With Josh Jacobs playing half of his rookie season with a fractured shoulder, how much more can the Las Vegas Raiders expect from him in Year 2?
During the 2019 NFL Draft, the then-Oakland Raiders rolled the dice by selecting a running back in the first round. The player chosen, Josh Jacobs, whose pick came from the Khalil Mack trade, ended up putting together the most historic rookie season by a running back in team history, all the while doing it with a broken shoulder for half the year.
Jacobs would become the first Raiders rookie running back to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, shattering Marcus Allen's record. In addition, he showed that he can be the kind of three-down back that head coach Jon Gruden loves, and displayed the kind of football IQ that is needed in Gruden's offense.
As he heads into Year No. 2, the sky is the limit for Jacobs, who was robbed of the league's Offensive Rookie of the Year honors following his magical season. That award went to Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, but anybody could see that Jacobs was the marquee rookie all season long.
Jacobs fractured his shoulder during the team's loss to the Green Bay Packers, but still soldiered on before shutting it down towards the end of the season. He displayed the kind of tenacity and will to dominate that is going to make him a legendary Raider, and he has already stated he would like to be with the team for his entire career.
In 2020, Jacobs will add his outstanding pass-catching ability to his skill set, as this was an area he excelled in during his time with the Crimson Tide. Derek Carr likes to rely on his running backs in Gruden's offense, as shown in 2018 when Jalen Richard hauled in 68 catches on 81 targets.
Jacobs may not have that many receptions next season, but there is no reason why he cannot approach 50. That will add another dimension to a Raiders offense that should be one of the elite in 2020.
The bottom line is, we should see an even more dynamic Jacobs in Year 2, as he will be featured much more in the passing game. This is a kid who is going to be a workhorse for this franchise for years to come, and with a new WR1 on the outside, he should find even more room to run in 2020 and beyond.