Raiders OC Chip Kelly changes Ashton Jeanty’s popular backfield stance
Rookie RB Ashton Jeanty certifies that his well-known backfield stance from Boise State has been changed by Raiders OC Chip Kelly.
Sports Seriously
Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty’s preseason performance has concerned some fantasy football managers.Historically, running backs taken in the NFL draft’s top 10 have performed well in their rookie seasons.Jeanty is projected to be the Raiders’ starting running back and has a favorable situation in a run-first offense.
To draft, or not to draft, Ashton Jeanty – that is the question.
The Las Vegas Raiders‘ rookie running back has sent the fantasy football community into a spiral following a lackluster preseason performance. It hasn’t been the introduction to the NFL that many thought coming into these practice games, but it’s important to remember they play preseason contests for a reason.
Jeanty finished with 12 carries for 37 yards and a touchdown in his limited action, while also adding one reception for two yards.
Those aren’t gaudy numbers that will excite fantasy managers, but perhaps there is a silver lining to all of this.
To put it in perspective, Ja’Marr Chase famously struggled to catch the ball ahead of his rookie season. The Cincinnati Bengals star receiver quickly put those concerns behind him once the regular season arrived and has been one of fantasy football’s best players since.
That’s not to say that Jeanty will be the RB1 at season’s end, but the fantasy football world sometimes puts too much stock into games that don’t really matter.
So, should you draft Jeanty? It’s complicated – or maybe analysts are just making it seem that way.
Should you draft Ashton Jeanty in fantasy?
Don’t let a few preseason games prevent you from drafting Jeanty.
All the stars have aligned for the Raiders rookie to put together a strong first season. Fantasy football is a situational game where opportunity reigns supreme – something Jeanty will have no shortage of.
Head coach Pete Carroll prefers a run-first approach and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly can deliver it. Kelly’s offenses love to play at a fast pace and have typically enjoyed strong rushing attacks.
It’s been a while since Kelly last patrolled an NFL sideline and his offense has evolved over time. However, his offenses did finish top-10 in rushing yards three times in four seasons – including No. 1 in 2013 as the Philadelphia Eagles‘ head coach. Kelly’s teams never finished lower than No. 15 in his short NFL stint.
Perhaps more important than anything else, Jeanty enters as the clear RB1 in Vegas – a true workhorse for the silver and black.
History suggests that positive results should follow. In the last 10 years, only six running backs have been drafted in the top 10. All of them finished as top-10 fantasy running backs in their rookie seasons:
Bijan Robinson (2023): RB9Touches: 272Scrimmage Yards: 1,463Total Touchdowns: 8Saquon Barkley (2018): RB1Touches: 352Scrimmage Yards: 2,028Total Touchdowns: 15Christian McCaffrey (2017): RB10Touches: 197Scrimmage Yards: 1,086Total Touchdowns: 7Leonard Fournette (2017): RB9Touches: 304Scrimmage Yards: 1,342Total Touchdowns: 10Ezekiel Elliott (2016): RB2Touches: 354Scrimmage Yards: 1,994Total Touchdowns: 15Todd Gurley (2015): RB9Touches: 250Scrimmage Yards: 1,294Total Touchdowns: 10
Teams don’t typically like to show too much in the preseason and it’s no different for the Raiders.
“We ran the most fundamental plays you can run,” Carroll told reporters after the team’s first preseason game. “In our format of going through the preseason, we’ll continue to be pretty basic, just to keep our edge for the opener and the first three, four games. Teams don’t know who we are and they’re gonna have to find out as we go.”
The second game gave fans a taste of what could be as Jeanty ripped off a monster 13-yard rush and later added a touchdown.
In other words, he’ll be fine.
Verdict: Fantasy football doesn’t have to be a complicated game and history tells us that Jeanty should be fine once the action really begins to matter. His ADP has fluctuated throughout the draft process — current Fantasy Pros ADP: 14 overall, RB5 — following some uninspiring preseason action. Don’t be someone who puts too much stock into that; instead, take advantage of any uneasiness from fellow league mates. Jump at the opportunity to select this budding star at the back of Round 1 or the beginning of Round 2, depending on your league size.