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Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty has been dealing with ankle and foot injuries, and his performance on the field has clearly suffered. In Week 5, he was a game-time decision but ultimately played, managing only 27 rushing yards on 10 carries, averaging a mere 2.7 yards per attempt.
According to ESPN's Dan Graziano, the Raiders are internally discussing the possibility of resting Jeanty for a game or a few games to allow him to heal, especially since the team's bye week doesn't come until Week 13. Jeanty, however, is resistant to the idea and has been pushing to play through the pain.
With the bye still weeks away, there may come a point where the Raiders decide that resting Jeanty is in the best interest of both the player and the team. If that happens, it would likely occur sooner rather than later, as continuing to play him while injured before a rest period would be counterproductive.
Fantasy football managers should be preparing for the possibility of being without Jeanty in the near future if his injury issues persist.
Fantasy Impact: RB Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
While having Jeanty in your lineup is preferable, resting him could ultimately benefit teams aiming for a championship. The short-term sacrifice might pay off if he returns healthy for the fantasy playoffs. He has been visibly and statistically struggling for weeks, and giving him a week or two off would be ideal for all parties involved.
RB Mike Washington Jr., Las Vegas Raiders
If Jeanty does miss time, the choice of which running back to start becomes less clear. Washington was initially presumed to be the backup, but Week 5 raised doubts. Despite Jeanty being banged up and his snap count dropping to 53% (compared to his usual 80%+ when healthy), Washington was on the field for just 8% of snaps, recording one carry and one target. Instead, it was Dylan Laube who stepped up.
This development casts uncertainty on the backfield should Jeanty be ruled out in any given week.
RB Dylan Laube, Las Vegas Raiders
In Week 5, Laube played 38% of snaps, carrying the ball four times and catching all three of his targets. He rushed for only nine yards and a touchdown, adding 16 receiving yards. While those numbers aren't eye-popping, it's concerning for fantasy managers who have been stashing Washington as Jeanty's handcuff. The coaching staff appears to trust Laube more for responsibilities like pass protection, giving him an edge over the rookie.
If Jeanty misses time, there's a real possibility of a split backfield, with Laube potentially handling the majority of goal-line and passing-down work.
More Fantasy Sports On SI News Mark Morales-Smith is a father of five, a former college football scout and semi-pro football player. Morales-Smith is a long-time competitive fantasy football player with well over a decade of professional writing experience at multiple high-level sites, including Sports Illustrated, FullTime Fantasy, FantasySP, and more. Follow CoolCutter21.