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The autumn wind is a Raider. This autumn, that Raider wind might be from Ashton Jeanty breezing by on his way to the end zone.
After trading in his blue for some Las Vegas Raiders' silver-and-black, the 2024 Heisman Trophy runner-up is now ready to make his mark in the NFL after terrorizing college defenses for the last two seasons.
Not only is he shedding the small-town feel of Boise, Idaho, for the bright lights of Las Vegas, but Jeanty is firmly on the fantasy football radar going forward. It's an often unforgiving community, which demands results and requires players to meet expectations, for better or worse.
When there's money involved, the stakes are higher and there will be endless amounts tied to Jeanty's performance in his first season.
The rookie won't be treated like one, instead being thrown into the fire to transform the Raiders' offense. Expectations are that he'll rise to the occasion.
Here's a look at his fantasy outlook for 2025 and where he ranks right now amongst running backs.
2025 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ashton Jeanty leads opening odds after NFL draft
It would be hard to find many running backs without a better fantasy outlook than Jeanty in 2025, who is firmly in the RB1 conversation.
Running back committees are all the rage nowadays, leaving the Raiders as one of the last remaining spots for a workhorse to thrive.
Outside of Jeanty, the Vegas depth chart features Raheem Mostert, Sincere McCormick and Zamir White. None of them will siphon touches away from the rookie, instead playing more of a supporting role than anything else.
That is especially true for McCormick and White, who both had the opportunity to secure the job last season, but were unable to take advantage.
In other words, Jeanty figures to be a high first-round pick in both PPR and non-PPR formats. He's shown the ability to handle a heavy workload, totaling 397 touches last season at Boise State. Jeanty's remarkable durability is just another feather in the proverbial cap, giving fantasy managers some additional peace of mind with the draft pick.
Fantasy football 2025 rankings: Post NFL draft updates, where top rookies rank
It's hard to repeat as the top fantasy running back. Just ask McCaffrey after last season. However, Barkley is still running behind one of the best, if not the best, offensive lines in the sport. He plays for arguably the best team and is in no danger of falling victim to a timeshare.
The Eagles could opt to limit Barkley's carries and save him for a playoff run, but that's a bridge they'll cross at a later date.
Robinson is still the top back in Atlanta and nothing this offseason should prevent him from another top-five finish. Meanwhile McCaffrey is expected to return to form coming off an injury-plagued 2024 and doesn't appear to be in danger of losing the workhorse label.
Gibbs is still the preferred option in Detroit, but does have the presence of David Montgomery that can sometimes play a factor. While that hasn't been a problem in the past, the Lions' new-look coaching staff does present some concern and that's enough to land him behind McCaffrey.
Ben Johnson was a known quantity, something new offensive coordinator John Morton is not. Detroit feels like a candidate to take a step-back in 2024, but Gibbs should still have enough value to produce at a high level.
Rounding out the top-five is Jeanty, who possesses the running and pass-catching ability to make him a top fantasy pick. He lands ahead of guys like Derrick Henry for this reason, while durability is what gets him ahead of someone like De'Von Achane.
Jeanty was one of the few blue chip prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Raiders drafted him to be one, so expect him to use them like one.
All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter. Check out the latest edition: How did your favorite team fare in the 2025 NFL Draft?
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ashton Jeanty fantasy ranking: Outlook for Raiders' RB post-NFL draft
Continue reading...
After trading in his blue for some Las Vegas Raiders' silver-and-black, the 2024 Heisman Trophy runner-up is now ready to make his mark in the NFL after terrorizing college defenses for the last two seasons.
Not only is he shedding the small-town feel of Boise, Idaho, for the bright lights of Las Vegas, but Jeanty is firmly on the fantasy football radar going forward. It's an often unforgiving community, which demands results and requires players to meet expectations, for better or worse.
When there's money involved, the stakes are higher and there will be endless amounts tied to Jeanty's performance in his first season.
The rookie won't be treated like one, instead being thrown into the fire to transform the Raiders' offense. Expectations are that he'll rise to the occasion.
Here's a look at his fantasy outlook for 2025 and where he ranks right now amongst running backs.
2025 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ashton Jeanty leads opening odds after NFL draft
Ashton Jeanty fantasy outlook
It would be hard to find many running backs without a better fantasy outlook than Jeanty in 2025, who is firmly in the RB1 conversation.
Running back committees are all the rage nowadays, leaving the Raiders as one of the last remaining spots for a workhorse to thrive.
Outside of Jeanty, the Vegas depth chart features Raheem Mostert, Sincere McCormick and Zamir White. None of them will siphon touches away from the rookie, instead playing more of a supporting role than anything else.
That is especially true for McCormick and White, who both had the opportunity to secure the job last season, but were unable to take advantage.
In other words, Jeanty figures to be a high first-round pick in both PPR and non-PPR formats. He's shown the ability to handle a heavy workload, totaling 397 touches last season at Boise State. Jeanty's remarkable durability is just another feather in the proverbial cap, giving fantasy managers some additional peace of mind with the draft pick.
Fantasy football 2025 rankings: Post NFL draft updates, where top rookies rank
Fantasy RB rankings 2025
It's hard to repeat as the top fantasy running back. Just ask McCaffrey after last season. However, Barkley is still running behind one of the best, if not the best, offensive lines in the sport. He plays for arguably the best team and is in no danger of falling victim to a timeshare.
The Eagles could opt to limit Barkley's carries and save him for a playoff run, but that's a bridge they'll cross at a later date.
Robinson is still the top back in Atlanta and nothing this offseason should prevent him from another top-five finish. Meanwhile McCaffrey is expected to return to form coming off an injury-plagued 2024 and doesn't appear to be in danger of losing the workhorse label.
Gibbs is still the preferred option in Detroit, but does have the presence of David Montgomery that can sometimes play a factor. While that hasn't been a problem in the past, the Lions' new-look coaching staff does present some concern and that's enough to land him behind McCaffrey.
Ben Johnson was a known quantity, something new offensive coordinator John Morton is not. Detroit feels like a candidate to take a step-back in 2024, but Gibbs should still have enough value to produce at a high level.
Rounding out the top-five is Jeanty, who possesses the running and pass-catching ability to make him a top fantasy pick. He lands ahead of guys like Derrick Henry for this reason, while durability is what gets him ahead of someone like De'Von Achane.
Jeanty was one of the few blue chip prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Raiders drafted him to be one, so expect him to use them like one.
All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter. Check out the latest edition: How did your favorite team fare in the 2025 NFL Draft?
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ashton Jeanty fantasy ranking: Outlook for Raiders' RB post-NFL draft
Continue reading...
