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Only one game has been played in Week 15, but it's already been one of the most hectic and crazy weeks in the NFL due to COVID-19 outbreaks and injuries around the league.
Fantasy managers need to make sure they are keeping up with all the notable players landing on the COVID-19 list and injuries as we head into the weekend. It's even more important with the fantasy playoffs beginning in most leagues in Week 15
In a notable injury situation for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers backfield, will Leonard Fournette (ankle) play on Sunday night? And is backup Ronald Jones II worth picking up off the waiver wire? We'll touch on Tampa's backfield situation this weekend and answer any questions you might have below...
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Is Leonard Fournette Playing in Week 15 Against the Saints?
Running back Leonard Fournette has been dealing with an ankle injury, and was limited in practice all week, but he is expected to play against the division-rival New Orleans Saints in Week 15. Head coach Bruce Arians said Friday morning that Fournette got in a full practice and should be good to go on Sunday night. The final injury report listed him as being a limited participant and questionable, but all signs are pointing toward Fournette playing.
Should I Start Leonard Fournette in Week 15?
If Fournette is playing, we should expect him to have his customary large workload. There have only been three games in 2021 where Fournette didn't see double-digit carries in a Bucs offense that leads the league in points per game (31.5).
The first meeting with the Saints in Week 8 was one of the three times where Fournette had single-digit carries, toting the ball eight times for just 26 yards. New Orleans' run defense allows just 95 rushing yards per game (sixth-best in the NFL) and the fewest fantasy points per game to RBs (13.4).
However, Fournette should be locked into all fantasy lineups as an RB1 because of his high volume and high fantasy floor in this explosive Tampa offense. His involvement in the passing game -- five or more targets in all but three games this year -- is a big part of the reason why he's the RB6 in fantasy entering Week 15.
Is Ronald Jones II Worth Picking Up and Starting?
Running back Ronald Jones is rostered in just 36% of Yahoo leagues as of Friday night, but his ownership has been on the rise with Leonard Fournette nursing an ankle injury this week. Fournette is officially questionable to play, but he's expected to suit up on Sunday night against the Saints.
Now that Fournette is likely to play, Jones isn't as intriguing of a waiver-wire pickup, and the only reason he was in the first place is because Giovani Bernard landed on Injured Reserve earlier this week. Aside from Week 2 when Jones started against the Falcons, he hasn't played more than 19% of the offensive snaps. Jones has seen 63 carries for 273 yards and three touchdowns, while adding five catches on seven targets for 39 additional yards in 13 games played.
Really, the only reason to pick Jones up now is for insurance if you have Fournette rostered and he has a setback between now and Sunday night. And if Fournette did miss the game or was limited, Jones would merely be last-minute fill-in with the game being on Sunday night. The Bucs would probably just pass even more if Jones had to step in as Fournette's starting replacement.
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