It’s going to be hard for Josh Jacobs to replicate the production he had last season. The NFL’s leading rusher totaled over 2,000 yards from scrimmage while scoring 12 touchdowns. He was completely dominant and was (by far) the league’s best running back.
Needless to say, Jacobs is going to see a drop in production. That’s just what happens to running backs after a 2,000-yard season. But how much will his production decrease this season? Maybe not as much as you may think.
In a recent article by The Athletic, they wrote about the possibility of Jacobs seeing a major decline in production during the 2023 season. But that might not be the case as the Raiders are expected to ride Jacobs again this year.
Here is a quick snippet on the All-Pro running back entering his fifth season in the NFL.
As for Jacobs, backup Zamir White hasn’t really shown that he is ready and McDaniels knows his best chance to win is with Jacobs getting 23 touches. Plus, the Raiders don’t have long-term plans for him so there is no wear and tear concern.
Jacobs is going to see a ton of work this year as the Raiders really don’t have a viable option behind him. And with the team likely to move on after the 2023 season, they aren’t going to worry about keeping him fresh for 2024 and beyond.
Jacobs isn’t likely to average 121 yards from scrimmage again this season, but 100 seems realistic. Especially if the Raiders plan on giving him upwards of 20 touches a game. Look for Jacobs to be among the league leaders in yards from scrimmage again this year.
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