Ashton Jeanty lands No. 6 to the Raiders and vaults into the Offensive Rookie of the Year conversation, the fantasy world shifts to a backfield that could anchor Las Vegas’ attack in 2025. Jeanty’s Boise State numbers—7.0 yards per carry and 30 TDs in his junior year—are cited as blueprint material for a rapid, high-efficiency rookie impact. The betting boards place him ahead of Cam Ward, signaling a clear fantasy carry trajectory if the Raiders commit to a heavy early workload. The piece also spots Cam Ward, Omarion Hampton, and Jaxson Dart as intriguing counterpoints in a stacked rookie-class landscape, highlighting how quarterback and backfield splits could reshape OROY odds and weekly lineup decisions. The overall takeaway: Jeanty is the marquee name, but Ward’s Week 1 starting role and Hampton’s Chargers workload loom large for fantasy forecasts as the season nears.

Ward’s No. 1-overall pedigree draws attention from camp notes and preseason showings, pushing him into the conversation as a high-floor, opportunity-driven play. Hampton lands in a backfield with immediate upside, while Dart and a handful of high-upside rookies add late-round intrigue. The oddsboard leans toward Jeanty and Ward as the top two, a dynamic that underscores the season-long chess match fantasy managers will play—balancing early-round risk, projected touches, and game-script volatility as September approaches.

ESPN’s 12-team fantasy mock draft (PPR) muscles through the final week of NFL preaseason with a flurry of bold calls, most notably Stephania Bell grabbing Las Vegas rookie Ashton Jeanty at No. 5 overall in a bid to reverse-engineer late-round upside. The board still anchors on Barkley, McCaffrey, Jefferson and Chase, but several rooks and pass-catchers push into the mix as immediate-week 1 favorites or high-upside darts. The exercise also stacks top targets like McCaffrey, Lamb and Nabers behind strong offenses, while a handful of veteranRBs and WRs who carry multi-team appeal pepper the later rounds. The draft leans into big-play potential, with contending teams like the Raiders, Bengals, Vikings, and Lions placing emphasis on dynamic backfields and pass-catching corps. In sum, this mock underscores the ongoing value of combining established stars with risers who could deliver spike weeks in Week 1 and beyond, while also highlighting the risk-reward calculus of rookie and mid-round targets in a 12-team, PPR setting.

Across the table, the lesson for fantasy managers is clear: anticipate role clarity early and roster versatility late. A few players—Nacua, Achane, Gibbs, London and Nabers—emerge as potential league-winners if opportunities align, while others carry day-one uncertainty, especially in volatile backfields. The mock reinforces the importance of zero-RB flexibility, mid-round handcuffs, and the discipline to pivot when preseason chatter shifts before Week 1.

Davante Adams joins the Los Angeles Rams, adding a proven, high-volume target to an offense led by Matthew Stafford, Kyren Williams and Puka Nacua. Adams’ career numbers—957 receptions, 11,844 yards and 103 TDs—underscore the immediate fantasy upside, especially after posting 85 catches for 1,063 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024 across the Raiders and Jets. In 2025 fantasy drafts, his status as a top WR option hinges on how quickly the Rams’ pass game meshing with a retooled offense shakes out.

The SportsLine model is in focus again, releasing its 2025 rankings for both PPR and non-PPR leagues, plus sleepers, breakouts and busts. The piece underscores the model’s historical accuracy—predicting Stroud’s sophomore stumble in 2024, calling A.J. Brown a sleeper in 2020, and spotting breakout stars like Jonathan Taylor and Rachaad White in earlier years. It teases a shocking top-15 WR ahead of Brown and Hill, and highlights sleepers such as Austin Ekeler (in a Commanders backfield twist) and Ashton Jeanty as a rookie breakout in Las Vegas. Rashod Bateman is labeled a bust, setting up a nuanced approach to Ravens’ pass-game volatility. For fantasy managers, the message is clear: study SportsLine’s 2025 cheat sheets and rankings before dialing in lineup plans.

Las Vegas reshapes its underperforming offense by adding Geno Smith, a quarterback with a proven deep ball, and drafting Ashton Jeanty to jump-start the ground game. Smith’s 83.1 PFF grade in 2024 and a 95.1% deep passing edge last season signal a high-upside pass attack, particularly with a favorable supporting cast after LV’s 4-13 finish. Jeanty’s elite rushing grade and Boise State resume sketch a breakout in LV’s backfield, potentially transforming the Raiders into a more balanced, fantasy-friendly unit. Crosby eyes a bounce-back year after an injury-shortened 2023, while LV’s defensive questions—especially in pass coverage—could shape game scripts and fantasy outcomes. The piece highlights a 7.3 win projection and a bold Jeanty 10+ rushing TD bet (+260), framing LV as a high-variance but intriguing fantasy target.

Geno Smith’s proven accuracy and deep-ball efficiency align with LV’s revamped aerial approach, and Ashton Jeanty’s high-end rushing grade suggests a dynamic upgrade at running back. Crosby’s return to health could stabilize LV’s edge pressure, even if pass defense remains a work in progress. The Raiders’ mix of upgrade-driven moves and coaching continuity presents both risk and upside for fantasy players, especially at tight end and backfield, where Jeanty’s late-draft heat could translate to meaningful touches and points.