Is Ke'Shawn Vaughn The Bucs RB2 Behind Rachaad White? Fantasy Football Outlook

July 28, 2023

Is Ke'Shawn Vaughn the Bucs' RB2 behind Rachaad White? Should you draft Vaughn in the later rounds in leagues this season? Joey Pollizze provides a fantasy football update on the young running back.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. In three years, Vaughn hasn't gotten many opportunities in Tampa Bay's offense. He has been stuck behind players like Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones on the depth chart.

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Vaughn has just 79 carries for 342 rush yards and two touchdowns in three seasons. However, things could be different for him this year after the Buccaneers released Fournette this offseason.

Is Vaughn the Bucs' RB2 behind Rachaad White? What is his fantasy outlook? Let's take a look.

Is Ke'Shawn Vaughn the Bucs' RB2 Behind Rachaad White?

Following the departure of Fournette in March, White was going to take over the team's main running back duties in his second year. But the backup RB2 job was still up for grabs between Vaughn and Chase Edmonds -- who Tampa Bay signed to a one-year deal this spring.

The two running backs were likely going to compete for that spot during training camp. However, Bucs' offensive coordinator Dave Canales has come out and said that Vaughn will be the team's RB2 when the season begins.

Canales also went on to say that the fourth-year running back has "quick feet in the hole, sturdy build. And he's just got a real natural feel for it." It's impressive to see that Vaughn already won the RB2 job in the Bucs' offense, and with a new offensive coordinator, he should get more touches this season.

Ke'Shawn Vaughn's 2023 Fantasy Football Outlook

Vaughn has never been fantasy relevant in his first three NFL seasons. He has just 69.1 PPR fantasy points so far over his career. Part of the reason, though, was the running back being buried on the depth chart. He has always been the Bucs' RB3 on offense.

This year could be different as Vaughn steps into the RB2 role. He will likely see much more touches in the running and passing game. It's also a good sign that Canales was already speaking highly of the young running back even before training camp began.

Now, fantasy managers shouldn't be drafting Vaughn in most leagues this season, and he's probably better served as a handcuff to White. He won't have much standalone value in 10-18 team leagues, especially on an offense that is expected to struggle to score points in 2023.

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