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5 bold predictions for Raiders in 2019

By Rucker Haringey

NFL DFS: MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 26: Head Coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders of the North Team during the 2019 Reese's Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 26, 2019 in Mobile, Alabama. The North defeated the South 34 to 24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
NFL DFS: MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 26: Head Coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders of the North Team during the 2019 Reese's Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 26, 2019 in Mobile, Alabama. The North defeated the South 34 to 24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – APRIL 25: Running back Josh Jacobs poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Oakland Raiders with pick 24 on day 1 of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – APRIL 25: Running back Josh Jacobs poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Oakland Raiders with pick 24 on day 1 of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

3. Josh Jacobs will go over 1,000 yards rushing

The Raiders were justifiably criticized for drafting Jacobs with one of their three first round selections. Spending high draft picks on running backs is not a good way to build your roster. Nonetheless, Jacobs is set up to have a big rookie season.

Oakland clearly wants to run the football, and Jacobs is almost assuredly going to be their No. 1 running back. Doug Martin and Marshawn Lynch led this team in carries a season ago, and both men averaged over four yards per carry. It will be a major disappointment if Jacobs’ fresh legs can’t manage the same feat.

That means Jacobs’ ability to eclipse the 1,000 yard mark all comes down to a matter of volume. He comes into the NFL with relatively little wear and tear on his body after splitting carries at Alabama. That, combined with the lack of realistic competition for him on the Raiders roster, suggests that he’s in position to get a ton of work.

Expect Gruden to tout drafting Jacobs in the first round as a rousing success when this season is over. He’s going to put up really solid individual numbers. Finishing somewhere around 250 carries for 1,100 yards is an optimistic, but not outrageous prediction for the talented rookie.

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