JACKSONVILLE –The Jaguars face AFC South rival Indianapolis for the second time this season on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at EverBank Field. Check out these five key stats on how running back Leonard Fournette might impact this Week 13 matchup:
- Fournette Follows Franchise: Through nine career games, Fournette has already written his name in the franchise's rookie record book, where he ranks second in rushing attempts (187), third in rushing yards (765) and fifth in points scored (42) among Jaguars rookies. With five games left this season, Fournette has a high probability to break these records and more. Starting with Sunday's game against the Colts, Fournette is looking for redemption after posting season-lows in rushing attempts (12) and rushing yards (25) against Arizona in Week 12.
- Rising Rookie Records: In his first six games, Fournette posted seven scrimmage touchdowns, including at least one in each game. Fournette joined New England's Robert Edwards (1998) as the only rookies in NFL history to score a touchdown in each of their team's first six games of the season. With a touchdown this Sunday, Fournette would become the 20th player in NFL to record eight touchdowns, including at least six rushing touchdowns, in their first nine career games in the NFL.
- Rookie 100: Fournette has totaled four 100-yard rushing games, tied for the most in 2017, and he is just one of two players to do so as a rookie in franchise history (Fred Taylor, six). This Sunday, Fournette and the Jaguars offense are facing the 13th-best running defense in the league and the Jaguars previously tallied 188 rushing yards in their first matchup with the Colts in October. Having missed the Week 7 game due to an ankle injury, Fournette will have his first opportunity to face this AFC rival and help Jacksonville excel in the run game against Indianapolis.
- Leaping Leonard: In 2017, Fournette has caught 22 passes for 173 yards (7.9 receiving average), including one receiving touchdown. The Colts have the third-worst passing defense, allowing 266.3 passing yards per game. This is the second-worst pass defense the Jaguars have faced this season and could lead to the Jaguars using Fournette more in the pass game, especially with wide receiver Allen Hurns being out with an injury.
- Fleet of Fournette: In 32 games against the Colts in their series history, the Jaguars have had 17 100-yard rushing performances and have posted a 9-6 record in such games. One of those 17 performances occurred when running back T.J. Yeldon recorded 122 rushing yards in the Jaguars' last matchup with Indianapolis in Week 7, when Fournette was inactive. With the Jaguars' leading rusher back and the results of the two team's previous meeting, this is another key reason why the Jaguars will stick to the run game and could look to give Fournette as many carries as possible on Sunday.
*Every Friday during the 2017 NFL regular season, Jaguars public relations assistant Gaby Moran will bring five key stats about the Jaguars heading into the game on Sunday. You can follow her on Twitter @gabsmoran. *
