Ashton Jeanty to Las Vegas: An Awesome Player in a Perfect Situation

The Las Vegas Raiders selected running back Ashton Jeanty out of Boise State with the 6th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. This is an absolute home run pick from a fantasy football perspective, as I thought Vegas was the perfect landing spot for Jeanty. The Raiders, who have been a laughing stock for the better part of the last decade, now have a legitimately exciting future ahead of them. Here is my gut reaction to Jeanty’s fantasy value on the Raiders.

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Ashton Jeanty’s Profile

Jeanty is coming off perhaps the greatest season a college football running back has ever had. In 14 games, he ran for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns, averaging an absurd 7.0 yards per carry. He comfortably led the nation in missed tackles forced, yards after contact per attempt, breakaway runs, and pretty much any other running back statistic you can name. While he was less impactful through the air in 2024, Jeanty racked up an impressive 569 receiving yards on 43 catches in 2023 and is far from a one-dimensional back.

While Jeanty’s statistical profile matches that of other recently highly touted running backs like Bijan Robinson and Saquon Barkley, his scouting report is more unique. Jeanty is only 5’9” and runs with a lower center of gravity than most, giving him a surprising amount of power and strength. Pair that with his elite speed and agility, and Jeanty will immediately become one of the toughest players to bring down in the NFL.

Jeanty in the Raiders Offense

The Raiders’ offseason makeover is one of the more impressive turnarounds I can remember. The fanbase had little reason for optimism after the Raiders finished last season with no quarterback, no head coach, and their best player (Maxx Crosby) in a different mock trade a day. A few months later, the Raiders traded for a very solid QB in Geno Smith, hired legendary head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, re-signed Crosby, and ultimately put themselves in a position where they could justify taking a running back so early in the first round.

The Raiders were the single worst team running the ball last year, finishing last in the league in EPA per rush, rushing yards per carry, and rushing first downs. So, Jeanty should comfortably assert himself as the starter over guys like Raheem Mostert, Sincere McCormick, and Zamir White. I fully expect Jeanty to receive a workhorse load from Day 1, and I would project him to be close to the top of the league in carries. The ancillary pieces in the Raiders offense are also no slouch — Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers each had 1,000 receiving yards last season with putrid quarterback play, and the two of them should be in line for breakout seasons with Smith under center. Put all of that together, and I don’t think it’s insane to say the Raiders could be one of the five or 10 best offenses in the NFL this season.

Projecting Jeanty’s Fantasy Value

It’s hard to find any holes in Jeanty’s case for fantasy this year. He should see a ton of volume both on the ground and through the air, and unlike most highly drafted running backs, will actually be going to a decent offense. In the last decade, almost every running back taken in the top 10 of the NFL Draft went on to have a stellar rookie season. Todd Gurley, Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette, Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, and Bijan Robinson all finished top-12 at the position in their first year, and Jeanty should comfortably become a part of that list. Lesean McCoy had a couple of phenomenal seasons in Chip Kelly’s offense back in 2013 and 2014, and his usage profile stacks up similarly to something we could see from Jeanty.

Jeanty is currently 12th overall in Underdog ADP and will likely go in the first round of your fantasy drafts this season. I have no qualms whatsoever taking him that early, as he should have one of the highest floors and ceilings in fantasy football. Things could certainly change over the summer, but right now, it looks like the first round will be fairly receiver-heavy with guys like Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr, and Nico Collins all newer additions to the top tier of receivers. In that sea of receivers, Jeanty should stand out and resemble the old-school, traditional lead running backs that carry your fantasy team to success.

The Bottom Line

• Ashton Jeanty is a unique and amazing running back prospect who had a legendary college career. Drafting a running back with the sixth pick of the NFL Draft might not be the best positional value decision, but Jeanty has the talent and upside to defy that wisdom.
• Jeanty will join a surprisingly fun Raiders offense that could quietly be a top-10 unit this season, led by Geno Smith and a revamped coaching staff.
• While Jeanty’s sticker price in fantasy football might seem extreme, the precedent on running backs drafted in the top 10 is excellent. He has a legitimate chance of finishing as the overall RB1 in fantasy football with an ideal combination of floor and ceiling.