Josh Jacobs has quietly been one of the more productive running backs in football for the better part of a decade. Last season introduced some real cracks in that foundation. He now enters 2026 carrying questions about his efficiency, his workload, and his availability. Fantasy managers need to decide whether the floor is still worth the price.
Should I Draft Josh Jacobs in Fantasy Football?
Full disclosure: I have never really been a Jacobs guy. I thought he was overrated as a prospect and had no business going in Round 1, and I was probably correct about that. What I did not anticipate is how consistently he would outproduce his athleticism.
Jacobs reminds me a lot of Mark Ingram. Not fast. Not explosive. Not exciting. Some guys are simply good at football, and Jacobs is one of them. Or at least, he was.
START PREPARING: PFN’s FREE Fantasy Draft Simulator
The concern here runs deeper than the suspension risk hanging over him. Jacobs showed genuine signs of decline last season, which is not something you expect from a 28-year-old. There is a reasonable explanation available. He was dealing with a knee injury through the second half of the year that he probably should have rested far more than he did. Instead, he tried to play through it, and it did not go well. Could that account for the declining efficiency? Absolutely. It is entirely possible a fully healthy Jacobs bounces right back to his 2024 form.
Now let me look at the data actually in front of us. Jacobs commanded an elite 70.7% opportunity share, which is the single best thing on his profile. The question is whether that volume holds. MarShawn Lloyd is a back the Green Bay Packers like quite a bit, and he could carve into Jacobs’ workload provided he stays healthy.
The efficiency numbers are where it gets uncomfortable. Jacobs’ 4.5 yards per touch ranked 39th. His 0.85 fantasy points per opportunity ranked 24th. Neither figure suggests a back who is elevating his own production. His 10.5% target share was perfectly passable, though it only amounted to 44 targets in a low-volume Green Bay passing attack.
There are paths to improvement. Perhaps the Packers throw more this season. Perhaps running back targets climb now that Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks are gone. Those are real possibilities worth weighing.
Then there is the touchdown problem. Jacobs scored 16 times in 2024 and 14 times last season, but his expected touchdown total last year was closer to eight or nine. That is a substantial gap, and gaps like that tend to close.
FANTASY RANKINGS: PFN’s FREE Fantasy PPR, Half-PPR, and Non-PPR Rankings
Add it up and you get a pile of risks. Regression is a risk. Volume reduction is a risk. Suspension is a risk. There are plenty of reasons to worry about Jacobs and not many to get excited about him.
He is my RB17, a couple of spots below his RB15 ADP. Jacobs has always been a floor guy rather than a ceiling guy, and I want to chase upside with these picks. He also goes in a part of fantasy drafts where I strongly prefer wide receivers. It is extremely unlikely I end up with him anywhere.
Katz’s RB Fantasy Rankings 2026
- Jahmyr Gibbs | DET
- Bijan Robinson | ATL
- Jonathan Taylor | IND
- Christian McCaffrey | SF
- James Cook III | BUF
- Ashton Jeanty | LV
- Chase Brown | CIN
- Saquon Barkley | PHI
- Kenneth Walker III | KC
- Derrick Henry | BAL
- Omarion Hampton | LAC
- Jeremiyah Love | ARI
- De'Von Achane | MIA
- Breece Hall | NYJ
- Kyren Williams | LAR
- Josh Jacobs | GB
- Javonte Williams | DAL
- Travis Etienne Jr. | NO
- D'Andre Swift | CHI
- Cam Skattebo | NYG
- Quinshon Judkins | CLE
- David Montgomery | HOU
- Bhayshul Tuten | JAX
- Jaylen Warren | PIT
- Rhamondre Stevenson | NE
- Jadarian Price | SEA
- Bucky Irving | TB
- Jonathon Brooks | CAR
- TreVeyon Henderson | NE
- Tony Pollard | TEN
- Kenny Gainwell | TB
- Rico Dowdle | PIT
- Blake Corum | LAR
- Chuba Hubbard | CAR
- Rachaad White | WAS
- RJ Harvey | DEN
- Kyle Monangai | CHI
- Jacory Croskey-Merritt | WAS
- Aaron Jones Sr. | MIN
- Jordan Mason | MIN
- Chris Rodriguez Jr. | JAX
- J.K. Dobbins | DEN
- Woody Marks | HOU
- Dylan Sampson | CLE
- Zach Charbonnet | SEA
- Tyjae Spears | TEN
- Tyler Allgeier | ARI
- Brian Robinson Jr. | ATL
- Tank Bigsby | PHI
- Jonah Coleman | DEN
