Packers Playmaker Earns Early Top-20 Fantasy Ranking After Delivering Big Value

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ASHWAUBENON, WISCONSIN – JUNE 10: Josh Jacobs #8 of the Green Bay Packers participates in drills during the Green Bay Packers mandatory minicamp at Ray Nitschke Field on June 10, 2025 in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Josh Jacobs has become one of the best overall weapons in fantasy football for the Green Bay Packers in 2025.

Despite escalating price tags for top-tier backs last offseason, the Packers secured Jacobs on a four-year, $48 million deal with just $12.5 million fully guaranteed.

At 26, Jacobs was still in his prime, and the contract gave the Packers a one-year look at a proven workhorse.

Jacobs received a $12.5 million signing bonus and a non-guaranteed $1.2 million base salary in Year 1.

With workout and per-game roster bonuses added, his total 2024 compensation hit $14.8 million — solid for one season, but with no future obligations if things didn’t work out.

Fortunately for both the Packers and fantasy managers, things worked out — and then some.

Jacobs Delivered Big in Fantasy Year 1

Jacobs didn’t just meet expectations in Green Bay — he exceeded them. The former Raiders star rushed for 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns in his first season with the Packers, offering exactly the kind of downhill power and red zone consistency that made him a fantasy must-start each week.

That output helped catapult Jacobs into early 2025 fantasy rankings, where he currently sits inside the top 20 overall and top 10 among running backs. His ability to rack up goal-line touches and maintain volume in a balanced offense gives him a sturdy weekly floor and massive upside.

His 2025 compensation — just $8.2 million — makes him a steal in NFL terms, but in fantasy terms, it may also signal another year of bell-cow usage. The Packers have no incentive to reduce his role, and with another year of chemistry alongside Jordan Love and a young offensive core, Jacobs is in position to deliver again.

That $8.2 million includes a $1.17 million base salary, a $5.93 million roster bonus, a $600,000 workout bonus, and $500,000 in per-game roster incentives. All signs point to him being heavily involved — a key consideration for fantasy players drafting in the second or third round.

Green Bay’s front office deserves credit for the contract structure. Unlike other teams that locked into long-term risk with aging backs — like the Giants with Barkley or the Ravens with Henry — the Packers maintained flexibility while still betting on elite talent.

For fantasy managers, that flexibility also translates to clarity: Jacobs is the guy in 2025. There’s no crowded backfield, no looming contract drama, no reason to expect reduced volume. Just a player coming off a 1,300-yard, 15-TD campaign with little competition for touches.

If Jacobs continues this trajectory, he’ll be one of the league’s best values — both in real life and in fantasy drafts.

Among NFL’s Value For Packers

In a league where running back contracts are often cautionary tales, Green Bay’s calculated risk with Jacobs has paid off in every way. They paid a fair premium for Year 1, saw immediate results, and now enter 2025 with a top-tier back at a reduced rate — and no long-term obligation.

Fantasy players are taking notice. His blend of volume, touchdown upside, and durability makes Jacobs a top-20 overall option, especially in standard or half-PPR formats. If the Packers stick to their current offensive identity, he’s primed for another RB1-level finish.

Whether Green Bay decides to extend him beyond 2025 or not, it doesn’t matter to fantasy managers this fall. What matters is this: Jacobs is healthy, motivated, and poised to pay off in fantasy leagues just as handsomely as he did for the Packers.

Derek Hryn Derek Hryn is a writer for Heavy.com. He has extensive experience covering the NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAA football and basketball, along with providing expert fantasy football analysis for DraftKings and SB Nation. His work has been featured at Sports Illustrated, USA Today, NBC Sports, The New York Post, and others. More about Derek Hryn