Ashton Jeanty expected to win coveted award

Running backs seem on the verge of becoming cool again in the NFL, and the Las Vegas Raiders could be a frontrunner on that bandwagon with Ashton Jeanty.

The sixth overall pick of the Raiders in April’s draft, Jeanty is expected to spark what was the NFL’s worst running game last season. While the current buzz is that veteran Raheem Mostert will handle some third-down duties to lighten the load on the rookie, Jeanty will certainly be getting the lion’s share of the touches. Head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly have been hard at work this offseason to transform Jeanty into a complete player, turning him into the elite offensive weapon Raiders fan expect him to be.

Las Vegas oddsmakers are also expecting the Raiders to be successful in that endeavor.

Unsurprisingly, Jeanty is the favorite to win one of the NFL’s most prestigious awards.

Currently, Jeanty is a +290 favorite on Caesars Sportsbook to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. If he is successful, he will become the first running back to win the award since Saquon Barkley in 2018.

Running backs are getting drafted earlier and earlier. Ashton Jeanty was drafted sixth overall this year, so there are a lot of expectations,” Caesars head of football Joey Feazel said, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Todd Dewey. “He’s likened to Saquon Barkley and how much of an impact he’s going to make in year one.

“Also, the system he’s going to be put in with (Raiders offensive coordinator) Chip Kelly running the ball. We saw (Kelly) win the national championship last year with Ohio State, and we’re not going to expect anything less than running the ball first.”

While Jeanty is a good bet, he will not be without competition.

Tennessee Titans quarterback and first overall pick Cam Ward is hot on his trail as a +320 bet. Other candidates such as Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter and New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough are also in the hunt. However, Jeanty leading the Raiders to a season better than expected would certainly help push his stock further up.

Tight end Brock Bowers came so close to the award last season, but running back Marcus Allen in 1982 is still the only Raider to win it. If Jeanty comes out of the gates as expected, however, the Raiders might not be snubbed a second time.