After being selected in Round 1 of the 2019 NFL draft, all Josh Jacobs has done is produce. He has posted back-to-back 1,300-yard seasons, scoring 19 total touchdowns. Jacobs earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2020, as he was dominant for the Raiders last season.
In a recent article by Nick Shook of NFL.com, he ranked the top players in the league under the age of 25. Jacobs made the list, along with Jonathan Taylor at the running back position. Here is what Shook had to say about the former Alabama running back:
“Jacobs’ per-carry average wasn’t great in 2020 (3.9), but we can’t overlook the fact that he ranks fifth in rushing yards since the start of the 2019 season (2,215). He’s also forced the third-most missed tackles in the NFL since 2019 with 120, according to Pro Football Focus. As we mentioned in the Jonathan Taylor section, Saquon Barkley might have held this spot on the All-Under-25 team had he not missed all but two games in 2020.”
The efficiency for Jacobs dropped significantly last season, but a lot of that had to do with the offensive line ahead of him. But with the Raiders retooling their offensive line in free agency and the draft, Jacobs should see his yards per carry rise significantly in Year 3.
Jacobs has proven that he is one of the most difficult running backs in the league to tackle. And with him being only 23 years old, there aren’t many running backs in the league who are more valuable. Look for Jacobs to have a career year with the Raiders in 2021.
