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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Raiders' Ashton Jeanty receives high praise from former All-Pro running back
Ashton Jeanty is entering his rookie season with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025 after being selected with the No.6 overall pick in April's draft. Jeanty is expected to play a pivotal role in Chip Kelly's offense and be a major upgrade at running back for Las Vegas. With already high expectations placed on his shoulders, former All-Pro running back and current NFL Network analyst Maurice Jones-Drew decided to hype up Jeanty even more. While at Raiders training camp practice on Sunday, Jones-Drew told Levi Edwards of that Jeanty is the best running back prospect he has ever scouted. "Ashton Jeanty is the best prospect I've scouted since I've been scouting," Jones-Drew told "I've scouted Saquon Barkley and other guys. A lot of it is his skill set but also what he did and where he was. And that translates over. There is similarities in our game, I think he's a much better receiver than I was when I first got into the NFL. ... His vision, his contact balance, his ability to catch, his blocking – he is the full package." "The Raiders have always been good when they had a strong running game," Jones-Drew added. "And I think Pete Carroll has always been successful when he had a strong running game. Ashton has that ability to be that every down guy to carry the ball and take the punishment that comes with being a running back in this day and age." Jeanty posted one of the most dominant colliegate football seasons for a running back in 2024, as he rushed for 2,601 and 29 touchdowns on an astonishing seven yards per carry for Boise State. If Jeanty's game can translate to the NFL, the 21-year-old could be one of the most productive running backs in the league right out of the gate. The 2024 Heisman Trophy finalist should receive a bulk of the carries in Las Vegas' offense and be the workhorse back the team has been looking for over the last few years. MORE:Is Raiders' Jackson Powers-Johnson in danger of losing starting spot?
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Latest RB rankings highlight unknowns at position for Jacksonville Jaguars
Speaking with NFL execs, coaches, and scouts, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler compiled his ranking of the top running backs this season, a list in which the Jaguars' Travis Etienne fell from being top 10 to unmentioned. Now, the Maurice Jones-Drew has put together his annual running back rankings, and near the bottom of that list is Etienne at No. 28. Advertisement "He's under immense pressure to perform with Bigsby threatening his position as RB1 and with the Jags drafting a pair of RBs in Bhayshul Tuten (who has upside in this scheme) and LeQuint Allen," Jones-Drew wrote. "There are several scenarios that end with a player not named Etienne leading the ground attack for Jacksonville, but I think he still has juice left in those legs." Etienne is coming off a 2024 season where he rushed for just 558 yards and averaged only 3.7 yards per carry. One major change under Liam Coen is that there has been a greater emphasis this offseason on getting Etienne the ball in space, which is where he has always been at his best. The unknowns for the Jaguars at running back really lies in what the playing time is going to look like for each back. As Jones-Drew highlighted, it's not as if the Jaguars are short on options. Tank Bigsby was one of the more efficient backs last season when it came to producing explosive runs. Bhayshul Tuten brings electric 4.32 speed and playmaking potential to the backfield, while LeQuint Allen has ample pass-catching experience. Advertisement On the flip side, however, Bigsby and Tuten have both had their issues with putting the ball on the ground, while Tuten and Allen are also currently navigating the learning curve that comes with making the jump to the NFL level, and in Coen's offense, that includes learning a robust playbook. Success on the ground is a must in order for Coen's system to be operating at max capacity. For one, a strong run game keeps an offense ahead of the sticks and out of predictable passing situations, but schematically, the run and pass game concepts are strongly tied together in this system, so if one isn't working efficiently, the other can be affected. This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Travis Etienne's spot in rankings highlight RB unknowns for Jaguars
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Is Bills' James Cook A Top 10 Running Back In 2025?
