Josh Jacobs Could Return Week 7: Fantasy Football Fallout of Removal From Commissioner Exempt List

Josh Jacobs' lengthy stint on the Commissioner Exempt List is set to end on Monday, opening the door for the Packers' lead back to return to action as soon as Week 7.

From a fantasy perspective, this is massive—and somewhat unexpected—news for those who drafted the workhorse back with hope of late-season contributions.

There are still plenty of moving parts—and disturbing allegations—in the legal proceedings. Jacobs can still be suspended by the NFL pending additional evidence, though his time served on the exempt list will count toward any potential suspension.

Here's where things stand for Jacobs on both fronts and how fantasy managers should proceed, with Jacobs likely to be active for the Packers' Week 7 matchup with the Detroit Lions.

Jacobs, Victim Sue Police to Block Release of Video

Jacobs was arrested in May on domestic violence charges that included accusations of strangulation and suffocation. Authorities did not charge Jacobs with a felony, but he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property. He was fined $1,000 and can reportedly have the criminal damage charge dropped if he meets certain court orders.

The charges led to the NFL placing Jacobs on the Commissioner Exempt List, meaning he could not practice or play in games but continued to be paid by the team. ESPN reported yesterday that both Jacobs and the victim have filed civil suits seeking to restrict access to a security video of the altercation. The victim's suit cites privacy and emotional harm should the video be released. The NFL today announced that Jacobs will be removed from the exempt list on Monday and be eligible to report to practice and play in Week 7.

The league is reportedly still investigating the incident and seeking the video. Jacobs could be suspended for additional time on top of the six weeks he missed on paid leave thus far.

Fantasy Life Projects Jacobs as a Borderline Top-12 RB

Jacobs isn't walking into the same situation he enjoyed over the previous two seasons when he averaged over 1,400 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns per year.

Fantasy Life's updated rest-of-season projections place Jacobs as RB14. The Packers' run game has struggled through the season's first five weeks—they're currently last in the league at 60.4 rushing yards per game. That has led to a huge uptick in passing volume for Jordan Love and company—the team ranks sixth in the league in pass rate over expectation (+5.2).

Green Bay's offensive line has taken a big step back compared to last year, ranking 31st in the league according to PFF. Run-blocking has been a particular problem, as the team also ranks second-worst with 1.8 yards before contact per attempt. Marshawn Lloyd's RB14 finish last week was the best fantasy performance of the year among the unit.

Still, Jacobs should see significantly more volume than backups Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson—potentially more than both combined.

Should You Start Josh Jacobs in Week 7?

Fantasy managers are scrounging for healthy running backs these days, and anyone who held on to Jacobs for this long should be able to find a spot in their starting lineups for one of the few workhorse backs in the NFL.

The 28-year-old former first-rounder has been one of the most reliable RB1s in the league through his seven seasons in the NFL. Since his rookie year, Jacobs has only finished below RB13 once—in 2023 for a struggling Raiders team when he missed four games. He'll be a must-start for most fantasy managers or a perfect trade chip for those with RB depth.