Despite missing three games during his rookie season, it’s hard to make a case that Josh Jacobs wasn’t one of the league’s top running backs last season. In 13 starts, Jacobs averaged over 100 yards from scrimmage per game and he was arguably the Raiders’ best player.
One of Jacobs’ best attributes is his ability to shrug off contact. His motor runs hot all the time, which results in him gaining additional yardage that most back wouldn’t get. According to Pro Football Focus, no running back in the NFL broken more tackles than Jacobs during the 2019 season.
Jacobs has a violent running style, which could cause his prime to be shorter than most running backs. However, he has already shown that he can be a workhorse back that can carry an offense against top-flight defenses. Look for the Raiders to ride Jacobs even more in 2020 as they aim to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
