A disappointing season for Ashton Jeanty continued last Sunday at MetLife Stadium. Las Vegas’ running back failed to get anything going on the ground vs. the Jets. Making matters worse, Mike Washington Jr. garnered most of the touches out of the backfield. For a Raiders team looking to win now, it makes sense to go with the hot hand.
During Week 9’s matchup with the San Francisco 49ers, should you start Ashton Jeanty? Let’s break down what fantasy football managers should expect.
Ashton Jeanty Fantasy Football Outlook
To call Sunday’s game a letdown from Jeanty is putting it lightly. He only gained nine yards on two carries vs. New York, albeit with three catches as well. Most concerning, the Boise State alum posted a season-low 40% snap share. In comparison, Washington Jr. took the field for 60% of Las Vegas’ offensive snaps.
It’s not as if this benching comes as a complete surprise. Jeanty has struggled all season, going all the way back to his preseason ankle sprain. The 22-year-old has gained 337 yards on 108 carries, averaging a dismal 3.1 yards per carry. Where Jeanty has retained some fantasy football value is through the air. The running back has snagged 37 catches for 376 receiving yards while recording four total touchdowns. Regardless, it’s not as if those have been the most efficient plays. A steady diet of dump-off passes can boost a player’s stock in PPR formats, but it’s not very conducive to winning actual football games.
Week 8’s showing vs. the Jets was the culmination of a nearly month-long reduction in Jeanty’s workload. He’s notched ten carries or fewer in each of his last four contests. Unsurprisingly, he’s failed to surpass 27 rushing yards in all of those games. Las Vegas has been trailing for most of October, falling short against some of the NFL’s elite squads. That’s placed added emphasis on the passing game. However, as seen last Sunday, this team has a different offensive approach when holding a lead. That creates less need on the field for a receiving back such as Jeanty.
The good news for Jeanty managers? There’s a decent chance the Raiders find themselves trailing in Week 9. San Francisco, 6-1, is an absolute juggernaut. That’s especially true when playing inside the friendly confines of Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers are allowing 49 receptions and 354 receiving yards to opposing running backs, first and third-most in the NFL respectively.
Regardless, it’s difficult to get too excited about Jeanty’s chances heading into this one. San Francisco is dominant inside the trenches, tied for the league’s second-fewest yards allowed per rush attempt (3.5). First-year Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak has no reason to stick with a struggling running back he didn’t draft personally. For added context, Washington Jr. churned out 83 yards on 25 carries during the win over New York. Even if the touches even out a bit going forward, it’s clear who this coaching staff prefers at the moment.
Between injuries and underperformance, it’s been a season to forget for Jeanty. Although he’s an underrated pass catcher, that alone isn’t enough to guarantee fantasy football success. A stifling San Francisco defense only makes things more difficult this weekend. In leagues with 12 teams or fewer, I’d be looking for a more reliable RB2/flex option.
