A notable ranking shift occurred when ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler surveyed a panel of league executives, coaches, and scouts. The consensus poll, widely regarded as a mirror of professional opinion across the NFL, placed Jacobs outside the top ten at the outset of the 2026 season. By comparison, entering the 2025 season, Jacobs had stood sixth on the list, moving up one spot from the prior year. The slide to drop out of the top ten signals both concerns about current form and apprehension about how long he can sustain the peak production teams once relied on.
One NFC executive highlighted a key factor in the decline: Jacobs’ top-end explosiveness, once a staple of his game, appears to have softened. The assessment suggested Jacobs remains a productive runner who can carve out steady gains, especially between the tackles, but he may not produce the same frequency of explosive plays as in previous seasons. The takeaway is not that Jacobs has fallen off a cliff, but that his ceiling may be closer to a reliable, steady contributor than to the game-changing back he once was.
Age and workload contribute to the broader discussion. Jacobs will turn 28 during the upcoming season, and his career carries are substantial. With nearly 1,900 rushing attempts in regular-season play to his name, wear and tear, along with the natural progression of time, factors that teams weigh when projecting future performance. These considerations are particularly relevant as he negotiates a contract year and potential extensions that could shape his long-term value and role.
Statistically, the recent trend lines have sparked conversation. In 2025, Jacobs logged 929 rushing yards, a figure that represented the third-lowest total of his NFL career to date. The prior year, 2024, had him at 1,329 yards, a mark that stood among his best seasons. A notable shift in 2025 involved a reduced capability to generate big plays; his burst over distance diminished compared with 2024, where he posted 313 breakaway yards (a 22.2% breakout rate). In 2025, those breakaway yards fell to 206, a 20.9% rate. Analysts and executives alike are evaluating whether that reduction in big-play ability is a temporary blip or a more sustained trend.
Despite the concerns, Jacobs remains a trusted grinder who can contribute in multiple facets of the game. His ability to gain tough yards, convert on short-yardage situations, and maintain effectiveness in the run game remains valuable to a team’s offense. The question for 2026 is whether he can reclaim some of his previous explosiveness, recapture the dynamic plays that defined his earlier seasons, and demonstrate that the wear and tear over the years has not eroded his overall impact.
The evolving landscape at the running back position is another factor in these discussions. A few familiar names who once occupied spots near the top of the rankings have seen shifts in status. Some have faced durability issues, role changes, or decreased production that altered their standing in top-ten lists. In contrast, newer backs have emerged as contenders, injecting fresh competition for carries and spotlight. This turnover underscores how dynamic the position has become and how quickly perception can change based on recent performance and projected trajectory.
For Jacobs, the potential for a rebound hinges on several elements. First, sustaining peak physical condition and health will be crucial. A continued ability to hit big plays, while maintaining efficiency on early downs, could help him reclaim a higher standing among peers. Second, contract negotiations will likely influence his approach to the upcoming season. A strong performance could strengthen bargaining leverage, while injuries or a decline in production could compress his market value. Finally, the tactical direction of his team and the role envisioned for him by coaching staff will shape how aggressively defenses must respect him, which in turn affects his opportunities to generate explosive plays.
Looking forward, there is reason for both optimism and caution. Jacobs has demonstrated that he can be a productive contributor in the passing and rushing games, and a resurgence in big-play potential could reinstate him as a top-tier option. However, the margin for error tightens in a league where age, workload, and evolving schemes constantly reshape the evaluation of running backs. As teams weigh long-term value against short-term output, Jacobs’ status will continue to be a topic of intense discussion among executives, coaches, and front offices.
In summary, Josh Jacobs faces a season that could redefine his career trajectory. The drop from the top ten in the latest evaluative poll reflects concerns about elite-level explosiveness rather than a complete loss of effectiveness. If he can balance durability with production and reassert the big-play capability that once defined him, Jacobs may once again position himself among the league’s top running backs. Until then, the tail end of the 2026 offseason remains a critical period for contract talks, performance expectations, and the ongoing assessment of his role in the NFL.
