In just 13 games as a rookie, Josh Jacobs finished as the 14th highest scoring running backs in NON-PPR leagues. The Raiders rusher picked up 1,150 yards (7th most in NFL) and seven touchdowns in 2019. But when it comes to the passing attack, Jacobs was barely involved, catching just 20 passes for 166 yards. It’s his lack of production in the passing attack that is concerning for Sports Illustrated’s Ben Heisler, who likes Jacobs’ talent but needs to see more from him in the passing attack in order to justify his second round Average Draft Position. Heisler and Taddeo also discussed Jacobs’ new teammate, rookie wide receiver Henry Ruggs. The former Alabama playmaker was the first wide receiver selected in this year’s NFL Draft and ran the fastest 40-yard-dash at this year’s combine.

For more fantasy football analysis on the Raiders playmakers, read the transcript from their conversation.

Bill Enright: Sports Illustrated's fantasy football team previews roll on as we take a look at the Las Vegas Raiders. Here with me is Ben Heisler and Frank Taddeo, two of our fantasy football analysts at Sports Illustrated. Frank, I'm going to start with you first. You are a local Las Vegas resident. You have a new team coming to Sin City. What do you make out of their rookie draft pick who they took in the first round Henry Ruggs the wide receiver?

Frank Taddeo: Bill, if you remember directly, obviously, right after that draft, we actually hosted videos that day. And it was shocking to see that the Raiders took Ruggs among all the wide receivers that were still on the board. And after doing a deep dive and obviously from a Alabama and an SEC perspective, this kid is immensely talented. They envision him, and the role right now that we're hearing that Gruden is going to have in this offense is similar to Tyreek Hill. He's going to be taking end arounds, handoffs, maybe even might be working out of the backfield, looking to try to get matchups with one on one with linebackers or safeties working out of the slot. Ruggs is going to be a tremendous asset in fantasy this year, as we already highlighted as well in our draft betting guide for rookies right now. The sharps out here right now, Bill, on his betting projections, they're extremely bullish. And from a fantasy perspective, so am I, my model loves him. I believe outside of Darren Waller the tight end, Ruggs is probably the guy that you're going to want to target the most. Even more so than possibly Josh Jacobs.

Bill Enright: All right, let's talk about Josh Jacobs, Ben. I'm going to talk to you about him and the Raiders backfield in general with also Jalen Richard. I loved what I saw out of Jacobs as a rookie. I think the sky's the limit for him in the second year of his career. What do you make of Jacobs?

Ben Heisler: Well, really quicly just to go off what Frankie said, if Tyreek Hill can do it with Alex Smith at quarterback, I suppose Henry Ruggs can do it with Derek Carr, maybe he'll start to take a few more shots downfield. But I don't know, Bill. I'm a little bit perplexed on Josh Jacobs because I think certainly the ceiling is there. He got plenty of volume in the rushing game, ran for over 1150 yards, had 7 touchdowns through the ground. But he also missed a couple of games due to injury and they didn't use him at all in the passing game. And Jon Gruden said going into the year, that is something that they wanted to incorporate in the passing game as well. Now, you add in somebody like Lynn Bowden as well. Jalen Richard is still there. For somebody like Josh Jacobs, I just don't think he's going to get the receptions that warrant where he's currently going for his average draft position. So if I'm wrong and Jacobs starts catching more passes out of the backfield, then it becomes an elite level fantasy play, probably moves up a tier as well. But I just need to see him catch the ball a little bit more to feel really, really good about him. 

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