Josh Jacobs entered this season as Las Vegas’ presumed 1A running back. But now he is dealing with an ankle injury and questionable for Monday Night Football. Will Jacobs play in tonight’s game, and if so, can he help fantasy football managers pull out a victory?
Update 10/4/2021: Josh Jacobs is active for the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night. He will likely share touches with Peyton Barber against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Josh Jacobs: Still the Raiders’ primary RB
When the Raiders drafted Jacobs in the first round in 2019, he was supposed to be their franchise RB. He was replacing a patchwork backfield consisting of two significantly post-prime backs (Marshawn Lynch and Doug Martin) and two perennial complementary backs (Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington). Jacobs did everything the franchise had hoped for in his first campaign — 1,150 rushing yards and 7 scores on 242 rushes, averaging an impressive 4.8 yards per carry.
But his sophomore campaign — while arguably just as good statistically — masked a regression that should have concerned dynasty managers. Jacobs’ 12 TDs were offset by less-efficient running (3.9 ypc) and only minor growth in the passing game (33 receptions). Longtime backup Devontae Booker looked just as capable in a limited role.
Thus, it was not surprising that Vegas brought in more help for this season. Kenyan Drake and Peyton Barber are experienced backs with bell-cow experience. Drake has struggled thus far with a 2.1 ypc, though his 13 catches for 138 yards are a reminder that he still has a role to play (maybe not for fantasy managers).
The impact of Peyton Barber and the Chargers
Barber presents a more interesting and urgent dilemma for those who drafted Jacobs at his preseason RB19 ADP. Last week, the normally pedestrian Barber (3.5 career ypc) rumbled for 111 yards and a score on 23 carries, while also nabbing 3 balls for 31 receiving yards. His surprising outburst might allow head coach Jon Gruden to be more cautious with Jacobs, who will remain an important part of this team’s promising postseason push.
It’s also worth noting that the Chargers have been the worst team in the NFL against the run, yielding 5.8 ypc and a whopping 170 yards per game. Surely a Barber/Drake tandem can get the job done tonight, right?
Can Josh Jacobs help fantasy managers on Monday Night Football?
That’s the issue confronting Jacobs’ managers. Even if he’s active, he might not start. Even if he starts, he might not receive a full workload. And only desperate managers can afford to start a partial-workload RB who hasn’t played in three weeks.
If active, Jacobs is the ultimate TD-dependent fantasy play. 10+ touches seems like a stretch, and 50 yards is a likely ceiling. At this late stage, you might not have a choice. But it’s important to set realistic expectations if he’s active.