The 2022 Hall of Fame Game shocked many onlookers as a result of how a lot we noticed of Las Vegas Raiders operating again Josh Jacobs. Whereas 5 rush makes an attempt and two targets might not seem to be a lot, for a veteran in a preseason sport, it’s a heavy workload.
Seeing Jacobs play a number of drives prompted hypothesis that the Raiders could also be seeking to pump up his worth within the preseason with a view to commerce him. If that’s the case, how would a commerce probably impression Jacobs’ fantasy football worth in 2022?
Is Josh Jacobs a commerce candidate this preseason?
There are definitely circumstances to be made each methods in the case of Jacobs being a possible commerce candidate. After the sport, Raiders’ head coach Josh McDaniels appeared to downplay the importance of Jacobs’ preseason look.
“I all the time suppose it’s good for backs to hold the ball within the preseason,” McDaniels stated. “There’s a number of issues that occur if you’re getting tackled and hit you could’t simulate in follow. I believe all of our guys had the ball tonight; all of our guys both caught it or have been handed the ball and needed to get tackled. We are able to’t actually simulate that or rep that in follow.”
Nevertheless, McDaniels was additionally a part of the workers that traded Sony Michel out of New England in very related contract circumstances final 12 months. Michel was traded to the Los Angeles Rams as he entered the ultimate 12 months of his rookie deal, having had his fifth-year possibility declined. Equally, Jacobs is now getting into the ultimate 12 months of his rookie deal after having his fifth-year possibility declined.
Michel was traded on Aug. 25, 2021, between the tip of the preseason and the beginning of the common season. Throughout preseason, he had a complete of 13 speeding makes an attempt for 50 yards with 4 receptions for 37 yards. Had been the Patriots and McDaniels merely getting Michel some touches to organize him for the season, or have been they attempting to raise his worth some as they looked for a commerce?
There are definitely some similarities between the 2 conditions, and ruling out a commerce utterly can be naive. The largest distinction is that New England maybe knew they weren’t contending for a Tremendous Bowl final 12 months and will afford to commerce away an RB.
In distinction, Las Vegas has made strikes to place itself on the perimeter of being Tremendous Bowl contenders. Would they be prepared to commerce away their prime operating again to a different contending crew? The reply to that query lies within the minds of McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler.
There may be a variety of potential fantasy outcomes in the case of any potential commerce for Jacobs. His function in Las Vegas is assumed to be the lead again in what has been mentioned beforehand as a committee state of affairs.
We’ve seen McDaniels’ offense in New England combine and match their backs based mostly on the sport state of affairs, so we will possible count on one thing related in Las Vegas. Due to this fact, his present worth is considerably unsure, along with his ADP resting within the mid-to-late fourth spherical.
Proper now, there are not any apparent conditions the place Jacobs’ fantasy worth would rise exponentially. At this level, all 32 groups have what seems to be a settled backfield state of affairs. The one vacation spot the place you could possibly make a case Jacobs can be the unquestioned lead again is in Houston, the place Marlon Mack and rookie Dameon Pierce at the moment prime the depth chart.
There are different locations the place Jacobs might go and compete to earn the beginning function — Seattle and Atlanta are prime examples. Nevertheless, neither of these groups possible view themselves as Tremendous Bowl challengers at this stage of the season. Due to this fact, they would appear unlikely to make a push so as to add a veteran again within the closing 12 months of his rookie contract.
Every other touchdown spot proper now would realistically see Jacobs retain the identical degree of fantasy worth or see that worth drop. Groups such because the Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, or Buffalo Payments might really feel they might add a veteran again at a comparatively low cost worth to supply depth. At finest, Jacobs would possible be in a committee state of affairs in these locations, and he might merely be a backup in case of harm.
This story is about to rumble on
Nevertheless, the Raiders may very well be taking part in the lengthy sport. We’ve already seen accidents and harm scares throughout coaching camp, and there’s nonetheless greater than a month to go till the start of the 2022 NFL season. If we see a operating again or two go down with accidents on a contending crew, then the commerce marketplace for Jacobs might definitely warmth up.
In that state of affairs, Jacobs might but find yourself as a lead again on a superb crew. If that occurs, it will not be unrealistic to count on {that a} participant with a twin ability set sees a major enhance in fantasy worth.
Jacobs has by no means completed decrease than RB16 for fantasy whereas having between 262 and 306 touches throughout his profession. Till a commerce takes place, he stays a strong RB2, which is precisely mirrored in his present ADP.
The most definitely commerce state of affairs at this level can be following an harm to a starter. If that have been to occur, Jacobs has the potential to complete as a top-12 again. On 306 touches in 2020, Jacobs completed eighth on the place and nineteenth total when it comes to fantasy factors.
Sure, it was shocking to see Jacobs play and take this many touches within the Corridor of Fame Sport, however no, it mustn’t instantly imply you downgrade him in your fantasy rankings.
Final 12 months, Najee Harris had seven carries within the Corridor of Fame Sport, and 13 carries in whole throughout the preseason. The one time eyebrows must be considerably raised is that if we nonetheless see Jacobs on the sector come Week 3 of the 2022 NFL preseason when starters are often rested forward of Week 1.
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