RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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It wouldn't be fantasy football season without a little legal drama.
Football is a sport that relies heavily on the X's and O's or the matchup in a given week. Unfortunately, some players have found that the courts present the most formidable foe in a season. In 2024, Rashee Rice gave fantasy managers a headache during draft season for a variety of reasons that included a possible suspension.
This season, all eyes are on Josh Jacobs .
The Green Bay Packers star was arrested in May after police responded to a disturbance complaint . He faced five charges: battery (domestic abuse), criminal damage to property (domestic abuse), disorderly conduct (domestic abuse), strangulation and suffocation, and intimidation of a victim.
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Jacobs denied the initial allegations. On Aug. 27, court records showed that he was formally charged with two misdemeanors – one for battery and the other for criminal damage to property. His initial court appearance is set for Nov. 17.
Given that he won't appear in court until the second half of the NFL regular season, it remains unclear how the league will proceed.
Should you keep Jacobs off your draft board in fantasy drafts? Here's our advice.
Should you draft Josh Jacobs in fantasy?
Jacobs is a player to avoid during fantasy drafts.
Words like "suspension" and "charges" are being thrown around far too much when it comes to the Packers ' star for our liking. It creates a situation of uncertainty, especially after general manager Brian Gutekunst already told reporters on Aug. 26 that the team is preparing for the possibility that they could be without him..
Packers coach Matt LaFleur made it clear Green Bay is planning to stick by Jacobs as the legal process plays out.
"I fully anticipate him being a member of our team," LaFleur told reporters after the Packers' final preseason game on Aug. 28.
However, even he didn't know what to expect when it came to Jacobs' status for the team's Week 1 game against the Minnesota Vikings.
"I can't really comment on that, because I don't know," LaFleur told reporters on Aug. 28.
Of course, it makes sense for the Packers to prepare for every possibility. However, the open acknowledgment of the situation won't quiet those suspension concerns.
The court date being in November certainly complicates things, since it's unclear whether the league would hand down a suspension at that point or simply wait until the offseason.
A criminal complaint filed on Aug. 27 indicated the presence of surveillance video in the case. In many ways, that is the biggest variable at the moment. If that video becomes public and illustrates the alleged incident, it could force the NFL to take action earlier.
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While the off-field situation hangs over Jacobs, no one will question his on-field ability. Despite not being known as a pass-catching back, Jacobs has finished as a top-10 fantasy running back in PPR formats through two seasons in Green Bay, according to FantasyPros .
That would figure to be the case again in 2026, considering the questions the Packers face in the receiver and tight end rooms. The team lost multiple receivers this offseason and now has the added challenge of reincorporating some that are returning from major injuries.
In many ways, Jacobs remained the one constant among the skill position group.
Now even he is a question mark.
Verdict: There are no guarantees that Jacobs suits up for the entirety of the Packers season, given his legal situation. He would be a great fantasy weapon if available, but it's hard to recommend drafting him in the early rounds. For the risk-takers out there, we are willing to swing as we approach the middle rounds. Otherwise, save yourself the trouble.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Should you draft Josh Jacobs in fantasy? Suspension update, outlook for Packers RB
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