OROY: Josh Jacobs
The Raiders used immense draft capital to draft Josh Jacobs with their No.24 overall pick. It didn’t take long for Jacobs to prove why he was well worth the day one selection when he came out of the gates strong, posting a two-touchdown performance in his NFL debut.
In recent years, first-round running backs have posted stellar rookie seasons for their respective teams and Jacobs is another player who helps write that same narrative. Incredibly, Jacobs dominated at the NFL level as a rookie despite the fact he played with a fractured shoulder from Week 7 on.
Jacobs led all rookie running backs in carries, yards, touchdowns, first downs and plays of 20+
yards or more, making him a legitimate candidate for offensive rookie of the year. Whether or not he wins the NFL award, he was definitely the best offensive rookie on this Raiders team this season, and will be a cornerstone of this offense for years to come.