Vaughn hasn't evolved into the passing-downs specialist the Buccaneers envisioned. Until Vaughn receives meaningful playing time, Fantasy managers shouldn't bother adding him to their rosters.
Vaughn (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game at Minnesota, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official sitereports.
The 26-year-old missed a practice this week after being displeased with his spot on Tampa Bay's season-opening depth chart, so it's not a major surprise he's not suiting up Sunday. Vaughn reportedly worked out his issues with the team, but Rachaad White, Sean Tucker and Chase Edmonds will be the Buccaneers' active running backs for Week 1.
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Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Works issues out with team
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Coach Todd Bowles said Friday that Vaughn is back with the Bucs and has worked things out after leaving the team for a day due to displeasure with a demotion, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Vaughn still has his job but may only play special teams Sunday at Minnesota and could even be a healthy scratch. He was hoping to earn a role on offense in the final season of his rookie contract, but it sounds like Sean Tucker and Chase Edmonds -- in addition to starter Rachaad White -- are ahead of Vaughn on the backfield depth chart. While Edmonds isn't likely to play much apart from clear passing situations, Tucker is worth making note of for fantasy after recent comments from Bowles essentially confirmed the undrafted rookie had won the No. 2 spot in Tampa's backfield. It's unclear if Edmonds also will be involved and whether he or Vaughn (or neither) will be a healthy scratch for Sunday's opener in Minnesota.
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Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Practices fully in return to team
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Vaughn (personal) practiced in full Thursday.
Vaughn was absent from Wednesday's session due to personal reasons, which Greg Auman of Fox Sports called an unexcused absence. Despite Vaughn's listing of "full," Auman noted the running back only watched special-teams drills from the sideline during the media-access portion of practice. Vaughn may be poised for regular healthy scratches this season with Rachaad White the clear No. 1 RB and undrafted rookie Sean Tucker and Chase Edmonds ahead of him on the depth chart.
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Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Absent for non-injury reasons
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Vaughn missed Wednesday's practice for personal reasons, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Head coach Todd Bowles sounded less than thrilled about the situation and said Wednesday that he wasn't sure if Vaughn would be available for Sunday's game against the Vikings. The fourth-year pro is listed as the No. 4 back on Tampa Bay's initial depth chart for the regular season, behind Rachaad White, Sean Tucker and Chase Edmonds.
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Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Looks vulnerable
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Vaughn has a spot on Tampa Bay's initial 53-man roster but appear vulnerable, Rick Stroud of The Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Bucs kept four running backs, with Rachaad White the starter while veteran Chase Edmonds and rookie Sean Tucker represent Vaughn's competition for backup snaps. Vaughn has never lived up to his status as a third-round pick and enters the final year of his rookie contract having played far more snaps on special teams (386) than offense (247) through 37 career games.
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Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Improves in preseason finale
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Vaughn rushed six times for 26 yards and failed to bring in his only target in the Buccaneers' 26-20 preseason win over the Ravens on Saturday night.
Vaughn gained nine of his yards on one carry, so his 4.3 yards per tote were somewhat deceptive. The fourth-year pro was the second running back to log a touch after starter Rachaad White, and he led all players at his position with 20 snaps. Vaughn's roster spot is likely safe, especially considering he also has plenty of special-teams experience. However, Patrick Laird fits a similar profile and ripped off an impressive 21-yard run against Baltimore, so there could be a tough decision ahead for the coaching staff if it's also considering keeping at least one of undrafted rookies Sean Tucker and Ronnie Brown on the final roster.
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Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Flops in elevated role
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Vaughn was held to just four yards on seven carries and was not targeted in Friday's preseason loss to the Steelers.
Projected starter Rachaad White was held out of Tampa Bay's first exhibition contest, so it was notable that Vaughn was the first back deployed (even with the dirt-poor results). Fellow tailback rotation candidates Chase Edmonds (6/18/0) and Sean Tucker (6/10/0) barely moved the ball against Pittsburgh's defense either, so it's hard to give any player the leg up as they jockey for position ahead of Week 1. Vaughn will get an opportunity for redemption when the Bucs face the Jets on Aug. 19.
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Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Listed as third running back
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Vaughn is listed as the No. 3 running back on the Buccaneers' first depth chart of 2023, the team's official site reports.
The fourth-year pro began camp as the No. 2 back, but Chase Edmonds fills that slotting in the first iteration of the depth chart. However, Vaughn is better suited to be an early-down option behind starter Rachaad White, while Edmonds is a versatile, change-of-pace back that can also split out wide. Vaughn also has a longer tenure with the team, although he and Edmonds are both learning new coordinator Dave Canales' offense from scratch.
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Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Enters camp as primary backup
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Vaughn is beginning training camp as the Buccaneers' No. 2 running back, Scott Reynolds of PewterReport.com reports.
Vaughn appeared in 15 games for Tampa Bay last year but logged just 17 carries for 53 yards while securing three of four targets for 19 yards. However, the team's backfield should have a different look to begin the 2023 campaign after Leonard Fournette was released by the Buccaneers in February. Rachaad White projects to begin the year as the team's starting running back, but offensive coordinator Dave Canales recently indicated that Vaughn is ahead of Chase Edmonds and Patrick Laird for the primary backup job as training camp gets underway.
