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The Winnipeg Jets Re-Imagined: The NHL Meets the NFL

By Kyle McCarthy

WINNIPEG, MB - MAY 20: Head Coach Paul Maurice of the Winnipeg Jets takes part in the post-game press conference following a 2-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five of the Western Conference Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on May 20, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Knights win the series 4-1. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - MAY 20: Head Coach Paul Maurice of the Winnipeg Jets takes part in the post-game press conference following a 2-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five of the Western Conference Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on May 20, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Knights win the series 4-1. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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JACKSONVILLE, FL – AUGUST 25: Leonard Fournette #27 of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs past Emmanuel Ellerbee #52 of the Atlanta Falcons during a preseason game at TIAA Bank Field on August 25, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

Was their any doubt our big boy was going to be a running back? Bruising, punishing and fearsome, this was an easy call.

The only difficulty would be, which running back? I thought about Le’Veon Bell. I thought about Saquon Barkley, but he’s more like…Herschel Walker. I even considered Brandon Jacobs, but he’s retired. Same for Patrick Willis.

Dustin Byfuglien will have to settle for the LSU product and personal favorite, Leonard Fournette. Fournette is big and strong, and while he’s not a blazer (4.51 40 yard dash), he has enough speed and power to get by.

Long strides? Check. Punishing hits? Also check. We’ll call Fournette’s big play ability as a booming slapshot. Well, I guess he’s less LeSean McCoy with the big plays, but whatever. He can score, he can run.

The biggest thing? He’s a workhorse. He was fourth in the NFL in attempts per game, at 20.6. Right behind Bell, Ezekiel Elliott and….Adrian Peterson? Sure. That’s a thing I totally expected to see.

I’m assuming that bulk of work is what makes Fournette so valuable in fantasy football. I snagged him in my draft this past week. But there you have it. Big, moves well, punishes people and has a huge workload. Dustin Byfuglien, meet your NFL match.

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