Raiders running back Josh Jacobs had a special rookie campaign and the men and women who cover the sport noticed.
The Professional Football Writers of America (of which I am a member) voted the former Alabama draft pick their top offensive rookie of the year.
Jacobs, in just 13 appearances, rushed the ball 242 times for 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns. In addition, Jacobs nabbed 20 receptions for 166 yards as the Raiders remained alive in the playoff race late in the season.
In his rookie season in the Silver and Black, Jacobs made history joining Hall of Famer Marcus Allen as the only two players in team history to be named Offensive Rookie of the Year. Jacobs also was the first-ever Raiders back to break the 1,000-yard mark in rushing. He also shattered the record previously held by Allen for most yards rushing in his first eight games. Jacobs also brook Allen’s rookie 100-yard rushing performance record by notching five in 2019.
Jacobs’ 101.2 scrimmage yards per game also led the 2019 rookie class in the NFL, and his 1,150 yards rushing ranked sixth in the NFL this year overall and also rank sixth all-time in Raiders history for all single-season rushing performances.
Among players 21-years-old or younger, Jacobs’ 1,150 rushing yards in his first 13 contests rank fourth all-time, trailing only Ezekiel Elliott, Edgerrin James and Barry Sanders.
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Joey Bosa won both the PFWA Rookie of the Year honors and the Defensive Rookie of the Year as well.
Not garnering votes to make the PFWA All-Rookie Defensive team was Maxx Crosby. Crosby finished his rookie season with 10.5 sacks.
| QB | Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals |
| RB | Jacobs; Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles |
| TE | Noah Fant, Denver Broncos |
| C | Erik McCoy, New Orleans Saints |
| G | Elgton Jenkins, Green Bay Packers; Dalton Risner, Denver Broncos |
| T | Tytus Howard, Houston Texans; Jawaan Taylor, Jacksonville Jaguars |
| DL | Josh Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars; Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers; Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants; Ed Oliver, Buffalo Bills |
| LB | Devin Bush, Pittsburgh Steelers; Dre Greenlaw, San Francisco 49ers; Devin White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| CB | Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, New Orleans Saints; Sean Murphy-Bunting, Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| S | Darnell Savage, Green Bay Packers; Juan Thornhill, Kansas City Chiefs |
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| PK | Austin Seibert, Cleveland Browns |
| P | Jamie Gillan, Cleveland Browns |
| KR | Mecole Hardman, Kansas City Chiefs |
| PR | Deonte Harris, New Orleans Saints |
| ST | Drue Tranquill, Los Angeles Chargers |