RADIO
Week 16 saw a lot of COVID issues run rampant throughout the NFL. So much so that we sometimes forget that players are going to miss games for an actual injury rather than an illness.
James Robinson was carted off the field during the Jaguars' loss to the Jets in Week 16 with a lower left leg injury. Will James Robinson miss the remaining two games of the season? If so, is Dare Ogunbowale set to replace him as the starting running back for the Jaguars? Should I pickup and start Dare Ogunbowale in Week 17 against the Patriots? Let's jump into it.
Is James Robinson Done For The Year?
James Robinson was forced to leave the Jets game last week with a leg injury and has officially been ruled out for the rest of the season. After being thwarted by his own coaching staff for the majority of the year, he now has to face this challenge. It is a very tough way for Robinson to end a season that fostered so much turmoil in Jacksonville. That said, all he and many of us can hope for is the Jaguars to make a good coaching hire and for Robinson to be ready to go for 2022.
Is Dare Ogunbowale The New Starting Running Back?
Once Robinson left the game there were only two running backs remaining active. Dare Ogunbowale and Nathan Contrell. Ogunbowale saw 17 carries compared to one for Contrell. Furthermore, Ogunbowale saw 62 total snaps while Contrell managed only one. Tavon Austin did get more involved as a rusher seeing three rushing attempts, but they were of the gadget variety.
We should expect Ogunbowale to dominate the running back touches in this Jacksonville backfield with Robinson now out. That said, how valuable is that role really going to be?
Is Dare Ogunbowale Worth Picking Up and Starting in Week 17?
Ogunbowale should be the unquestioned starting running back moving forward. That said, the Jaguars rank 26th in run blocking according to PFF. Furthermore, the Jags' final two games pit them against the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts, two teams that should destroy them fairly easily and represent the 8th and 4th best run defenses.
It should be no surprise to see Ogunbowale dominate the backfield touches for the remaining two games. However, the game script will be against him and the matchups are tough. Therefore, we should expect a lot of very inefficient touches. Obviously, volume is still king, but Ogunbowale shouldn't be relied upon as anything more than a low-end RB2 or flex option.
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