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Josh Jacobs has been the unquestioned top tailback for the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders during his first three years with the organization. Is his reign as the Raiders’ No. 1 runner about to come to an end?
There has been no threat to Jacobs’ touches since he was drafted out of Alabama in 2019. He has outgained Raiders running backs by at least 600 yards in each of his three seasons and been the bell cow back from Day 1 with the team. The only reason fantasy managers are a little worried is that a new coaching staff is taking over, and head honcho Josh McDaniels and co. might not be as enamored with Jacobs as other coaches have been.
So is Jacobs the RB1 of the Raiders? And where should you draft him in your fantasy football league? Here are the answers:
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Is Josh Jacobs the RB1 of the Las Vegas Raiders?
As of now, there has been no telltale sign that Jacobs will not be Las Vegas’ top tailback heading into the 2022 campaign. Veteran Kenyan Drake was recently released after attempting to return from ankle surgery. McDaniels favorite Brandon Bolden, retread Ameer Abdullah, and rookie Zamir White are battling for touches and third-down duty, but there has been no word that Jacobs is in jeopardy of losing his starting spot. None of the reserve runners on the roster have established themselves as stiff competition for Jacobs, at least on early downs.
Where Jacobs may lose the most value is in PPR leagues. Bolden and Abdullah are decent pass catchers, so Jacobs’ targets and playing time on passing downs will likely plummet with these two on the team.
Where Should I Draft Josh Jacobs in Fantasy Football?
Jacobs has averaged 1,000 rushing yards and nine touchdowns per season since entering the NFL. He has proven to be a durable inside runner with a nose for the end zone, and he has improved his pass-catching skills as he set new career-highs in receptions, receiving yards, and targets in 2021.
The problem for Jacobs is that new head coach Josh McDaniels likes to spread the touches and playing time around via the dreaded backfield-by-committee approach. There will be games where Jacobs is the centerpiece of the rushing attack and gets 20 touches, and there will be weeks where the game script is pass-first and he is on the sideline while Derek Carr tosses passes to Abdullah and Bolden out of the backfield. And if McDaniels is looking for a gameplan built on more speed and outside running, White would cut into Jacobs’ carries.
Jacobs should be drafted in the fifth or sixth round of your draft as a RB2/RB3. Best-case scenario is the Raiders offense takes off with McDaniels calling the plays and Davante Adams invigorating the receiving corps and Jacobs is the No. 1 RB all season and has 1,200 rushing yards and a dozen touchdowns.
Worst-case scenario is Jacobs shares touches and time with the other backs and finishes with 700 yards and six scores. There is reward with Jacobs if it’s the former scenario, but great risk because the latter scenario is just as plausible.
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