AshtonJeanty

News: 20 hours agoCoach Klint Kubiak said Tuesday that the Raiders' starters -- a group that would include Jeanty -- are in line to play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Cardinals, Sam Warren of The Athletic reports.

Spin: It remains to be seen how much work Jeanty is in store for versus Arizona, but once he gets his reps, his backups will presumably see plenty of action. As the coming campaign approaches, Jeanty is positioned for a high-volume role in the Las Vegas offense that could include more working in the passing game, per Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. Currently in line for slotting behind Jeanty in the Raiders' backfield are Mike Washington, Dylan Laube, Dare Ogunbowale and Roman Hemby.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Jeanty is eyeing a leap forward in his second NFL season after an uneven rookie campaign in which the first-round pick enjoyed a ton of volume (seventh among backs in carries, targets and receptions) and played fairly well (eighth among RBs in forced missed tackle rate, per PFF) but struggled to overcome the shaky Las Vegas offense. The good news is that the Raiders' offense should improve in 2026 with a better/healthier offensive line, a new coach in Super Bowl champion Klint Kubiak and a new quarterback in projected No. 1 NFL draft pick Fernando Mendoza. Jeanty has a clean path to a massive offensive role and is a strong bet for a leap forward. The 22-year-old is a midrange RB1 with elite upside.