It didn’t take long for Josh Jacobs to establish himself as one of the best running backs in the NFL. Through two games, Jacobs is fourth in the league in rushing yards (184) and second in the league in rushing touchdowns (2).
What is more impressive is that Jacobs has been able to accomplish these feats without both of his starting guards for the first two weeks of the regular season. It’s also impressive considering how he has been used in Gruden’s offense. Take a look at his rushing chart for the 2019 season via the NFL’s Next Gen Stats:
For the most part, the Raiders have used Jacobs as a battering ram between the tackles. Considering the state of their offensive line through the first two weeks, that seems like a curious decision.
However, expect Oakland to continue to rely heavily on their rookie running back over the next 14 weeks, especially in the passing game. Oakland doesn’t want to put too much on the rookies’ plate early in the season, but it’s becoming evident that he is one of the best players on their entire offense.
Through two weeks, it’s tough to find any complaint about the way their rookie runner has performed so far. He’s proving to be worth the No. 24 selection.
