When Las Vegas Raiders running back and special teamer Dylan Laube spoke with us this summer, it was obvious that he was in a different headspace than in years past. Klint Kubiak and Joe DeCamillis had a plan for him, and despite being doubted by much of the fanbase, Laube has lived up to it.
Now, Laube isn't setting the world on fire for the Raiders in the backfield, although he did record his first rushing touchdown of his career back in Week 5, but his prowess on special teams has been a sight to behold. He's had a case in recent games as the best kick returner in the league.
Week 8's game against the New York Jets, though, was ironclad proof that Laube could earn a Pro Bowl distinction this season, or maybe even more.
Raiders' Dylan Laube is the best kick returner in the NFL
Some portion of Raider Nation may still be clinging to Laube fumbling on his first career rush, and they'll hold onto that forever. I would advise those folks to keep up with the times, because Laube has both improved in that realm and is currently the best kick returner in the league, by a good margin.
He has the seventh-most kick return yards in the NFL, but here's the kicker: Laube has fewer kick returns than anyone else in the top 13 in total yards. When it comes to his average of 34.1 yards per return, that is the most among qualified players by a lot; it's 3.1 yards more than the next closest.
Not to mention, Laube is the owner of the longest kickoff return of the season and the only one to reach the end zone. His 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against the Jets in Week 8 was game-changing and solidified his status as the league's most feared kickoff returner.
Laube is also a Swiss Army knife on special teams, as he occasionally returns punts as well and plays on kick and punt coverage, as well as the field goal and extra point block teams. He has recorded five tackles this year too, making him well-rounded in the third phase of the game.
Sure sounds like a Pro Bowler to me.
How Dylan Laube's successful season in Las Vegas could lead to a Pro Bowl nod (or more)
Although Laube may not be a household name, you don't have to be to earn a Pro Bowl or All-Pro distinction. Pro Bowl selections are based equally on fan votes, coach votes and player votes. And Laube has surely earned the respect of coaches and players that he's played with and against.
But fighting for a special teams Pro Bowl nod isn't like it is at quarterback or the skill positions; it's not a popularity contest where narratives get in the way. Fewer folks vote for returners and special-teamers, so it becomes more about individual fan bases stepping up and coach/player opinions.
Raider Nation will obviously show out for Laube when he inevitably ends up on the ballot. Plus, he is leading the NFL in yards per return, which has to matter to coaches and players. Take a look at how his pace this season compares to last year's Pro Bowlers.
In 2025, KaVontae Turpin and Chimere Dike were the designated returners for the NFC and AFC, respectively. The former collected 1,814 yards, which is quite a bit more than Laube's pace of 1,230 yards. But Laube's averages are much better than Turpin's were last year.
Turpin only gained 26.3 yards per return, and his longest return was 84 yards. He did not score any touchdowns. Laube, by contrast, is averaging 34.1 yards per return and has a 95-yard kickoff return under his belt, the only one of the NFL season so far, I might add. He is playing like a Pro Bowler.
The Pro Bowl is based on conference, though, and Laube will be going head-to-head with the AFC's other returners. And Dike, who earned the nod last year thanks to his 1,588 kick return yards and 411 punt return yards with two touchdowns, is having another good season.
Dike has not been nearly as efficient as Laube, but he's already up to 829 kick return yards and 137 punt return yards in 2026. Just because Laube is playing at a Pro Bowl level does not mean he'll be one, because there are fewer slots for returners. But more spots are allocated for the All-Pro teams.
So, Laube may have an even better chance there.
Last year's All-Pro kick returners were Turpin, Dike, Ray Davis and Kene Nwangwu. Davis had 1,192 kick return yards and one touchdown last year, and Nwangwu notched only 604 yards and a score. Laube is on pace to beat the former's production, and he's practically already topped the latter.
Laube may need to lean on Raider Nation for a Pro Bowl nod if the coaches and players can't see past Dike's shiny number and understand that Laube is much more efficient and holds the longest return of the year, as well as the only touchdown. But the All-Pro voters will see it if Laube keeps this pace.
For a guy that a lot of Raider Nation wanted to get rid of before the year, Laube has had a heck of a response. His case was already strong, but he needed that big moment to tell voters that he had arrived. Laube did just that in Week 8 in front of his friends and family in a return home to New York.
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