Ashton Jeanty's Ankle Is a Non-Issue: Raiders RB Ready for Week 1

File this one under panic-you-didn't-need-to-have. Ashton Jeanty practiced fully for the second straight day Thursday, cleared any lingering concern about the ankle he tweaked back on Aug. 23, and told reporters the joint feels really good and he's super excited to get back on the field. Barring a Sunday surprise, the Raiders' bell-cow back is a go for Week 1 against the Dolphins.

The injury looked ugly in the moment — Jeanty went down reaching for a low pass from Kirk Cousins and couldn't put weight on the foot — but the second-year runner said he knew almost immediately it wasn't serious and never expected a long absence. For a player we rank RB11 (No. 33 overall) after a 245-PPR-point rookie campaign in 2025, that quick self-diagnosis is exactly what managers wanted to hear.

Why This Matters for Your Roster

Jeanty was drafted as a foundational piece this summer for a reason. His 2025 line — 975 rushing yards and five scores on the ground, plus 55 catches for 346 yards and five more touchdowns across 17 games — is the kind of three-down, pass-catching profile that plays every week and rarely leaves points on the bench. The receiving work is what pushes his floor up in PPR formats and makes him matchup-proof.

The bigger takeaway: this is a nothing scare that never should have cost him a snap. He didn't miss regular-season time, he's back to full participation, and he described the time away as tough but temporary. If you handcuffed him with a backup out of pure fear, you can probably repurpose that bench spot for a more useful lottery ticket.

One small wrinkle worth watching is the Cousins situation under center — the veteran QB is our QB38 and threw for just 1,721 yards with 10 touchdowns across 10 games in 2025. A pass-first offense would only funnel more targets Jeanty's way, so the injury news, if anything, cements his value as a volume monster in Vegas.

Bottom line: start him with total confidence. Jeanty is a locked-in RB1 in Week 1, the ankle is a closed chapter, and there's no reason to overthink this. Roll him out against Miami and don't look back.