Josh Jacobs had a fine rookie season, but Raiders GM Mike Mayock has set high expectations for 2020.
Despite missing three games, Josh Jacobs finished eighth in the league in rushing as a rookie last year with 1,150 yards (4.8 yards per carry). The award went to Kyler Murray, but it easy to see Jacobs as a snub for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
One area Jacobs fell short in, or was underutilized more specifically, was in the passing game. He had just 20 catches for 166 yards (on 27 targets), but it’s worth noting he had at least three targets in three of the last five games he played.
How to fix that? Become more reliable in pass protection.
Raiders general manager Mike Mayock spoke at the NFL Combine on Tuesday. Along with his heaps of praise for Jacobs, he also elevated the expectations for the second-year back in 2020. It’s an obvious football concept, not only in Jon Gruden’s offense as Mayock cited, but getting more out of Jacobs in the passing game relies heavily on him helping Derek Carr stay upright.
Mayock said the team didn’t want to put too much on Jacobs’ plate last year, as expected with a rookie back. But progression in Year 2 (or “Phase 2”) was already easy to tab, and Mayock has confirmed it.
Naturally, there’s an opportunity ahead for Jacobs that he didn’t see to full fruit last year.
From a fantasy angle, Jacobs came in as RB13 in standard scoring leagues last year (RB19 in full-point PPR, through Week 16). Narrowing to Week 15, his last game of the season, he was RB11 in standard scoring. And that was without notable production as a receiver.
Jacobs is a legit weapon for the Raiders’ offense, and he will be put to greater use as the team expects his physical tools to translate into becoming a total dual threat package.