Zamir White Should Scare Josh Jacobs’ Fantasy Owners In 2022
I am fully on the Zamir White hype train. While I do like Josh Jacobs and fully defended the Raiders 2019 draft class that was rated as an F by Trey Daubert, I do think he might be on the way out. There’s a couple of reasons that make me believe this. The most obvious one is that the Raiders did not pick up Jacobs’ fifth-year option. Meaning, after this season, he’s a free agent. If you are really confident about a guy, you want to keep him as cheap as you can and start working your way towards a long-term deal. That wasn’t the case. Another thing is that Josh McDaniels seems to like the RB-by-committee approach. He had four RBs that could start any Sunday in New England, and now the Raiders seem to be trending that way.
This is where Zamir White comes in. The former Georgia RB was drafted in the 4th round of the 2022 draft. While the RB room may seem muddy with Jacobs, Kenyan Drake coming back from injury, and the Raiders signing former Patriot Brandon Bolden and then Ameer Abdullah, the upside is still huge for White. Both Drake and Abdullah’s contracts expire next year like Jacobs, and Brandon Bolden is old, but his contract expires in 2024 anyway. Abdullah and Bolden might not make the roster this year, too. The Raiders have 3 rookie RBs under contract with Zamir White, Brittain Brown, and Sincere McCormick. Do you see where I am heading with this? Jacobs, Drake, Bolden, and Abdullah, whether they make the roster or not this year are on their way out. This is opening up the door for the only sure thing for the Raiders at RB after this season: Zamir White.
As a coach, I can see the Raiders being very Josh Jacobs heavy at the beginning of the season while Zamir White and the other rookies (if they make the roster) figure out the offense. As the season goes on, I can only see White being more prevalent in the offense as the future RB of the Raiders. Jacobs is going to want a big paycheck, and I don’t think the Raiders will give it to them — the NFL is discovering that RBs are more expendable now as Scott Logush pointed out. It would be better to keep drafting RBs every few years and letting them walk after their rookie contract with an RB committee. I’ve seen the light.
The time to buy low on Zamir White is now. Rookie drafts in Dynasty, trading some Pringles and a Diet Dr. Pepper for him to use after this season should be in your best interest. He might be a great addition if Josh Jacobs gets injured this year or even in your fantasy playoffs. But, if you’re a Josh Jacobs owner, the time to move away from him is now. Sell high on him and press on. I’m not even sure Jacobs will be a Raider in 2023 and who knows whatever team he signs with will do with his fantasy production. Out with the old and in with the new, give me some of Zamir White.
