The Raiders’ Returning Running Backs: A Super Simple Guide

Who’s Coming Back?

The Las Vegas Raiders have a few running backs (the players who mostly run with the football) returning for the next season. Let’s meet them!

• Ashton Jeanty – a young star who just finished his first year.
• Chris Collier – a player who was on the practice team last year.
• Dylan Laube – a player who helps a lot on special teams (more on that later).

Ashton Jeanty: A Promising but Tough First Year

Ashton Jeanty had a rookie campaign (that means his first season playing in the big league) that showed promise but was also hard.

Here’s what happened:

• He had to deal with many changes in the offensive line (the big guys who block for him) and even a mid-season change of the offensive coordinator (the coach who plans the team’s attacking plays).
• Even with those challenges, Jeanty was amazing! He was the 2025 first-round pick (meaning he was chosen very early in the player draft) and led all rookies in:
  • Rushing yards: 975 (yards gained by running with the ball)
  • Scrimmage yards: 1,321 (total yards from running and catching passes)
• He was also great at catching the ball:
  • 55 receptions (catches from the quarterback)
  • 5 receiving touchdowns (catching the ball in the end zone for points)
• His 5 touchdown catches tied with receiver Tre Tucker for the second-most on the whole team.

Important Point: Jeanty was the top rookie runner and a dual threat (running and catching) despite a rocky start!

What Jeanty Says About His Second Year

Going into Year 2 (his second season), Jeanty shared his mindset. He said:

"Just focusing in more on the details, what the defense is doing, how we’re blocking things, coverage, all that type of stuff. So, it’s definitely slowing down, and I think it’s also just repetition as well. The more you rep it, the more the game slows down."

In simple steps, here’s what he’s focusing on to get better:

1. Pay attention to small details.
2. Learn what the opposing defense is doing.
3. Understand how his team is blocking.
4. Study the coverage (how defenders guard receivers).
5. Repeat plays often so the game feels slower and easier.

The Other Two Returning Running Backs

Besides Jeanty, two other running backs are coming back:

• Chris Collier: He signed a reserve/future contract in January. That’s a special deal to be part of the team’s offseason roster for next year. He spent part of last season on the practice squad (a group of players who train but don’t usually play in games, ready to step in if needed).
• Dylan Laube: He was a 2024 sixth-round pick (chosen later in the draft). In 2025, he didn’t get many chances to run (limited carries), but he played a bigger role on special teams (the squad that handles kicks and returns).
  • He averaged 25.9 yards per kick return (how far he ran back after catching a kick).
  • His 855 yards off kick returns ranked 10th in the entire league!

Important Point: Laube might not be the main runner, but he’s a standout at returning kicks!

Summary

To wrap up, the Raiders are bringing back three running backs:

• Ashton Jeanty, the talented rookie who led all first-year players in rushing and total yards, and is working hard to improve in Year 2.
• Chris Collier, who earned a future contract after practicing with the team.
• Dylan Laube, a kick-return specialist who shined on special teams.

All three will be important pieces for the team’s next season!

FAQ

Q1: What is a "rookie" in football?
A1: A rookie is a player in their very first season playing in the NFL (the top football league). It’s like being a first-year student.

Q2: What does "special teams" mean?
A2: Special teams are the players who come in during kicking plays—like kickoffs, punts, and field goals. They include the kickers and the players who catch and run back the ball.

Q3: What is a reserve/future contract?
A3: It’s a type of contract that lets a player join a team’s offseason roster for the next year. It’s often used for players who weren’t on the main game roster, like those on the practice squad.

Q4: How good was Jeanty compared to other newcomers?
A4: He was the best among all rookies in running yards (975) and total yards (1,321), and his catching scores tied for second on his team.

Q5: Why did Jeanty say the game is "slowing down"?
A5: Because with more practice and experience, he understands the plays better, so everything feels less rushed and easier to react to.