Buccaneers: Toss out Ke’Shawn Vaughn as 2020 fantasy contributor

Press pause on Buccaneers rookie Ke’Shawn Vaughn in your fantasy leagues

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers used a surprisingly high draft asset on Vanderbilt running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn, drafting him in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. While he had a lot invested in him, press pause on the fantasy impact he will make on the Bucs’ offense as a rookie.

When the Buccaneers drafted Vaughn, Pro Football Network’s Zachary Knerr saw the potential for him to usurp carries from Ronald Jones II:

"“Not only does Vaughn fill the need for catching passes out of the backfield, but he is also a better blocker than Jones has shown so far. There were quite a few times this season when Jones was sent to the bench due to missing blitz pickups in pass protection. Let’s be clear in saying that Vaughn will not blow you away in the blocking department, but his abilities do seem to be an upgrade compared to Jones (Knerr via PFN).”"

For what it is worth, it seems the organization’s faith in veteran running back Jones II is also fading. However, yesterday the Buccaneers brought in veteran playmaker LeSean McCoy to bolster the Tampa Bay backfield for new quarterback Tom Brady.

Why avoiding Ke’Shawn Vaughn in fantasy is a good idea

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The selection of Vaughn last April was a bit staggering to begin with, considering the optics of it. Already, Vaughn is older than Jones II, and does not have the best versatility of the running backs available; perhaps a more versatile back like Miami’s DeeJay Dallas would have been a better idea.

The Buccaneers have already stated they will give Jones the bulk of the shares, use Dare Ogunbowale as their third-down back, and then bring Vaughn off the bench in relief. Now with the addition of McCoy, it muddies the water for not just Vaughn, but also that of Jones II and Ogunbowale as well.

Additionally, the Buccaneers have not historically pumped out good running backs in terms of fantasy football. Jones has not lived up to the hype, and his counterpart from the past two years was not a significant fantasy contributor either.

Even if Vaughn were to see a fair share of carries, there is little reason to believe he would be a fantasy football factor. Now buried even further, it is the best and safest option to steer clear of not only Jones, McCoy, and Ogunbowale, but also from Vaughn in your fantasy drafts.