Josh Jacobs Takes His Talents to Prime Time
The Las Vegas Raiders may have the most under-the-radar league-leading running back in the history of the NFL. Through 12 games, Josh Jacobs has nearly 200 yards more than the second-place runner (Nick Chubb), yet he doesn't seem to be talked about nearly as much as his contemporaries. With a lack of nationally televised games following the team's lackluster 2-7 start, Jacobs' defense-splitting antics have been buried, but with a prime-time game coming up, the nation will watch Jacbos play Thursday night.
Maintaining the Running Back Crown
Jacobs is listed as questionable with a foot injury, but he is expected to play and keep his seat on the RB throne. Outside of those all-important counting stats, the former Alabama product has helped the Raiders climb back out of the cellar after it was assumed that 2022 was going to be a lost year for the franchise and the player. After denying the back his fifth-year option after the 2021 season, it was widely thought that Jacobs could be an afterthought on this offense, particularly when they selected Zamir White in the fourth round of the NFL Draft and added both Ameer Abdullah and Brandon Bolden through free agency. Not only have the two veterans hardly seen the field, but the rookie only has 12 carries.
The production hasn't stopped at the running game either, as Jacobs has two separate three-game streaks of 150 or more yards from scrimmage, thanks in large part to his 42 receptions and 331 receiving yards, both marks that are dangerously close to surpassing his career bests (54 receptions and 348 yards). All of these Josh Jacobs stats have coalesced into an RB1 season in fantasy, where he has scored 14+ points in eight of his twelve games.
It should be smooth sailing again on Thursday Night Football against a faltering Rams team without their best player, Aaron Donald. After a Week 13 in which Jacobs finished with 144 yards, he now has six 100+ yard games on the season, and he looks to be in a prime spot to do it once again.
Raiders and Jacobs Down the Stretch Run
Looking ahead to next week and the rest of the fantasy playoffs, things start to get a little more difficult. Week 15's opponent, the Patriots, hasn't allowed a runner to rush for over 100 yards in a single game since back in Week 4, while teams have only scored five touchdowns on the ground against them on the season. The schedule doesn't lighten up after that, as they head to Pittsburgh to take on a Steelers defense that ranks ninth in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to running backs and then play the 49ers, who rank first.
It may be tough for Jacobs to finish the season as the leader in rushing yards, but he should be able to pad his lead even further on TNF before a rough road through the last month of the season. Hopefully, the team will continue to allow RB Josh Jacobs to gobble up those scrimmage yards; we just need his ankle and their record to hold steady.
