Raiders: Running the football might decide the AFC West
Why the Las Vegas Raiders running back unit reigns no.1 in the AFC West.
Going back to what I said earlier, when I mentioned Jacobs should easily be considered the best pure runner in the division, let’s discuss why that is.
From his rookie year in 2019, Josh Jacobs has been one of the best runners in the trenches across the NFL. This started when he ended his ’19 campaign by recording 70 forced-missed tackles, which was more than any rookie since 2006. In fact, this number was more than any runner in general since Marshawn Lynch, back in 2014.
Per PFF’s “elusive running back formula”, which factors in both forced-missed tackles and yards after contact on average, Jacobs ranked no.1.
Jacobs broke out of 26 tackles in 2019 and followed that up by breaking 20 more the following year. Last season, Jacobs continued his 20+ broken tackles per season by getting out of another 20.
This is just Jacobs, though – There’s more to the running back room in Las Vegas than the bell cow. Coming in behind Jacobs is a man who’s started 39 games in his career, tallying 3,384 rushing yards and 1,535 receiving: Kenyan Drake.
To put it simply, Drake is to Las Vegas what both Ekeler and Edwards-Helaire are to their respective squads, but as the no.2 back. Drake’s 1,500+ career yards through the air show he can compete with the best pass-catching backs, and his 16 broken tackles on the ground in 2020 prove he can shake a defender or two off of him.
Drake’s 4.45 40-yard time also makes him a threat on the outside, and his 36 total touchdowns in six seasons make him a scoring threat. Drake is a starting-caliber running back in the NFL and proved that during his time with the Arizona Cardinals. The Raiders are fortunate enough to have him as their second-back, and now healthy, Drake should be able to shine with McDaniels.
Beyond Jacobs and Drake are two men who are very important to Las Vegas’ running game: Fullback Jakob Johnson, and [presumably] third-down back, Brandon Bolden.
While Johnson isn’t much of a runner, he is a blocker. In fact, it’s not a stretch to call him the best run-blocking fullback in the league. Johnson has impressed McDaniels and the rest of the New England coaching staff, to the point future Hall of Fame coach, Bill Belichick, referred to the fullback’s progression as the best he’s been a part of.
Bolden is someone McDaniels thinks highly of, and so should Raider Nation. Recording 226 rushing yards in addition to 405 through the air, Bolden is the perfect third-down back. He brings the receiving talent, totaling 41 catches and 2 scores last season, while still holding his own as a runner. The former Patriot averaged 5.1 yards per run last season and found the end zone once.