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Josh Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd Fantasy Draft Landing Spot with AJ Dillon Out for the Season | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats & Rumors

VaselineAugust 27, 2024

0 2 minutes read

Josh Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd Fantasy Draft Landing Spot with AJ Dillon Out for the Season | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats & Rumors

DENVER, COLORADO - AUGUST 18: Josh Jacobs #8 of the Green Bay Packers warms up against the Denver Broncos during a preseason game at Empower Field At Mile High on August 18, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)

Jamie Schwabenow/Getty Images

The Green Bay Packers placed veteran running back AJ Dillon on the injured list on Tuesday with a neck injury.

The news came as the Packers finalized their 53-man roster for the 2024 season, keeping Josh Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd and Emanuel Wilson at running back. Both Ellis Merriweather and Nate McCrary were cut.

So, how does Tuesday’s news impact the fantasy football positioning of the remaining running backs?

He was always going to be the clear feature back in this offense, and it’s unlikely Dillon would have had all that much of an impact. Despite catching 175 or more carries in each of the past three seasons while in a timeshare of sorts with Aaron Jones, Dillon has never managed to finish higher than 23rd among running backs in fantasy football, according to ESPN.

It’s certainly no surprise that the Packers signed Jacobs to a four-year, $48 million contract this offseason, letting Jones go in the process so he could share contacts with Dillon. He was an RB1 before Tuesday’s news, and little has changed in that regard.

Zach Kruse @softcruse2

Packers coach Matt LaFleur on RB Josh Jacobs:
“He can do anything.”
“He has great hands.”
“Yesterday he showed a speed that was exciting to watch.”
“Tough, tough runner.”
“He is a strong rider.”
Everyone seems excited to see him make a live tackle.

Andy Behrens @Andy Behrens

Replacing AJ Dillon with Josh Jacobs is a ridiculously huge upgrade. Shouldn’t be legal imo.

You may be tempted to suggest that Dillon may have eaten up Jacobs’ short-yard attempts, and thus his chances at the goal line. But Dillon has never been great in those situations, with just 16 career rushing touchdowns in four seasons.

Maybe Jacobs will see a little bit more workload now. Maybe he’ll get a little productivity boost. But he’s always had a huge RB1 upside.

The bigger question heading into the 2024 season was whether Dillon Lloyd, the team’s third-round pick in April, could keep the backup position.

That’s a moot point now, and Lloyd gets an overall boost as the clear handcuff for Jacobs in the event of an injury. His speed and explosiveness make him an interesting alternative to Jacobs, and he could see a bit role as a change-of-pace option, so he’s definitely worth a shot. But Jacobs is expected to handle the majority of touches out of the backfield.

Consider Lloyd a late-round sleeper, RB4 or 5.

VaselineAugust 27, 2024

0 2 minutes read

Vaseline

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