Is Bills' James Cook A Top 10 Running Back In 2025? originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Buffalo Bills running back James Cook will enter the 2025 season with something to prove if he doesn't get the new contract he desires. Advertisement Right now, it doesn't feel like the Bills and No. 4 will come to an agreement, simply due to the salary cap constraints, and if that is the case, James will need to play well to show not only Buffalo but other respective teams he is deserving of top-of-the-market money. In three years, Cook has two Pro Bowls, two 1,000-yard seasons, and is coming off a 16-touchdown year in the regular season, which tied the franchise record. Is that enough for Cook to be seen as a top back in football? For former running back Maurice Jones-Drew, in his latest rankings, James comes in at No. 11 "Cook scored 18 touchdowns last season, earning his second straight trip to the Pro Bowl and proving he's an essential part of the offense's success," Jones-Drew wrote. "The 25-year-old has been vocal about wanting a new contract entering the final year of his rookie deal, and negotiations are ongoing as we approach the start of training camp. There's a chance he could hold out if a deal isn't reached by Week 1, which obviously would hurt his production and spot in these rankings. Yet, I'm operating as if he'll be on the field." Advertisement (Denny Medley-Imagn Images) There's no doubt that if Cook is on the field for the season's entirety, it feels like another 1,000-yard season is in the realm of possibility, so too, potentially double-digit touchdowns. If that does come to fruition, the big extension he wants will be forthcoming, whether that be from Buffalo or elsewhere, and we also think he would then be higher positioned in these rankings for 2026. But before we can get to his on-field production, there is a lot of water that has to go under this bridge with training camp on the horizon, and Cook's contract is still no closer to a resolution. And that might be one thing that has the potential to derail Buffalo's Super Bowl bid. Advertisement Related: Can Bills Finally 'Slay Dragon' In 2025? Related: Bills Fan Favorite Faces Rumors About 'Training Wheels' Future This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former NFL RB places Bengals' Chase Brown incredibly low in rankings
One of the biggest breakout stars of the 2024 season was Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown, who would finish his sophomore season with 990 rushing yards, 360 receiving yards, and 12 total touchdowns. Providing a dual-threat option out of the backfield for the Bengals proved to be an added wrinkle to their high-powered offense but still wasn't enough to get respect around the league. Former NFL running back and current NFL Network analyst Maurice Jones-Drew recently released his running back rankings from 1 to 32, and Brown is incredibly low for someone coming off a very productive season. Pointing to the Bengals focus on the pass game rather than the run game, MJD ranked Brown as the 31st starting running back in the league, just ahead of Javonte Williams of the Dallas Cowboys. Here's what Jones-Drew wrote about his placement of Brown. "Brown was solid in 2024, taking on a much bigger role within the offense in his second NFL season. Brown's placement here is less about his ability and more about the Bengals' investment in the passing game. After watching Joe Burrow lead the league in many passing categories in 2024, Cincinnati extended both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on nine-figure deals. Cincy's offense will flow through the aerial attack." ( There's no denying that the Bengals are a pass-heavy team, but after Brown exploded onto the scene out of nowhere, it feels as if he's still being overlooked and underrated coming into this season. Brown missed the regular season finale last year due to an ankle sprain, but should enter training camp as the team's lead back in the running game.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jets' Breece Hall Gets More Bulletin Board Material Ahead Of Contract Year
Jets' Breece Hall Gets More Bulletin Board Material Ahead Of Contract Year originally appeared on Athlon Sports. New York Jets running back Breece Hall already had the motivation of playing on the final year of his rookie deal in 2025, pushing him to be the star player he wants to be. Advertisement Plus, he also knows that Aaron Glenn wants to use him, Braelon Allen, and Isaiah Davis, as part of a rotation on game day, so Breece wants to show he deserves all the carries. Now enters former NFL running back Maurice Jones-Drew with his latest rankings — ones that Breece Hall might have a few thoughts about. Out of all the starting running backs, he has Hall listed at No. 19, below two rookies in Ashton Jeanty (No. 17) and Omarion Hampton (No. 13) and three running backs who performed worse than him in 2024 in Christian McCaffrey (No. 8, but we get it), Kenneth Walker (No. 16) and Rhamondre Stevenson (No. 18). "Hall's efficiency has decreased in each of the past two seasons, in part due to the team's poor quarterback play," Jones-Drew wrote. "Engstrand comes over from Detroit, where the offense was led by a two-headed monster in the backfield; he could apply a similar approach with Hall and dual-threat QB Fields leading the charge." Advertisement "That said, Hall could see some of his opportunities go to Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, as new head coach Aaron Glenn says he prefers a three-RB rotation. I believe Hall will remain the lead back in New York — at least until the end of this season — but time will tell how the backfield load is divvied up." New York Jets running back Breece Hall© Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images So Hall has everything to prove in a contract year, and the worst thing for him is he might not get the volume of carries needed to properly show his value. That means when he does touch the ball, great things need to happen. Still, without a 1,000-yard season to his name, we feel like Breece will need that and more to warrant sticking around The Big Apple under Glenn beyond 2025, and we aren't sure if that will be achieved. Advertisement But one thing is for sure: Hall isn't short on motivation entering what looks like a career-defining season. Related: Jets Urged To Trade for 15-TD Receiver from NFC Contender Related: Jets' Garrett Wilson-Led Receiver Room Keys Training Camp Watch List This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
