Las Vegas Raiders star RB Josh Jacobs will be worth every penny

Las Vegas Raiders star RB Josh Jacobs will be worth every penny

Jacobs coming off a historic season as a rookie

Jacobs not only became the first ever rookie in Raiders history with 1,000 yards rushing, he also led the NFL in missed tackles with 69. This is even more impressive when you take into consideration Jacobs missed three games due to injury. He is fast and strong, and is definitely the kind of three-down back that you pay.

The 2020 season should be even better for Jacobs, as he is entering his second season in Jon Gruden’s system, and has a clean bill of health. He had been banged up since the Raiders opener vs the Broncos last season, and actually fractured his shoulder against the Green Bay Packers later in the year.

The offense of the Raiders is a West Coast offense, with plenty of check down passes. This would seem likely to fit a dual-threat back like Jacobs, but last season it did not, mostly due to the fact he was playing with a hurt shoulder.

For all the hype Jacobs received as a back who can play three downs, he was not used as much in the passing game, and rightfully so. He finished with only 20 catches, but there will be more of an emphasis on getting him the ball in the passing game in Year 2.

Is it truly fair to compare a second-year player to veteran players with the resumes of Alvin Kamara and Dalvin Cook? Maybe, and also, maybe not. Jacobs should not be slowing down anytime soon, after being ranked the second-highest graded back last season at 87.1 (only trailed Nick Chubb 88.7), the sky is the limit for Jacobs.

He’s quite a way removed from receiving an extension anytime soon, as he still has some years on his rookie contract, but so far from what we have seen, the trajectory predictions for the young back are through the roof. The largest contract signed by All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey may soon be trumped by the Raiders young star back, and he is going to be worth every penny.