2019 NFL Draft: Top 5 Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates

3. Josh Jacobs, RB, Oakland Raiders (Round 1, Pick 24)

This may be confusing considering I said Sanders was the best running back in the draft. However, that doesn’t mean that Jacobs will not be successful in the NFL. Add in that the Oakland Raiders took Jacobs and he is going to be their new workhorse back, and you can see why Jacobs is a top Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate.

Marshawn Lynch has retired and it has opened a huge hole for the Raiders. It is no secret that head coach Jon Gruden loves to run the ball and play old school football, but he also loves to throw the ball to his running backs as well. Jacobs can do it all and he will get the ball a ton in his rookie campaign, simply because of the offense in place and the lack of competition around him to compete for those touches.

Sanders will get 15+ touches a game, but I would not be surprised to see Jacobs get 20+ touches a game. With that much usage, it will be bizarre if he doesn’t produce well. Add in that new wide receiver Antonio Brown will make teams have to respect the pass and you can see that the Jacobs fit in Oakland could be the perfect formula for a Rookie of the Year.