Josh Jacobs questionable fantasy Week 7: Pick up Emanuel Wilson from the waiver wire

Tim Heaney

Josh Jacobs questionable fantasy Week 7: Pick up Emanuel Wilson from the waiver wire image

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (calf, illness) remains questionable and a true game-time decision heading into Week 7 versus the Arizona Cardinals.

Fantasy football managers eyeing the 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff time should aim to locate a replacement just in case the bell-cow back is inactive.

Jacobs, who's ranked RB3 on the season in fantasy football PPR leagues (17.9 points per game), would leave a huge hole in many fantasy lineups if he's out.

One immediate name to start with is Packers backup running back Emanuel Wilson.

Pick up Emanuel Wilson if Josh Jacobs is inactive in Week 7

Wilson generated 11.1 PPR fantasy points in Week 4 against the Cowboys on 81 scrimmage yards with 13 routes run. 

For however long Jacobs would be out, Wilson (5-foot-10, 226 pounds) could be close to a three-down back with weekly RB1/RB2 value in an offense that has increasingly valued the run game since Jacobs' arrival.

The 26-year-old likely would share some work with Chris Brooks (6-foot-1, 219), who could swipe some goal-line work, but Wilson has the skill set to carry the majority workload in a non-Jacobs setup.

Wilson is 16% rostered in Yahoo! Fantasy Football leagues, while Brooks (0%) is a deep-league consolation prize to wait out.

MORE: Start-Sit Week 7 blog

Emanuel Wilson, Chris Brooks fantasy outlook Week 7 vs. Cardinals

The Cardinals have allowed the ninth-most fantasy PPR points per game to running backs (23.7), so perhaps Wilson could see RB2 value in Jacobs' stead. Brooks could be a desperation deep-league flex.

However, a Jacobs absence could also mean more short-range work for TE Tucker Kraft or WRs Romeo Doubs, Matthew Golden, or Domtayvion Wicks, so do not assume Jacobs-like volume for either backup RB.

MORE: Fantasy RB Week 7 rankings

Tim Heaney

Tim Heaney joined The Sporting News in 2025 as Fantasy Football Editor. For nearly 20 years, the FSWA award winner has created fantasy NFL and MLB rankings, podcasts, and analysis for sites including ESPN, USA Today/Sports Weekly, KFFL, RotoWire, and RotoBaller. The Boston University alum hopes he’s helped a few followers win their leagues, even when he’s a year too early on breakout players.