Is Leonard Fournette Playing in Week 3? Should I Start Rachaad White?

Injuries happen in football. Most players have learned how to play through minor dings and dents throughout the year, but the injuries could have an impact on performance.

One player working through an injury is Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette. Fournette popped up on the injury report for the second consecutive week with a hamstring injury. Fournette has been limited in practice throughout the week.

Is Leonard Fournette playing in Week 3? Should I start Rachaad White? Let’s answer these questions below.

• Quarterback fantasy football rankings
• Running back fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
• Tight end fantasy football rankings
• Kicker fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Superflex fantasy football rankings
• IDP fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Is Leonard Fournette Playing in Week 3?

The fact that Fournette is still logging limited practices despite the hamstring injury is an excellent sign. The veteran running back has had minor lower body injuries pop up throughout his career, but few of them have forced him to miss much time.

In five full seasons, Fournette has logged fewer than 13 games played just once in his career (in 2018 with the Jaguars). The veteran running back has shown the willingness (and toughness) to play through muscle strains and ankle injuries as an NFL running back. There is no reason to think this will be any different considering he is still logging limited practices this week.

For context, Fournette went into Week 2’s matchup against the Saints as a limited participant in practice. He still played 87% of the team’s snaps and had 24 carries for 65 yards and two receptions on four targets for nine yards. There was little indication that the hamstring was holding him back.

Should I Start Rachaad White? 

Assuming Fournette isn’t a surprise inactive on Sunday, then the answer is no. Fournette has played at least 76% of Tampa Bay’s offensive snaps in the team’s first two games of the season. He is the team’s bell cow running back and will be treated as such, especially on an offense that will be missing both Chris Godwin (injury) and Mike Evans (suspension).

White has only played in 26 snaps through his first two professional games, logging eight carries for 15 yards and two receptions on four targets for seven yards. His role can grow throughout the season, but at this point, he offers little more than an upside handcuff in case Fournette is forced to miss time.

White has plenty of talent and upside, but unless Fournette is ruled inactive on Sunday, he should be on fantasy manager's benches unless they have no other options.

More Fantasy Football Analysis