The Las Vegas Raiders are in a bit of a jam with the loss of Ashton Jeanty, no matter how long he is out. Thankfully, Jeanty's injury wasn’t as serious as originally thought, as the diagnosis is a sprained ankle. But the Silver and Black still have some questions to answer about who fills that massive void.
Depending on the extent of the ailment, Jeanty will miss time in the regular season. That leaves the workload to the running back depth, and fans can’t wait to see what Mike Washington Jr. can do with the opportunity. That is why he was drafted: to pick up some of the workload.
However, Washington Jr. still has a way to go to become a full three-down back in the NFL. He struggles with pass blocking, and his consistency in catching the football is a work in progress. Fans saw it firsthand when a miscommunication between him and Mendoza led to a pick-six.
This is where Dylan Laube comes into the picture. His work thus far has primarily come on special teams, as his limited offensive opportunities have yielded little production. While he seems like a roster lock, that is a far cry from factoring into the rotation at running back. But not anymore.
During the preseason, Laube has shined, showcasing his third-down back abilities. He has three receptions for 38 yards, with all three going for first downs. Against the Houston Texans, he looked solid running the football, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Las Vegas needs that with Jeanty out.
Dylan Laube can be Raiders' third-down back with Ashton Jeanty out
Laube thrives as a pass-catcher and in open space, which is precisely what a third-down back needs to succeed, and what the Raiders will need from him. He has turned receptions into first downs using his ability as a kick returner when he gets the ball in his hands.
During the first preseason game, Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals, Laube turned a checkdown into 16 yards. Fernando Mendoza does a good job of getting through his reads and finding the checkdown. Laube quickly turns upfield for a first down.
His route running out of the backfield makes him a mismatch against linebackers. On the play below, the Raiders run a West Coast staple called H-choice. Laube has three routes to choose from, and here, based on leverage, he cuts inside. It becomes an easy first down and keeps the chains moving.
Dylan Laube was a standout on Thursday. Looked great catching the football. Nice route on the H-choice
— Marcus Johnson (@TheMarcJohnNFL) August 21, 2026
Also S/0 the end zone All-22 cameraman who decided to go home after the 1st half LOL pic.twitter.com/VNhWhH0Yel
He also showed his ability as a runner, which is somewhat of an untapped element of his game. On his touchdown run, Laube quickly reads that he should bounce outside. He outruns the outside defender for a touchdown early in the third quarter.
These examples show why Laube has a chance to make his mark on the Raiders during the 2026 NFL season as a third-down back. Laube can ease the load on Washington Jr. until Jeanty returns healthy, and maybe with some strong play, he'll carve out a role anyway.
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