Fantasy Alert, Ashton Jeanty's Role in Raiders' Passing Game Revealed in New NFL Rumors

Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty is reportedly expected to play a significant role in the team's passing game during his second NFL season in 2026.

According to ESPN's Dan Graziano, multiple sources have indicated that Jeanty will be "a bigger part" of the Raiders' passing attack this season after recording 55 receptions for 346 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie.

When the Raiders selected Jeanty with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft out of Boise State, there were some questions about his versatility.

While Jeanty rushed for a remarkable 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns en route to finishing second in Heisman Trophy voting in 2024, he caught only 23 passes that season.

However, those who were bullish on Jeanty pointed out that he was a much bigger threat in the passing game one year earlier when he made 43 grabs for 569 yards and five touchdowns.

Last season, Jeanty proved that he still possessed the pass-catching skill set, ranking third on the team in receptions, fourth in receiving yardage and tied for second in receiving touchdowns.

The prevailing thought is that Vegas' passing offense should be better this season than it was last season when Geno Smith largely struggled.

Smith was replaced by another veteran in Kirk Cousins, as well as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft in Fernando Mendoza. The Raiders also brought in offensive guru Klint Kubiak as their new head coach.

Regardless of which one of Cousins or Mendoza sees more action, Jeanty figures to be a sure-handed safety valve for them, and that could help the 22-year-old running back pad his receiving stats.

Jeanty struggled at times as a runner last season, rushing for 975 yards and five touchdowns, while averaging just 3.7 yards per carry, but his receiving contributions ensured that he was still a quality contributor for fantasy football purposes.

Much like last year, Jeanty is being viewed as a late-first or early-second-round pick in most fantasy leagues, but the potential is there for him to return early-first-round value, particularly if his passing usage continues to grow.

Given Graziano's report, those who play in fantasy leagues that award a full point or half point for receptions may want to move Jeanty slightly up their rankings.