Oakland Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 5 win over the Bears
By Nico Di Fede
Stock Up: Josh Jacobs, Alec Ingold
Josh Jacobs had his best game as a pro against arguably the best defense in the league, certainly the best front-seven in the NFL. The rookie rushed for a career-high 123 yards and two touchdowns with a 4.7 average. He also caught three passes for 20 yards.
The gameplan was clearly to tire out the Bears defense with long drives sustained by the running game and Jacobs as well as the offensive line allowed that gameplan to be successful.
We knew against this front-seven Derek Carr would need to get the ball out quick which meant that the running backs would get more targets and Jacobs saw four which is the most he has gotten through the first five games.
One of those receptions went for a 10-yard gain where Jacobs showed what he could do in the open field. Another impressive play was his 21-yard run on a toss to the left side in the first quarter where he pulled off a beautiful spin move.
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The Raiders have not run very many toss plays this season — usually giving it to Jacobs up the gut or on an off-tackle run —and Jacobs had two big runs on toss plays to the outside so expect to see more of that in the coming weeks.
Jacobs was picked with the draft pick acquired in the Mack trade which made his performance all the sweeter.
Fellow rookie fullback Alec Ingold who has done a great job of paving the way for Jacobs in the run game did the same on Sunday and even got a pancake against Khalil Mack on Jacobs’ second-quarter touchdown run.
He also made the lead block on Jacobs’ second touchdown run as well that put the Raiders in the lead in the fourth quarter.
Another highlight block by the fullback driving back defensive tackle Akiem Hicks. Ingold also picked up a first down on a three-yard carry on 3rd-and-1 in the first quarter. Who would’ve thought a fullback could make such an impact?