Every NFL offseason creates winners and losers.
Some players generate excitement with blockbuster signings or breakout expectations. Others spend months answering questions about injuries, production, or whether they’re still among the league’s elite.
This summer, Josh Jacobs appears to have found himself in the second group.
What has already been a challenging offseason became even more difficult after ESPN released its annual rankings of the NFL’s best running backs entering the 2026 season.
One name was noticeably absent from the Top 10.
Josh Jacobs.
For many fans, that omission came as a surprise.
Not long ago, Jacobs was widely viewed as one of the league’s premier running backs. His combination of power, vision, balance, and ability to carry an offense made him one of the NFL’s most respected offensive weapons.
So how does a player with that résumé suddenly find himself outside the conversation?
That’s the question dominating discussions across football communities.
Supporters argue that rankings often overreact to recent performances while overlooking a player’s broader body of work. They point out that elite talent doesn’t simply disappear after one difficult season or an offseason filled with uncertainty.
Critics, however, see things differently.
The NFL changes quickly.
New stars emerge every season.
Young running backs continue to reshape the position with explosive speed, versatility, and consistency.
In such a competitive environment, reputation alone isn’t enough to guarantee a place among the league’s best.
That difference in perspective has turned Jacobs’ ranking—or lack of one—into one of the offseason’s most debated topics.
Some believe ESPN’s list reflects the current reality of the position.
Others believe Jacobs has been judged more harshly than many of his peers.
And that’s where the conversation becomes interesting.
Rankings are never just about statistics.
They’re about perception.
Momentum.
Expectations.
Narratives.
Sometimes a player climbs because everyone expects another breakout year.
Sometimes another falls because public confidence quietly begins to fade.
Whether that’s fair is an entirely different debate.
For Jacobs, this latest development adds to what has already been a difficult summer.
Every headline seems to create another question.
Can he still dominate games?
Can he return to elite form?
Has the league truly passed him by?
Or is this simply another example of how quickly public opinion changes in professional sports?
