With The First Pick
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Jaguars: Is Leonard Fournette favorite for Rookie of the Year?

By Maurice Barksdale

May 26, 2017; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette (27) works out during organized team activities at Everbank Field. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
May 26, 2017; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette (27) works out during organized team activities at Everbank Field. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted running back Leonard Fournette to add a boost to their running game.  Will Fournette get enough touches to win rookie of the year?

In the past five years the Jacksonville Jaguars haven’t raked higher than 18th overall in offense. Their running game hasn’t been very good during that time either.  So, the drafting of Leonard Fournette was a necessary move.

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The Jaguars new head coach Doug Marrone knows he has to help quarterback Blake Bortles by taking some of the pressure off him.   Because the Jaguars running game has been so poor over the years, Bortles was forced to pass more.

Doug Marrone wants to change that and one sure way to do that is to improve the running game. By getting more production running the ball, the Jaguars can use more play action in their passing game.

All teams use play action, but not all teams are successful with play action.  Primarily because you need a good running back to fake to, to draw the defense in.  That’s what Leonard Fournette can bring to the Jacksonville Jaguars offense.

The Jaguars have also made moves to shore up the offensive line.  They used a second round pick on tackle Cam Robinson and traded for tackle Branden Albert.  So with more beef up front, Leonard Fournette will have more room to run.

So can Fournette capture the Offensive Rookie of the Year award?  Absolutely, I think he’s one of the favorites.  Last season we saw Dallas Cowboys rookie Ezekiel Elliot run away with the rookie of the year award and he was in a similar situation as Fournette this season.

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The Cowboys fed Elliot carries like a workhorse all season and I think the same will be true for Leonard Fournette.  However, I don’t think he’ll put up the numbers that Ezekiel Elliot did, 1,631 yards and 15 TD’s on the ground.

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But if he can stay healthy, I can see Leonard Fournette rushing for about 1,300 yards and 10 TD’s.  Numbers like that could put him squarely in the discussion for rookie of the year.  A winning season for the Jacksonville Jaguars could seal it for him.

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