The Las Vegas Raiders will use Monday's pregame warm-ups to decide whether or not star running back Josh Jacobs will play against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The third-year back has been out the last two games after suffering an ankle injury in Week 1, but not before adding a pair of touchdowns.
Jacobs, the only running back selected in the first round of the 2019 draft, went to the Pro Bowl as a rookie. He crossed the 1,000-yard rushing mark in each of the last two full seasons, along with 53 total receptions.
His absence has paved a role for backup Peyton Barber, who was signed off Washington's practice squad just before the season.
Barber recorded just 32 yards on 13 carries in Week 2, before exploding last Sunday.
He was a problem for the Dolphins on the ground, putting up 111 yards and adding three more catches for 31 yards in the passing game.
He could be a valuable add in fantasy formats Monday, considering he draws a Chargers defense allowing the most yards per carry (5.8) in the entire league. Additionally, only three other teams in the NFL own a worse Explosive Rush rate than the Bolts (15%).
Barber is rostered in just 37% of leagues on Yahoo!
It's a nice matchup for any Raiders running back when it comes to fantasy or DFS showdowns.
From FantasyLabs' Matt LaMarca:
Josh Jacobs is currently questionable after missing the past two weeks with an ankle injury. He was able to practice on a limited basis this week, but head coach Jon Gruden still labeled him a dreaded “game-time decision.” I think Jacobs ends up playing, but there’s no guarantee he’s at 100%.
That’s a shame because the Chargers represent an elite matchup for running backs. They rank just 31st in rush defense DVOA, so whoever is running the ball for the Raiders has upside on Monday. I like the idea of using Jacobs as a low-ownership GPP play if he’s active, but this could end up being a committee situation.
If Jacobs is ruled out, fire up Peyton Barber with confidence. He was extremely busy last week vs. the Dolphins, racking up 23 carries and five targets, and he ultimately finished with 26.2 DraftKings points. He would serve as the team’s lead back once again if Jacobs is out, which would make him very appealing vs. the Chargers.
If Barber is already on a roster and you're in a situation where you need a last-second replacement, consider Foster Moreau. He's played in at least 50% of the Raiders' offensive snaps in each of the first three games and had a touchdown catch in Week 2. He's available in more than 99% of leagues.
The Raiders, who owned a preseason win total of just 7, are off to a 3-0 start. They opened the year with an overtime win against Baltimore, followed by a signature win over Pittsburgh and another overtime victory against Miami.
They're getting 3.5 points for the prime-time clash against L.A. at DraftKings, with a total of 52.5.
