Packers RB Josh Jacobs placed on commissioner’s exempt list, impacting fantasy drafts

Running back Josh Jacobs was placed on the NFL commissioner’s exempt list on Sunday after being charged with battery and criminal damage to property. The designation means he will continue to be paid but is barred from practicing or playing until the league removes him from the list.

The duration of Jacobs’ absence is unclear; past players placed on the exempt list for domestic-violence-related charges have missed either the remainder of the season or have been released. Analysts note that a minimum six-game suspension under the league’s personal-conduct policy could end by mid-October, but a longer stay on the exempt list or a season-long absence remains possible.

Fantasy football owners are advised to treat Jacobs as unavailable for the upcoming draft. They may consider selecting him in a late round as a speculative pick or focus on other Green Bay backs. Second-year running back MarShawn Lloyd is expected to assume primary rushing duties and is projected as a top-80 pick, with the potential to rise to a top-60 selection. Christopher Brooks is viewed as a passing-down specialist and may be a low-round option in point-per-reception formats. The Packers also acquired Kaleb Johnson, a former Steelers third-rounder, who could serve as depth if Lloyd or Jacobs miss time.

The roster changes also affect the Packers’ passing game. With Jacobs unavailable, quarterback Jordan Love is likely to see an increased share of targets, shifting the offense slightly toward passing. Receivers Christian Watson, Tucker Kraft, Matthew Golden and Jayden Reed are expected to benefit from the adjusted scheme, with Watson and Kraft projected as mid-round fantasy picks and Golden and Reed as later-round options. Love is being rated as a top-15 fantasy quarterback with upside to finish among the league’s top ten.