Fantasy Football: Josh Jacobs has RB1 potential in 2020
Raiders’ Josh Jacobs has the potential to be the RB1 in fantasy football for 2020.
When the Raiders used the 24th overall pick on running back Josh Jacobs with no sign of a challenger for snaps on the roster, we knew he would be a fantasy football asset. As the season went on and his large role in the Raiders offense became clear, that was obviously the case as he ranked 15th among qualifying running backs in fantasy points per game with 14.7.
On the whole, Jacobs submitted a strong rookie season, one that likely should’ve earned him Offensive Rookie of the Year, even if he lost out to Kyler Murray. The running back rushed 242 times for 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns with 20 receptions for 166 yards as well.
Now entering his second season and with a better overall offense around him, Jacobs has plenty of hype. According to Fantasy Football Calculator and mock drafts from June 8-10, Jacobs has a fantasy football ADP of 1.06 in PPR leagues, the RB6 in that regard. And while that still makes him a top-tier target and a first-round pick for fantasy managers, it may not be high enough.
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As Josh Jacobs forays into his second NFL season, he has legitimate potential to end the 2020 campaign as RB1 in fantasy football.
The case for Josh Jacobs becoming the top player in fantasy football.
Perhaps the first thing that needs to be said is that Jacobs’ second season, as fantasy managers approach drafts, should hopefully be helpful. The rookie played through injuries towards the end of the year and had his campaign shortened to only 13 games when it was all said and done. So if he can stay healthy, it should be noted that he was third in the NFL in rushing yards per game last season.
However, the two primary reasons why Jacobs dropped to RB15 in fantasy points per game last season were his lack of scoring and receiving. His seven rushing touchdowns were tied for just 12th among running backs. Meanwhile, once again, he had only 20 receptions on 27 targets.
You have to expect that both of those totals should increase in the 2020 season. With the workload that Jacobs receives in the offense, the fact that he had only seven touchdowns is more bad luck. There should be a regression to the mean of workload and productivity that results in an increased number of touchdowns.
Beyond that, one of the defining traits of Jacobs as a prospect coming out of Alabama was his ability as a receiving back. The fact that he wasn’t utilized by the Raiders in that regard as a rookie is something you have to believe the team will look to change, especially now that they’ve added more weapons to open up the offense and give Jacobs room to operate. That’s why PFF listed him among their second-year breakout candidates — because he should play a bigger role in the passing game.
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This goes beyond Jacobs’ increased productivity, though. Alvin Kamara should see fewer targets with Emmanuel Sanders joining the Saints offense. Christian McCaffrey may drop back as the offensive line is worse and the offense is new. That could give Jacobs the opportunity to catch up with them.
Ultimately, there’s no guarantee that Josh Jacobs will finish as the RB1 in fantasy football for the 2020 season — but it’s possible. And that possibility should make him among the safest first-round picks that fantasy managers can make in their drafts.