Josh Jacobs had a fine rookie season, but Raiders GM Mike Mayock has set high expectations for 2020.
Despite missing three games, Josh Jacobs finished eighth in the league in rushing as a rookie last year with 1,150 yards (4.8 yards per carry). The award went to Kyler Murray, but it easy to see Jacobs as a snub for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
One area Jacobs fell short in, or was underutilized more specifically, was in the passing game. He had just 20 catches for 166 yards (on 27 targets), but it’s worth noting he had at least three targets in three of the last five games he played.
How to fix that? Become more reliable in pass protection.
Raiders general manager Mike Mayock spoke at the NFL Combine on Tuesday. Along with his heaps of praise for Jacobs, he also elevated the expectations for the second-year back in 2020. It’s an obvious football concept, not only in Jon Gruden’s offense as Mayock cited, but getting more out of Jacobs in the passing game relies heavily on him helping Derek Carr stay upright.
Mayock said the team didn’t want to put too much on Jacobs’ plate last year, as expected with a rookie back. But progression in Year 2 (or “Phase 2”) was already easy to tab, and Mayock has confirmed it.
Mayock gushing about Josh Jacobs but says he needs to improve pass protection.
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) February 25, 2020
“We expect him to get better in that department.”
Adding another weapon to @iam_joshjacobs' game? That's downright scary. 😱
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) February 25, 2020
How J² can open up the passing game: https://t.co/4nfIxTWi9Z pic.twitter.com/20lY0v9tGp
Naturally, there’s an opportunity ahead for Jacobs that he didn’t see to full fruit last year.
It's a crime that Josh Jacobs finished 49th among all RBs in routes run as a rookie
— Graham Barfield (@GrahamBarfield) February 25, 2020
This would be fantastic if this comes for fruition in 2020. Josh Jacobs finished 2019 with the 14th highest opportunity share with only being targeted 28 times a receiver out of the backfield.
— Moody (@EricNMoody) February 25, 2020
The only other RB with fewer targets in the top-14 was Derrick Henry (25). https://t.co/kTvdgBTPJ7
From a fantasy angle, Jacobs came in as RB13 in standard scoring leagues last year (RB19 in full-point PPR, through Week 16). Narrowing to Week 15, his last game of the season, he was RB11 in standard scoring. And that was without notable production as a receiver.
Jacobs is a legit weapon for the Raiders’ offense, and he will be put to greater use as the team expects his physical tools to translate into becoming a total dual threat package.