Raiders Counting on Ashton Jeanty for Week 1: Survivor Read

Kubiak leans on Jeanty heading into Week 1

With the Raiders finished with their preseason slate Thursday night, offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak made one thing plain: the team is counting on running back Ashton Jeanty for the Week 1 opener. That puts the rookie front and center as Las Vegas shifts its full attention to the regular season.

What it means for your survivor pick

A team publicly building its game plan around a rookie back is a signal worth reading carefully. Jeanty being counted on for Week 1 suggests the Raiders intend to run their offense through him early — which raises both his upside and his risk profile for survivor players. When a single first-year player is the announced focal point, the offense can look very different if he stumbles or gets banged up, so treat Las Vegas as a team whose Week 1 outlook is tied tightly to how quickly Jeanty settles in.

We don't have the matchup, spread, or opponent detail here, so hold off on locking Las Vegas as a safe survivor pick until the Week 1 slate fills in. If you're still setting up your pool, now's the time to start a free survivor pool and get familiar with how survivor pools work before the openers. Keep Jeanty's usage on your radar — his role could shape the Raiders' value for weeks to come.