Las Vegas Raiders running back JoshJacobs was named Offensive Rookie of the Year by the Professional Football Writers of America
In what should be the first of many accolades and awards in his career, the Professional Football Writers of America (PWFA) selected Las Vegas Raiders stud running back Josh Jacobs as the Offensive Rookie of the Year. The overall award went to Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers but Jacobs was the standout on the offensive side of the ball.
Jacobs was unquestionably the star of the Raiders offense in 2019, posting rushing numbers we have not seen in Silver and Black since Darren McFadden‘s 2010 campaign. In just 13 games Jacobs rushed for 1,150 yards and 7 touchdowns, adding 20 receptions and 166 yards through the air for a fantastic rookie season.
The former Alabama star was third in the NFL in rush yards per game and 8th in total rushing yards but would surely have finished higher had he played all 16 games.
The rushing totals Jacobs posted were good enough for 6th all time in a single season for a Raiders running back which makes us only wonder what could have been had he been healthy for the final three games of the season.
The PFWA has selected @49ers DE Nick Bosa (@nbsmallerbear) as the 2019 Rookie and Defensive Rookie of the Year. @Raiders RB Josh Jacobs (@iAM_JoshJacobs) is the Offensive Rookie of the Year.
— Pro Football Writers (@PFWAwriters) January 14, 2020
Jacobs faced some stiff competition from other talented rookies in Miles Sanders, AJ Brown, and Kyler Murray but the PFWA, like Raiders fans, know he is the most talented of the bunch and had the most consistent impact throughout the season. Sanders and Murray took some time to get started while Jacobs announced himself on Monday Night Football in Week 1 with a dominant two touchdown performance against the Denver Broncos.
The Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year award will be announced in the coming weeks but since 2010 seven of the PFWA winners were also chosen by the AP. Even if the Jacobs is not selected by the AP he was clearly not just one of the standout rookies but one of the standout players in the league in 2019.
The Raiders have questions up and down the roster but it is clear that you can write Josh Jacobs’s name in permanent marker on the depth chart for years to come. There are still weapons on to be added on that side of the ball, including at wide receiver, but in Jacobs, they certainly got a good one.