Raiders’ Josh Jacobs Leads Entire NFL In This Wild Stat Since 2020

Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs was highly motivated heading into the 2022 season. The team declined the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, which meant that he would become a free agent in 2023. 

Knowing what was ahead, Josh Jacobs was motivated to play at a high level so that he could cash in. That is exactly what he did, as 2022 was a special year for the 2019 first-round pick out of Alabama.

Josh Jacobs ended up leading the league in touches with 393 and total yards with 2,053. His 1,653 rushing yards were also tops in the NFL, while he scored a career-high tying 12 touchdowns. The 400 receiving yards were also a career-high as Josh Jacobs has become a true dual-threat, working hard to improve as a pass catcher and pass blocker.

That level of explosiveness is something that Josh Jacobs exhibited during his rookie season when he averaged 4.8 yards per carry. However, in the following two seasons, his yards per carry average dropped to 3.95. That lack of production and some underwhelming results in the passing game, in addition to a new regime taking over, likely played a part in the Raiders turning down his fifth-year option.

Despite the drop in effectiveness, Josh Jacobs remained a playmaker for the Raiders. He would often create something out of nothing behind an underwhelming offensive line. Just how impressive was his individual performance? Josh Jacobs was the most elusive player in the NFL, recording 198 missed tackles since 2020 according to PFF.