Who Should I Start? Ashton Jeanty or Quinshon Judkins

Friday, June 13, 1:04 PM

The Las Vegas Raiders took running back Ashton Jeanty with the sixth overall pick in April's NFL draft, but head coach Pete Carroll hints that the first-year back could be part of a committee backfield in 2025. "I love having multiple guys play," Carroll said. "I'm not relying on one guy, you know." Aside from Jeanty, the Raiders have Raheem Mostert, Zamir White and Sincere McCormick at the position. While the Raiders will rely on multiple backs, it's hard not to see Jeanty being the primary option after he had 2,601 yards in his final season at Boise State in 2024. Vegas' 1,357 rushing yards last year were dead-last in the NFL. "Ashton looks every bit what we had hoped he would look like," Carroll said. Despite what Carroll is saying, Jeanty is going to be drafted as a top-five RB going into his rookie season as one of the position's best all-around prospects in many years.

Saturday, May 31, 1:09 PM

The Athletic's Zac Jackson writes that Cleveland Browns rookie second-round running back Quinshon Judkins will get opportunities with the starters sooner than later. Judkins looks the part of an NFL back and is likely to be a big part of their offense after the 21-year-old was selected 36th overall in the second round this year out of Ohio State. He worked with the first-team and third-team offense during OTA practice on Wednesday. Jackson adds that if Judkins can win the starting job by October, the Browns could trade Jerome Ford, who is still the starting RB but is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Judkins may take a back seat to Ford to open the 2025 campaign, but he figures to be at least close to a full-time contributor by the end of his rookie season. The former Buckeye will command a lot of attention in fantasy in both redraft and dynasty/keeper leagues.