Rookie is already in an elite category for fantasy football
It’s never too early to start preparing for fantasy football drafts, as no one wants to end up on a viral social media video after finishing in last place in their league. Plus, you can’t let your friends hold that over your head for the next year.
When it comes to fantasy football and the Las Vegas Raiders this season, one big question is where rookie Ashton Jeanty falls in the running back rankings, or where is it appropriate to draft Jeanty? Well, according to Pro Football Focus, the Boise State product is deserving of being one of the first backs taken.
PFF fantasy football analyst Jonathon Marci recently listed the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft in the ‘Tier 1: Fantastic four’ category, along with the Atlanta Falcons’ Bijan Robinson, Detroit Lions‘ Jahmyr Gibbs and Philadelphia Eagles’ Saquon Barkley. Marci offered analysis on Jeanty seen below.
“The expectations that Ashton Jeanty brings with him coming out of the 2025 NFL Draft are nothing short of this RB4 overall ranking after being the clear 1.01 in rookie drafts,” Marci wrote on June 18. “Even landing on a below-average offense like the Las Vegas Raiders, nothing is standing in Jeanty’s way of performing at an elite level with as ideal of a workload out of the backfield as any player is set up for heading into 2025. As one of the best running back prospects in recent years, there aren’t any concerning weaknesses in Jeanty’s game to say that he can’t continue to operate at a top-tier level even in the NFL, immediately thrusting him into this RB1 conversation.”
So, if you want to get Jeanty on your team this year, you’re probably going to have to take him in the first round and have a high pick at that.
In Other Raiders’ Links:
- Tyree Wilson looking to silence doubters: “You draft somebody high, you expect them to come out and perform right away,” the defensive end said at the end of mandatory minicamp via Silver and Black Pride. “…I feel like this year is the year that you got to go out there and show and shut everybody up.”
- Slot machines: “Shuttling [Jakobi] Meyers and [Jack] Bech inside did allow Las Vegas to get a look at Tre Tucker and rookie Dont’e Thornton Jr. (fourth-round pick in April’s draft) as outside options,” S&BP’s Ray Aspuria wrote while exploring the Raiders’ wide receiver rotations. “Both are fleet-footed wideouts with Thornton providing size (6-foot-5) to go along with his 4.30-flat speed.”
- Jeremy Chinn standing out already: “On defense, Jeremy Chinn has seemingly been the ultimate chess piece for the Raiders secondary,” Levi Edwards of the team’s website wrote. “He plays with a physical style that’s complemented Isaiah Pola-Mao. Chinn’s ability to force pass breakups with his recovery speed and long arms was a sight to see, as he made plays on some of the team’s top offensive weapons consistently.”
- Breakout year for Michael Mayer?: “Carroll had a heart-to-heart conversation with Mayer to lay out the expectations he has for Mayer and the rest of the team,” ESPN’s Ryan McFadden wrote. “He thought Mayer and second-year tight end Brock Bowers made plays on the field, creating optimism for the position group. During the second day of minicamp, Mayer made an impressive touchdown grab off a throw from Smith.”