It’s been a rough 2023 season on the ground for first-team All-Pro Josh Jacobs. Through four weeks, the Las Vegas Raiders’ star running back has totaled a mere 166 rushing yards with one single touchdown. With a 63.3 rushing grade, Pro Football Focus has the 25-year-old as the league’s 63rd highest-graded runner.
Jacobs hasn’t been as effective on the ground as he’s used to being. Similarly, he hasn’t been as effective in the passing game as he’s used to being – but in the exact opposite way.
On passing downs, Josh Jacobs has been as good as any running back league-wide.
After four weeks of play, the former 24th-overall pick sits with 18 receptions and 173 receiving yards to his name. Both of these numbers far outpace his career-highs of 54 catches and 400 receiving yards, giving Jacobs a trajectory of 77 receptions and 735 yards through the air.
The fifth-year running back has finished top-three in receiving yards in each of the four contests the Raiders have played this season.
Heading into Week 5, Jacobs had the eighth-most yards after catch (153) among all players at any position. At the running back position specifically, Jacobs ranked second in catches (18), fifth in receiving grade (80.0), and first in total receiving yards (173).
Josh Jacobs is quietly eyeing historic season with Raiders – not on the ground, however
Jacobs’ pace of 77 receptions and 735 receiving yards makes for an all-time great season by a Raiders running back through the air. With 77 catches, only Charlie Garner (’02) would sit atop Jacobs with 91. As for the yardage portion, Garner (’02) and Marcus Allen (’84) are the only two running backs in the Silver and Black’s history to surpass 735 yards receiving.
And there’s good news.
This season, the Raiders will battle the Bears, Broncos, and Colts. As it stands, these are the three teams who allow the most passing yardage per game league-wide. Las Vegas will also face the Vikings and Chargers who both place bottom-10 in this category as well.
In fact, the Silver and Black will square off against one single team currently ranked top-10 in least passing yards allowed: the New England Patriots, who stand outscored 72-3 in their last two contests.
All things considered, there’s no reason to believe Josh Jacobs won’t continue his current pace. The running numbers might be down, but his tremendous leap as a weapon in the passing game cannot go ignored.
*Top Photo: JACK DEMPSEY / ASSOCIATED PRESS