The consensus number 1 rated running back in this year’s NFL Draft, Ashton Jeanty, is less than a month away from finding out where he will take his first snaps in the NFL. Even though he is a super talent and could thrive in any system, here are my thoughts on the possible landing spots for the Heisman finalist.
1. Chicago Bears
The top landing spot for Jeanty was quite tough to choose but I went with the Chicago Bears. Last year, the Bears spent their 2 first-round picks on their new franchise quarterback in Caleb Williams and a weapon to complement that with Rome Odunze. This year’s draft could appease the new head coach, Ben Johnson, by giving him the best running back in the class. Johnson has the history of a two-headed monster in the backfield, so his Bears’ version could potentially be Ashton Jeanty & D’Andre Swift.
Here is where it is beneficial for Jeanty, he would be running behind an offensive lineman that was the number 1 Run Block Win Rate (75%) in 2024. Along with that, the front office added Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson, and Drew Dalman to solidify the offensive line for the 2025 season. For a guy who can create his own holes on the field, this Bears line could make it an easier time for Jeanty.
Another benefit for Jeanty to be drafted by the Chicago Bears, he can be a part of a system in the backfield. This will lighten the workload for the guy coming off a season of 374 carries. Between Jeanty & Swift, Jeanty would be the goal line back to score all those easy touchdowns within 5 yards. Ashton Jeanty will be a success in any destination but the Chicago Bears are my favorite spot for him.
2. Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a close 2nd to being my favorite destination for Ashton Jeanty. Sean Payton has turned this franchise around in a hurry with a playoff appearance in 2024. Their offensive line was right in the top-5 in run blocking but Payton was just missing that explosive piece in the backfield. Javonte Williams, who was the highest rated fantasy running back for Denver, has signed with the Dallas Cowboys during free agency. This leaves the depth chart a bit empty in the running back department.
Sean Payton now gets his opportunity to pick his own running back in this loaded draft class. Payton is not a stranger to having top 5 fantasy running backs, he has been searching for his Alvin Kamara, Mark Ingram, or Darren Sproles-esque player to plug into the backfield. Ashton Jeanty could be an easy plug-in to this Broncos offense system. The only concern is, are the Broncos simply too far back in the draft to make this a reality? The answer is most likely, “yes.” But what a pairing Jeanty and Payton would be for all fantasy owners.
Side-note: If the Broncos do go running back in the first round, be on the lookout for that running back in this year’s fantasy drafts.
3. Dallas Cowboys
Here is a team that was constantly mocked to draft Ashton Jeanty during the entire 2024 NFL & CFB season. Since the start of the offseason, I have not seen any kind of connection between the Dallas Cowboys & Ashton Jeanty. This is a confusing occurrence because I still believe this is a perfect pairing for the Cowboys.
In recent years, we have seen the Cowboys cut ties with Ezekiel Elliott in 2022 to give the keys to Tony Pollard. Pollard’s time as RB1 in Dallas was short-lived as he moved on to the Tennessee Titans in 2024. Now, the Cowboys have Javonte Williams & Miles Sanders on their depth chart. This does not seem like a “winning” backfield to me.
The injury to Dak Prescott ended their season in Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons. Even with that injury, the Cowboys still managed to have Rico Dowdle finish as RB23 behind their offensive line that was right behind the Broncos in Run Block Win Rate %. Let the Cowbohys upgrade the backfield with Jeanty, who could put up prime Zek numbers. The fanbase would gladly welcome an RB who would finish top-10 in 6 of his 7 years of his career.
This destination seems like it could be the most likely pairing of all these selections on this list.
4. Las Vegas Raiders
This destination is my least favorite of the entire NFL. But it is included because this seems like a trend lately on mock drafts. The reasoning seems to be that the Raiders addressed the quarterback position before the draft with the acquisition of Geno Smith, so they should focus on the best player available. In theory, Jeanty is probably the best player available for many teams when it comes to their time to draft.
Unfortunately, this match is not made in heaven for Ashton Jeanty. The Las Vegas Raiders were dead last in Run Block Win Rate %. They made a few moves to improve the offensive line, but nothing that screams major improvements.
The biggest acquisition for the Raiders this offseason was their new head coach, Pete Carroll. This is an optimistic change of guard for the fanbase, but not for fantasy purposes. During his time with the Seattle Seahawks, Carroll struggled to produce a top fantasy running back. The last time Carroll coached a top-5 fantasy running back was in 2014 with Marshawn Lynch. Since that time, the highest rated RB he had been in 2019, and Chris Carson finished as RB12.
Fantasy-wise, the Raiders drafting Ashton Jeanty at #6 overall would be a little concerning heading into the fantasy season.
