Josh Jacobs is having a fantastic rookie season. He's averaging 106 total yards (92 run, 14 rec), with 7 TDs, No one is planning to sit him down this week, even matched up with the league's top-ranked run defense (the Jets). And, no one should.
Yes, New York ranks No. 1 in run defense. But they've climbed to those heights by a month of facing lousy rushing games and lesser offensive lines. Prior to this recent stretch of games, it was more of a top-10 group, and it had allowed 10 rushing scores in six games.
And most of the lead running backs to face the Jets this season have finished with good numbers, either solid total yards or a touchdown, or both. Only a couple of those guys are any better than Jacobs.
New York shut down Saquon Barkley; there's that. Barkley may not have been 100 percent while trying to come back from a high-ankle sprain. Whatever the case, the other backs to face this defense have generally been fine.
| LEAD RUNNING BACKS VERSUS THE JETS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Run | Rec | Tot | TD |
| Singletary | 70 | 28 | 98 | 0 |
| Chubb | 62 | 36 | 98 | 1 |
| Burkhead | 47 | 22 | 69 | 1 |
| Howard | 62 | 0 | 62 | 1 |
| Elliott | 105 | 47 | 152 | 1 |
| Michel | 42 | -8 | 34 | 3 |
| Fournette | 76 | 60 | 136 | 0 |
| Walton | 29 | 12 | 41 | 0 |
| Barkley | 1 | 30 | 31 | 0 |
| Guice | 24 | 45 | 69 | 1 |
Not a great matchup for Jacobs, but I suspect he'll be fine. Not a guy I'd be looking to move out of my lineups this week.
--Andy Richardson