Who Should I Start? Josh Jacobs or Kenny Gainwell

Wednesday, October 14, 11:04 AM

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs remains worth holding in most 12-team fantasy leagues, even after spending the first five games of 2026 on the NFL's Commissioner's Exempt List. Head coach Matt LaFleur said Monday that the team had received no update on his status, and another complication emerged Tuesday when police delayed releasing evidence related to his case pending potential court proceedings. There is still no timetable for Jacobs to return, making his roster spot increasingly difficult to justify for fantasy managers dealing with injuries and bye weeks. The 28-year-old rushed for 929 yards and 13 touchdowns in 15 games last season, adding 36 receptions for 282 yards and another score. Green Bay has struggled to establish a reliable replacement, although MarShawn Lloyd scored twice against Chicago in Week 5 while sharing backfield duties with Pierre Strong Jr. and Kaleb Johnson. Chris Brooks (ankle) is also on injured reserve. Jacobs could regain a substantial workload if cleared to return, but there is no guarantee that happens soon. Managers with sufficient bench depth should continue holding him, while those in shallow leagues who need an immediate contributor can justify cutting him for a dependable replacement.