Who Should I Start? Josh Jacobs or Javonte Williams

Wednesday, May 8, 11:03 PM

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs believes he has a chip on his shoulder, according to running backs coach Ben Sirmans. "I think he's coming in with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder because we all have something to prove," Sirmans told the media on Wednesday. "I think he wants to prove we made the right decision in investing in him." Jacobs doesn't necessarily have a whole lot more to prove after tallying 3,154 scrimmage yards and 18 touchdowns over his final two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders. However, his signing with Green Bay did surprise many NFL fans, so perhaps he feels a little extra motivation to silence the critics and make sure he lives up to every penny of his four-year, $48 million deal. The Packers parted ways with fellow veteran Aaron Jones this offseason and (barring any unforeseen additions) will enter 2024 with a backfield headlined by Jacobs, AJ Dillon, and rookie MarShawn Lloyd. Given his track record as an every-down back in Vegas, Jacobs easily has the most fantasy appeal of the bunch, ranking as a low-end RB1 heading into drafts.

Sunday, January 7, 11:41 PM

Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams finished the regular season with a strong performance in the 27-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. He led the team with nine carries for 32 yards and only his third rushing touchdown of the season and also led the team with seven catches on a team-high nine targets for an additional 43 yards. It helped that rookie Jaleel McLaughlin left the game with a head injury and never returned. The 23-year-old entered Week 18 after barely averaging over 2.00 yards per carry the last two weeks, but he was able to finish strong heading into the offseason. Overall, the third-year back was a disappointment, carrying the ball 217 times for 774 yards and three touchdowns while adding 47 catches (58 targets) for 228 yards and two TDs through the air. Heading into the final year of his contract, Williams' fantasy value in 2024 will depend on what Denver does at the QB position in the offseason.