Will Josh Jacobs be a top-10 running back by season’s end?

The start of the NFL regular season is right around the corner, and you all know what that means. Fantasy Football will be revving up soon and that signifies the time to start preparing for your drafts if you haven’t done so already. Now, let’s discuss Josh Jacobs.

Rounds one and two are generally the two most exciting rounds of fantasy because that is when all the big names/studs from the previous season usually come off the board. Especially at the running back position, by the end of the second round pretty much all of the top backs are off the board by that point. But what about after that? Are there any backs out there that can potentially become a marquee name? Is Josh Jacobs a great option?

This is most important to know because while it is very critical to get the big names off the board early, you need to be very mindful of some of the lesser-known players after that point to solidify your team.

As you all probably know, the Oakland Raiders decided to draft a running back this year in the first round at 24th overall. His name, of course, is Josh Jacobs out of Alabama. Over the last several weeks, Jacobs’ name has been rising up the fantasy draft boards as many out there believe he is the real deal.

Much like a lot of others in the public, I too am convinced Jacobs can be something special this year, both in terms of football’s standards, as well as for fantasy’s standards too. Jacobs has the potential to finish the 2019 campaign as a top-10 fantasy running back as long as he can remain healthy.

During his days playing for the Crimson Tide, Jacobs rushed for over 1,400 yards and scored 11 touchdowns while nearly averaging 6.0 yards per carry on the ground. On top of that, he almost averaged 12 yards per catch and scored an additional five touchdowns through the air for Alabama.

While his accumulate college stats may not be as dominant as someone’s like Todd Gurley’s or Melvin Gordon’s, his averages are what catches my eye. Of course, his numbers may take a slight dip this year, as most rookies do while transitioning from college to the pros, but they should still be good enough for fantasy managers alike to want to roster him this year.

Let’s examine Jacobs’ current situation with the Raiders, and how they will likely use him in their offensive schemes this season. At this time, Oakland has backs like Jalen Richard and Doug Martin on their running back depth chart.

Last year both Richard and Martin played uninspired football for Oakland’s backfield as they averaged together with a total of 4.2 yards per game which was ranked in the bottom half of the league last season.

Josh Jacobs’ competition isn’t all too intimidating so that is reassuring for any fantasy managers interested in selecting him as a potential RB2 to start the year off. Secondly, with someone as talented as Jacobs, it will alleviate a good chunk of pressure off of quarterback Derek Carr’s shoulders this year.

Having the comfort to not always throw the ball downfield for offensive production is a dream for most quarterbacks especially someone like Carr who is in arguably a make-or-break type of season. The Raiders are seeking ways to improve Carr’s game, and lessening the pressure is most likely one of those ways. With that being said, expect Oakland to use Jacobs in a lot of early down situations.

Furthermore, he is a great pass catching option which is even better news if you are involved in a PPR format type of league. Derek Carr needs some offensive weapons to throw to, and the addition of Antonio Brown is not enough.

Jacobs can catch the rock out of the backfield making him a dual threat for defensive coordinators to deal with on a week to week basis. The extra usage in the passing game will only benefit Jacobs as it shows he is not just a one dimensional back who relies on carries to be a productive fantasy player.

This is also good news because Oakland will most likely fall behind in a lot of games throughout the course of the season. While this may seem like a bad thing because it means that Derek Carr will have to abandon the run to get his team back into the game, it won’t negatively affect Jacobs due to his pass catching ability.

The Raiders can pass to Jacobs to help get them down the field, and for fantasy’s standards that’s just as good if not better for anyone who has him on their team.

Josh Jacobs is one of the new talents entering the league this year, brimming with all sorts of potential. Many fans including myself are extremely excited to witness what this young man has to offer when he puts on the pads in the regular season.

If all goes well Jacobs could very well finish the 2019 campaign as a top-10 fantasy running back when all is said and done. His ability and support that he has from his coaching staff are all indicators that Jacobs will flourish with Jon Gruden and the Raiders this year.

Jacobs is currently going somewhere towards the back-end of the third round in many fantasy draft formats. That’s a great spot to take him considering his incredible upside and talent that he brings to the table. If all goes as planned, you could very well be selecting an RB1 in the third round of your draft this year.