This news breaks as many fantasy football managers are preparing for their drafts and could be huge. It also might not mean a ton. This is essentially a suspension without a timetable that comes without penalty to the team (Jacobs won’t count against their 53-man active roster for as long as he is on the list).
Only time will tell how long this situation drags on for, but for now, the Packers will be without the services of their RB1.
Fantasy Football Spin: Josh Jacobs On The Exempt List
The fantasy side of this situation is obviously secondary to everything else, but it is what you’re asking about, so let’s take a look at how things line up.
September Schedule
- Week 1 at Minnesota Vikings
- Week 2 at New York Jets
- Week 3 vs. Atlanta Falcons (Thursday Night Football)
That may not look or feel like a daunting schedule, but be careful: 57.1% of the RBs used as featured backs (15+ touches) against one of those first three opponents last season were held at or below their season average in PPR points per touch in the matchup.
Remove offenses that funneled volume to their RBs through the air courtesy of a top-7 rate in yardage gained through the air last season (a cheap way to elevate running backs points that GB, 19th in that category last season and 25th in 2024, hasn’t done), and that rate rises to 64.9%.
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I’m not suggesting that this offense is going to focus on the run as they have in the past. They can’t. Lloyd, no matter how much you think of him when healthy, doesn’t offer what Jacobs does and doesn’t impact defenses in the same way.
His body has told us that a full workload is tough to project, and these defenses aren’t exactly the type that are going to allow you to flow things through your backfield in a meaningful way. A slow start, and who knows what is on the table for this backfield.
Lloyd may not benefit the way everyone wants, but there is a thread to pull here in a positive light when it comes to putting up numbers. Jordan Love leads the NFL in deep throw rate since 2023, and here’s a look at the touchdown rate on 20+ yard passes last season for Green Bay’s first six opponents:
- Week 1: at Vikings (16.7%, ranked 27th)
- Week 2:at Jets (14.3%, ranked 25th)
- Week 3: vs. Falcons (13%, ranked 24th)
- Week 4: at Buccaneers (9.5%, ranked 15th)
- Week 5: vs. Bears (18.5%, ranked 30th)
- Week 6: vs. Cowboys (20%, ranked T-31st)
Oh buddy.
This offense thinned out their receiver room this summer and are operating with a less-than-full-strength Tucker Kraft. If only they had a pair of burners capable of making big plays down the field.
What’s that, they do?
The stage is set for Christian Watson to start this season with the type of big-play bang that Quentin Johnston did in 2025 (for the record, Johnston could be a league winner this winter), and if first-round pick Matthew Golden wants to look like a first-round pick and erase the 29-361-0 stat line he gave us as a rookie, this is the spot.
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For those keeping track, Love was T-11th on the odds board to lead the NFL in passing yards by the end of September (just behind Caleb Williams/Lamar Jackson and tied with Baker Mayfield/Aaron Rodgers).
We are going to learn so much about what this offense has the ability to be during this Jacobs’ absence and, if all goes well, that could make this a dangerous team when at full strength.
If they crash and burn, we’ve got an issue for all involved. I don’t want to be overly dramatic, but the direction of this team for all of 2026 is likely to be in our hands before the first leaf changes colors.
Love is flirting with low-end QB1 status for me (QB14) while Watson slips into the WR2 discussion (WR23). I already had Golden a handful of spots ahead of ADP and will keep him there, ranked in the low 40s at the position with more weekly appeal than a consistent staple in lineups. As for the running back position, Lloyd is a Week 1 flex in my eyes with the season-long situation below:
Soppe’s Updated RB Rankings
1) Bijan Robinson | ATL
2) Jahmyr Gibbs | DET
3) James Cook III | BUF
4) Jonathan Taylor | IND
5) Christian McCaffrey | SF
6) De’Von Achane | MIA
7) Saquon Barkley | PHI
8) Chase Brown | CIN
9) Derrick Henry | BAL
10) Javonte Williams | DAL
11) Kenneth Walker III | KC
12) Omarion Hampton | LAC
13) Jeremiyah Love | ARI
14) Travis Etienne Jr. | NO
15) D’Andre Swift | CHI
16) Ashton Jeanty | LV
17) Breece Hall | NYJ
18) Kyren Williams | LAR
19) David Montgomery | HOU
20) Cam Skattebo | NYG
21) Bhayshul Tuten | JAX
22) Jadarian Price | SEA
23) Bucky Irving | TB
24) Chuba Hubbard | CAR
25) Quinshon Judkins | CLE
26) TreVeyon Henderson | NE
27) Jaylen Warren | PIT
28) Jordan Mason | MIN
29) Jacory Croskey-Merritt | WAS
30) Rhamondre Stevenson | NE
31) Tony Pollard | TEN
32) Kenny Gainwell | TB
33) J.K. Dobbins | DEN
34) Blake Corum | LAR
35) Kyle Monangai | CHI
36) Jonathon Brooks | CAR
37) MarShawn Lloyd | GBÂ Â Â Â <—-
38) Rico Dowdle | PIT
39) RJ Harvey | DEN
40) Zach Charbonnet | SEA
41) Chris Rodriguez Jr. | JAX
42) Tyler Allgeier | ARI
43) Rachaad White | WAS
44) Aaron Jones Sr. | MIN
45) Mike Washington Jr. | LV
46) Isiah Pacheco | DET
47) Woody Marks | HOU
48) Nick Singleton | TEN
49) Devin Singletary | NYG
50) Keaton Mitchell | LAC
51) Tank Bigsby | PHI
52) Najee Harris | NYG
53) Josh Jacobs | GBÂ Â Â Â <—-
54) Kimani Vidal | LAC
55) James Conner | ARI
56) Tyjae Spears | TEN
57) Brian Robinson Jr. | ATL
58) Tyrone Tracy Jr. | NYG
59) Jonah Coleman | DEN
60) Sean Tucker | TB
61) Ray Davis | BUF
62) Dylan Sampson | CLE
63) Jaylen Wright | MIA
64) Kaytron Allen | WAS
65) Kendre Miller | NO
66) Emanuel Wilson | SEA
67) Devin Neal | NO
68) Isaiah Davis | NYJ
69) Ollie Gordon II | MIA
70) Kaleb Johnson | GBÂ Â Â Â <—-
