Looming Uncertainty Could Stunt the Growth of a Young Runner Who Showed Josh Jacobs-Level Upside

Kevin Szafraniec
February 26, 2026

Kevin Szafraniec breaks down the rookie year of a running back who showed plenty of promise in 2025, but a myriad of confounding variables around him leaves his 2026 outlook uncertain.

Josh Jacobs has proven himself to be a true workhorse back for fantasy managers over the past seven years. Despite never being a massive threat in the passing game, the Packers’ bell cow has averaged 16.3 PPR points per game across his career, while also finishing as a top-24 fantasy back in 70% of his active games.

But it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Jacobs. For years he was the centerpiece of some bad Raiders offenses, yet he continually delivered for fantasy managers. This past season, a rookie running back faced a similar dilemma, yet rose to the occasion and made the best of a bad situation with some gritty performances.

Will this RB continue to rise above his circumstances and produce like a star in Year 2, or will the uncertainty surrounding him make him a fantasy landmine in 2026 drafts?

Be sure to check out the previous installments of the 2025 Rookie Review Series:

Volume 1 of the 2026 RotoViz Rookie Draft Guide is out now! Jam-packed with comprehensive player profiles, advanced stats, player comps, strategies, and rankings from the RotoViz staff, it is a must-have for every fantasy manager who wants to crush their best ball, dynasty, and redraft leagues in 2026!

Keep an eye out for Volume 2, scheduled to release following the NFL Combine, and Volume 3, which will drop after the 2026 NFL Draft!

A Rocky Start and a Disappointing Ending

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Kevin Szafraniec

Lead Writer and Full-time Cat Dad. Sneakerhead, Record Collector, Beatmaker, Lord of the Rings Superfan, and Jeopardy Enthusiast in my free time. Follow me on X and Bluesky @thecatdadff

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