Josh Jacob’s status for Week 12 is very much up in the air after his injury vs. the Giants. Head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters that Jacobs could “potentially” play this week, leaving his status very much in doubt for Sunday.
If he can’t go, Emanuel Wilson will get the start for Green Bay. The former undrafted back is in his third NFL season. He played his college ball at Johnson C. Smith University and Fort Valley State University. Wilson signed with the Packers after going undrafted in 2023.
In his rookie season, Wilson only carried 14 times for 85 yards while averaging 6.1 yards a pop. In his sophomore year, his volume ramped up quite a bit, rushing 103 times for 502 yards and four scores while averaging 4.9 yards a carry. Now we get to 2025.
Wilson has been the backup to Jacobs all season, rushing 53 times for 220 yards and a touchdown while averaging 4.2 yards per carry. He has also caught 11 of 13 targets for 69 yards. Although the 4.2 yards per carry mark is the lowest of his short career, it’s still a more than respectable number. He also has shown improvements as a receiving option out of the backfield, already posting a career high in yards through 10 games.
Now, let’s take a look at his matchup on Sunday, assuming Jacobs is out of the picture. The Vikings rank 22nd in the NFL against the run, allowing 127 yards per game on the ground and they have allowed the 18th most FPTS to opposing running backs on DraftKings. It’s certainly not the worst matchup in the world, and it elevates Wilson into a must-start option for Week 12. I wouldn’t be shocked if he put up 20 FPTS or more in this matchup.
