ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 08: Devonta Freeman #24 of the Atlanta Falcons in action during a game against the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 8, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Would Devonta Freeman landing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers effectively break fantasy football?
The market for veteran running backs is so slow that Devonta Freeman may consider sitting out the 2020 season. But teams have been interested, and Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer has reported the Philadelphia Eagles have offered him a contract.
McLane seemed to insinuate Freeman had an offer on the table from another specific team, before clarifying that wasn’t the case. But that team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has stood as a possible landing spot for Freeman since the day he was cut by the Atlanta Falcons.
The Buccaneers are loading up for a run with Tom Brady under center, highlighted by Rob Gronkowski coming out of retirement for a reunion with his favorite quarterback. The running game is in the hands of Ronald Jones, who had over 1,000 yards from scrimmage last year, and rookie third-round pick Ke’Shawn Vaughn. But Tampa Bay could very well still be kicking the tires on running backs.
If Devonta Freeman did land in Tampa Bay, would it break fantasy football in 2020?
It feels like longer ago, but as recently as 2017 Freeman was RB13 in standard and full PPR fantasy scoring. In 2015 and 2016, spurred by 11 rushing scores each season with 73 and 54 receptions respectively, he was RB1 and RB6 in full PPR. He missed all but two games in 2018, then averaged just 3.6 yards per carry in 2019.
However, Freeman remained a productive pass catcher last year with 59 receptions on 70 targets over 14 games. That might be the role he fills best at this point, and Brady has generously targeted running backs throughout his career. Backs also have to able to pass protect to stay on the field with Brady, which is an area Jones has fallen short and Vaughn is an automatic question mark as a rookie.
Unless Vaughn or Jones clearly emerges at some point, the Buccaneers’ backfield is in line to be a bane of fantasy owners’ existence based on the upside one primary back would have in a loaded offense. Adding a notable third wheel would only complicate things further. But Freeman could find a second act in Tampa Bay, with his versatility and past nose for the end zone pushing him into the fringe of the fantasy football conversation.