette wound up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, which is where he spent the last three years.
He hasn't rushed for over 1,000 yards in a season since 2019, but he is still one of the most consistent receivers out of the backfield in the league today.
In three of the last four years, he hauled in at least 69 passes and Austin Ekeler, Alvin Kamara, and Christian McCaffrey are the only running backs that have more catches since 2019 than Fournette.
The thing with Fournette, however, is that he might be looking to join a team that will offer him a starting job, or at least allow him to compete for the starting job. But if he's open to complimenting Alexander Mattison or someone else in Minnesota's backfield, then they should consider giving him a call.