Last season, Jacobs tallied 234 rushing attempts for 929 yards and 13 touchdowns, adding 36 receptions for 282 yards. He earned a PFF rushing grade of 82.8, ranking 14th among 55 qualified backs, and forced 47 missed tackles on the ground. With Jacobs sidelined indefinitely, Green Bay traded for Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson on the same day, signaling a shift in confidence about the current roster’s ability to handle the workload.
What MarShawn Lloyd brings to the Packers backfield
Lloyd emerged as the most notable option in Green Bay’s backfield, working with the first-team offense during camp while Jacobs was unavailable. He scored on a catch-and-run touchdown against Denver in Week 2 of the preseason, marking his first trip to the end zone since his final college season at USC.
In two NFL seasons, injuries limited Lloyd to a single game and 15 career rushing yards. At USC, he ranked among the top in yards after contact per attempt and elusive rating in his final two college seasons, indicating the traits needed for a solid NFL contributor. The Packers have been careful with his workload in camp, which reflects both their cautious approach and their belief in his physical readiness.
Chris Brooks remains part of the equation
Brooks, who signed a two-year, $4.85 million deal in March, is listed second on Green Bay’s official depth chart. He has a career average of 4.8 yards per carry, but his 2025 production was limited: 27 carries for 106 yards and 13 receptions for 91 yards across 17 games, with a career-low 3.9 yards per carry. Brooks split his playing time between offense and special teams and has never handled a heavy workload. Kaleb Johnson, his newcomer teammate, logged 69 yards on 28 carries as a rookie with Pittsburgh, and projects more as organizational depth than a true threat to Lloyd or Brooks.
Who to pick up: MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks, or Kaleb Johnson?
None of these backs is an immediate, reliable top option. Lloyd is the safest bet for a potentially steady workload, but both he and Brooks carry questions regarding health and usage. It’s plausible the Packers lean more on the passing game while Jacobs is sidelined, at least until a clearer path to his return emerges.
In deeper fantasy formats, it may be reasonable to pass on Lloyd, preserve FAAB, and take a cheaper flyer on Brooks. Johnson appears to be less impactful and is better suited for dynasty considerations rather than immediate fantasy relevance.
Jacobs himself is undraftable at this point. If he’s already rostered, he may need to remain on the roster for now, especially in leagues with deep benches. Since he isn’t classified as injured, many platforms lack an appropriate IR option, creating a roster crunch for managers who selected him early. He remains a high-upside talent, but current circumstances complicate his fantasy viability for the season.
