First Down Blog: A Devine time looms in Jacksonville

Multiple times each week, Brad Evans, in this space, will ramble on about whatever random, likely tequila-influenced fantasy football/betting thoughts are coursing through his often-moronic mind. Today’s topic: Some big news out of Jacksonville.

Before the rooster cock-a-doodle-do Monday morning, a seismic shift roused fantaslyand denizens from their warm and inviting beds, tectonic activity so earth shaking it not only put seismograph needles into motion, it rushed zombified fantasy players immediately to league waiver wires. 

Across their Twitter feeds it read “Jacksonville has just released Leonard Fournette.” 

WOW! 

The biggest news story to hit the virtual game since Damien Williams opted out or Adam Gase traded for Kalen Ballage only to have the transaction voided due to a failed physical 24 hours later, the fallout immediately sent shockwaves. Fournette, after all, accounted for 90.1% of the opportunity share last season, racking top-10 numbers in yards after contact per attempt while catching a career-best 76 passes. Despite logging the sixth-most red-zone rush attempts, his three total touchdowns were head-scratching, but now cut loose, he’s sure to quickly land on his feet, potentially in a more supportive environment. Where he relocates and what his new workload looks like, however, is anyone’s best guess. Regardless, the repercussions will stretch far and wide. 

As for Fournette’s former employer, a dreaded RBBC is bound to form. Chris Thompson, Ryquell Armstead and rookie Swiss Army Knife Laviska Shenault each experience an immediate uptick in fantasy worth. However, a UDFA with a sublime name, Devine Ozigbo, is the real hidden gem, an incognito rusher who could eventually emerge as the committee lead. 

Standing at a menacing 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, Ozigbo failed to stick with the New Orleans Saints last season, but that won’t be the case with Jacksonville. He’s a bruising between-the-tackles mound mover equipped with devastating power and adept hands. Earning rave reviews from the coaching staff and onlookers throughout August, he’s the ideal candidate to seize early-down and possibly goal-line work. During his senior year at Nebraska in 2018, he slammed his way to top-six marks in YAC per attempt (4.1), positive play percentage (51.6) and broken tackles per 100 touches (28). Showcasing 4.54 40-yard wheels, the dude, for his size, can scoot. His elusiveness, sharp vision and versatility are plus attributes. 

Let fools tout Armstead to their little hearts’ content. He isn’t exactly a pads cracker. Last season on 49 total touches, he posted a lackluster 2.57 yards after contact per attempt and forced a missed tackle five times. You’re slobberknockered on strawberry moonshine if you believe he’s suddenly going to morph into an every-down workhorse. 

If you’re in the market for running back depth, Ozigbo while others zag. There’s a chance he could join the likes of Arian Foster, Pierre Thomas, Fred Jackson and C.J. Anderson among undrafted running backs who hit it big. 

For those in FLEX heavy formats, expect Devine returns this fall.