Las Vegas Raiders: How good can Josh Jacobs be in 2021?
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders have a star in running back Josh Jacobs, who is still very young and could be in for his best season as a pro in 2021.
Since being selected by the then-Oakland Raiders in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, running back Josh Jacobs has been one of the more consistent backs in the NFL. After bursting onto the scene as a rookie, with a record-breaking campaign, Jacobs has shown that he has the talent to be a legitimate three-down back at the next level.
As a rookie, the Raiders did not use him a lot in the passing game, an area where he absolutely excelled during his time at Alabama. Instead, they fed him the ball on a consistent basis, and in turn, he churned out the only 1,000-yard rushing season for any Raiders rookie in the history of the franchise.
For an encore, Jacobs rushed for over 1,000 yards once again in Year 2, but this time he figured more in the passing game. That made him an incredible asset for the Silver and Black, and for his efforts, he earned his first Pro Bowl nod.
In 2021, Jacobs could be in for his best year yet.
Raiders added Drake to keep Jacobs fresh in a 17-game season
One reason for Jacobs having a monster 2021 campaign in the addition of Kenyan Drake, who can be dominant in the run and passing game himself. Drake had over 1,000 all-purpose yards for the Arizona Cardinals last season, and as a No. 2 to Jacobs, he figures to play a big role in the Raiders offense as well.
Head coach Jon Gruden has stated that he plans to use Drake in multiple ways, which is good news for Jacobs and this Raiders offense as a whole.
Keeping Jacobs fresh is going to be huge for the Raiders, and in turn, could lead to a possible 1,300-plus season in the ground for the third-year running back. Remember, the NFL is going to a 17-game slate in 2021, so keeping Jacobs healthy will be paramount for an organization looking to finally get back to the playoffs for the first time in five years.
If he can stay healthy, and Drake can do his part, I like Jacobs to have over 1,600 all-purpose yards, and leading an offense that could be one of the best in football in 2021 and beyond.
