Josh Jacobs is a Star in the Making and Raiders Fans Should Be Grateful

Prior to the start of Week 1, Oakland Raiders fans might not have had much faith in their team's success in 2019. However, rookie running back Josh Jacobs has helped change plenty of opinions in the early going.

Jacobs had a breakout game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football, and Raiders fans should be so grateful for what they have in the backfield.

Even on a night where the Raiders' defense produced much of their offense, Jacobs gained 101 all-purpose yards, plowed into the end zone for a 16-yard game-winning touchdown, and iced Oakland's 26-24 win.

Jacobs shined on a national stage in primetime, showing a glimpse of his significant prowess. Through nine games this year, he has averaged over 90 rushing yards per game, and piled up 811 in all, to go along with seven rushing touchdowns.

He has been especially hot as of late, with over 120 rushing yards in three of the last five games. Those came against particularly strong defenses, too, as Jacobs went toe-to-toe with the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Detroit Lions.

With everything that happened with Antonio Brown last summer, plus the anguish of the Khalil Mack trade, it wasn't too hard to find a sea of negativity surrounding the Raiders. Yet, thanks in part to Jacobs' play, they're a somewhat surprising 5-4, just one game back of the AFC West-leading Kansas City Chiefs.