On Sunday, the Las Vegas Raiders will see the debut of 2025 first-round pick and running back Ashton Jeanty, who enters the NFL with as much hype as any player in recent years.
Jeanty was a superstar at Boise State. After an impressive 2023 campaign, Jeanty went nuclear in 2024, as he led the FBS with 2,601 rushing yards and 29 scores. Jeanty also added 138 yards through the air and one touchdown.
The rookie had an impressive offseason and is generating plenty of buzz ahead of his NFL debut on Sunday. Jeanty had a rough debut in the preseason, but he was able to turn things around in preseason Week 2 thanks to better blocking.
There has never been any doubt about Jeanty being the starter, but can we expect him to receive a full workload right away? Here's what we know about that.
Ashton Jeanty workload expectation
Raiders beat writer Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal believes that the ideal scenario will see Jeanty get somewhere between 20 to 25 touches in Week 1 against the New England Patriots.
"If the game goes the way the Raiders want, 20-25 run touches for Ashton. 6 to 7 for Zamir [White]," he wrote.
A 20-plus-touch workload would be in the top tier of the league. The fact that the Raiders would trust him with so much work this early says a lot about where the rookie is in his development.
Jeanty has a pretty good situation around him. The offensive line should be improved in 2025 after a lackluster showing from the group in 2024.
The Raiders have a much better quarterback situation with Geno Smith, also, which will prevent defenses from stacking the box against Jeanty because they have to respect the pass.
Las Vegas' Week 1 opponent, the Patriots, sported a bottom-10 run defense in 2024, but a lot has changed with the team since then, so we can't automatically say the same will be true for New England in 2025.
Whatever the case may be, Jeanty should be in fantasy football lineups in Week 1.
MORE NFL NEWS
- Chargers' Ladd McConkey calls out Ryan Clark over Justin Herbert comment
- A Jalen Carter suspension would have massive implications on Eagles contract
- Shedeur Sanders' chances of playing in 2025 just took a major hit
- Za'Darius Smith contract details make Lions passing on him look worse
- Texas QB Arch Manning predicted to land with cursed AFC franchise