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Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Minimal action in regular season
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Vaughn rushed 17 times for 53 yards and secured three of four targets for 19 yards across 15 games in 2022.
The third-year back was a forgotten man on offense most of the season, logging just 35 snaps from scrimmage. Vaughn did garner active status for a career-high 15 games, but rookie Rachaad White beat him out for the No. 2 running back job and only increased his snap share as the campaign unfolded. The fact that Vaughn received so few opportunities even with veteran Giovani Bernard missing significant time due to injury doesn't bode well for the Vanderbilt product's prospects heading into the final year of his rookie deal, especially with Leonard Fournette still projected to be on the roster in 2023 alongside White.
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Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Logs two snaps Week 17
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Vaughn was limited to two snaps from scrimmage during the Buccaneers' 30-24 win over the Panthers in Week 17.
The third-year back logged another 12 on special teams, which continue to be his primary ticket to active status. Vaughn did carry once for six yards versus the Cardinals in Week 16, but with the team's running back corps at full health, meaningful playing time is essentially an impossibility. That said, the upcoming Week 18 finale against the Falcons could very well be a rare exception, as the Buccaneers are expected to eventually give plenty of backups playing time with the team locked into its playoff positioning.
Tampa Bay has said they aren't resting their starters, but to me that just means they'll play a drive or two. A majority of this game I would expect Vaughn to be the lead back for the Buccaneers against a suspect Falcons defense.
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Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Sees action from scrimmage again
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Vaughn rushed twice for two yards and brought in his only target for 11 yards in the Buccaneers' 21-16 win over the Seahawks on Sunday.
Vaughn saw plenty of action considering he logged only five snaps from scrimmage, with Leonard Fournette's early exit due to a hip pointer opening some opportunity for the third-year back. If Fournette can't get healthy over the Buccaneers' Week 11 bye, Vaughn presumably would settle into the No. 2 role behind Rachaad White for a Week 12 road matchup against the Browns.
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Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Cameo appearance in Week 9 win
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Vaughn rushed twice for four yards and failed to bring in his only target in the Buccaneers' 16-13 win over the Rams on Sunday.
Logging his first three offensive snaps of the season, Vaughn recorded his first carries since the wild-card win over the Eagles in January. Vaughn has remained a fixture on special teams since Week 3, and he projects to continue filling the smallest of roles on offense as long as Leonard Fournette and Rachaad White are healthy in front of him.
Vaughn (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the Saints.
Vaughn will sit in favor of the veteran Giovani Bernard once again. The former will continue to work to earn a chance to suit up in Week 3 against the Packers.
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Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Inactive for opener
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Vaughn is inactive for Sunday's season opener against the Cowboys.
With Vaughn not in the mix Sunday night, Rachaad White and Giovani Bernard are slated to work behind starter Leonard Fournette in Tampa Bay's Week 1 backfield.
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Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Scores in preseason finale
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Vaughn rushed nine times for 36 yards and a touchdown and failed to bring in his only target during the Buccaneers' 27-10 preseason loss to the Colts on Saturday night.
Vaughn made a second consecutive strong case for the No. 2 running back job after producing a 10-54 line on the ground in last Saturday's loss to the Titans. The third-year back capped off a nine-play, 81-yard drive early in the second quarter with a one-yard touchdown run, his fourth consecutive carry of the possession. Rachaad White, Vaughn's competition for the primary backup role to Leonard Fournette, did enter the game ahead of Vaughn, and there's a possibility the two manage the job in a timeshare of sorts to open the campaign.
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Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Efficient on ground in loss
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Vaughn rushed 10 times for 54 yards in the Buccaneers' 13-3 preseason loss to the Titans on Saturday night.
Vaughn had scored a touchdown in the Buccaneers' preseason-opening loss to the Dolphins but gained just 19 yards on 10 rushes, so Saturday night's performance was much more efficient. The third-year back is facing stiff competition from rookie Rachaad White, and their battle for the No. 2 running back job appears headed for a culmination in next Saturday night's road exhibition finale versus the Colts.
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Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Impresses in Thursday's practice
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Vaughn ripped off a long run up the right sideline in Thursday's joint practice with the Dolphins, Andrew Crane of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The third-year back was part of a successful session for the Buccaneers' ground game against the Dolphins defense, with Vaughn's run described by Crane as a would-be touchdown had it happened in a game setting. Vaughn picked up some valuable experience late last season, including in the wild-card loss to the Eagles, but rookie Rachaad White has also impressed during camp as the two battle to serve as the primary complement to lead back Leonard Fournette.
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Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Added competition for carries
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Vaughn's teammate, Leonard Fournette (hamstring), has been activated off IR by the Buccaneers, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
The looming return of Fournette for his first game action since Week 15 bolsters Tampa Bay's backfield ahead of Sunday's divisional-round game against the Rams, with Ronald Jones (ankle) still out. In the team's wild-card win over the Eagles last weekend, Vaughn led the way with 17 carries, adding a pair of catches, while Giovani Bernard logged 13 rushes and five catches. As long as Fournette avoids any setbacks with his hamstring issue, however, both Vaughn and Bernard figure to see decreased volume versus Los Angeles, making them speculative fantasy lineup options.
