The 2019 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and with it comes a new influx of young, talented fantasy football assets. Alabama’s Josh Jacobs is probably the best all-around running back in the draft and could make an immediate impact if he lands on the right team. However, every players’ production is highly dependent on the scene around him. Jacobs will have fantasy value regardless of where he lands, but these team fits would maximize his fantasy potential.
Josh Jacobs Top Fantasy Football Team Fits
Philadelphia Eagles
This one makes too much sense not to happen. The Philadelphia Eagles desperately need help at the running back position, and Jacobs is the best running back in the draft. Jay Ajayi is a free agent and the current grouping of Wendell Smallwood, Corey Clement, and Josh Adams leave a lot to be desired. Philadelphia ignored the position in free agency, meaning they’ll probably take a running back early in the NFL Draft.
Head coach Doug Pederson comes from the Andy Reid coaching tree, and Reid is notorious for using a prominent feature back. Pederson hasn’t done this with Philadelphia, primarily because he’s never had a running back good enough to carry the load. Jacobs would immediately be the best running back on the roster and should see a sizable workload. This combination of talent and opportunity would give Jacobs the floor of an RB2 with a chance of being a true RB1.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers probably won’t take Jacobs with the fifth-overall pick, but there is a chance Tampa trades back and selects him in the middle of the first. The Buccaneers desperately need to bring new life to their running game. Peyton Barber is underwhelming and Ronald Jones looked like a colossal bust as a rookie. The current coaching staff didn’t draft Jones, so don’t expect the former second-round pick to affect the running back rotation.
New head coach Bruce Arians loves to use his running backs both in the running and passing game, and Jacobs is a perfect fit for the offense. The Alabama product is a natural receiver capable of winning against linebackers and safeties out of the backfield. Arians’ scheme and coaching led to Arizona Cardinals superstar David Johnson becoming one of the elite running backs in the league. Jacobs doesn’t have that high of a ceiling, but there’s no denying how much Bruce Arians helps the fantasy value of his running backs.
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons need somebody to take command of their backfield. Tevin Coleman just departed for San Francisco, while Devonta Freeman simply cannot stay on the field. Rookie running back Ito Smith flashed promise but finished the year with an underwhelming 3.5 yards-per-carry. The Falcons need another running back, and running backs from Atlanta always perform well in fantasy football.
The Falcons brought back Dirk Koetter to serve as the offensive coordinator. Running backs like Michael Turner have had success under Koetter, and that trend should continue if Jacobs ends up in Atlanta. If Freeman stays healthy, Jacobs won’t be more than just a flex play. However, should Freeman battle injuries again, Jacobs has the chance to be an RB1 as Atlanta’s lead back.
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders were one of the big winners in the early stages of free agency. The silver and black opened up their passing game with the additions of Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams while securing their offensive line with the signing of Trent Brown. Oakland seems content to roll with Derek Carr in 2019, so the only thing left to do is add a running back.
Jacobs would immediately step in and be the unquestioned starter on the offense. Marshawn Lynch and Doug Martin are free agents, and Jacobs is probably better than both players at this point in their respective careers. The only running back of note on the roster is Jalen Richard, and he’s more of a third-down specialist.
The biggest concern here is the offensive line. Per Football Outsiders’, Oakland finished the 2018 season with the 14th-ranked run-blocking line in football. This isn’t a bad ranking, but it isn’t great either. Trent Brown is significantly better as a pass blocker than a run blocker, and the loss of Kelechi Osemele will hurt the interior. Jacobs won’t be a superstar without adequate blocking, and right now Oakland’s offensive line is a big question mark. If the Raiders add high-quality offensive linemen to pair with Jacobs, then Oakland jumps up on this list. Until then, the surrounding situation simply isn’t good enough for Jacobs to be a top running back.
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are one of the best and most exciting young teams in the league, and adding Josh Jacobs to the mix would only make their offense even more dynamic. Chris Ballard completely reshaped the Colts’ offensive line, as the unit finished 2018 as the fourth-best run-blocking unit in the league, per Football Outsiders. The new Andrew Luck isn’t afraid to use his check-downs, and second-year head coach Frank Reich showed he’s more than capable of getting running backs involved in both the running and passing game.
The only reason the Colts aren’t higher on this list is due to the presence of Marlon Mack. Mack isn’t a superstar by any means, but he’s a solid starter when on the field. However, Jacobs is considerably more talented and should see a good portion of the snaps if he lands with the Colts. This might be something of a running back by committee, but Jacobs should be the head of said committee.
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