Silver And Black Pride
Ashton Jeanty is the unquestioned top tailback on the depth chart as the Las Vegas Raiders enter all-important training camp.
But what’s the pecking order behind the Silver & Black’s prized running back?
That’s one of the questions slated to be answered when Las Vegas as a whole comes together on July 28 when veteran players join the rookies (who reported this past Thursday). From there, the Raiders engage in several practices before a trio of preseason clashes starting on August 13 versus the visiting Arizona Cardinals.
Let’s start with the current running backs on the roster then shift to preliminary pecking order, and where the competition lies.
Joining Jeanty, the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, are: 2026 fourth-rounder Mike Washington Jr. out of Arkansas, 2024 sixth-rounder Dylan Laube, and undrafted free agents Chris Collier (2024) and Roman Hemby (2026). Interestingly enough, the way each tailback name is listed, is the preliminary pecking order.
And the competition that looms is for that RB3 role that Laube currently has a grip on. But out of the backend trio of Laube, Collier, and Hemby, it’s the latter that brings intriguing size and physicality that other two don’t.
By The Numbers
Roman Hemby, Running Back, Indiana
Spending most of his collegiate career at Maryland before a standout 2025 campaign during Indiana’s national championship run, Hemby stands 6-feet and 210 pounds and offers a more natural, physical, between-the-tackles power style than Laube or Collier.
Alongside Hoosier backfield mate Kaelon Black (selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 2026 draft; 90th overall), Hemby helped power Indiana’s ground game with a team-leading 230 carries for 1,120 yards with seven end zone visits. Black led the Hoosiers with 10 rushing touchdowns (alongside 1,040 yards on 186 carries). Both provided Indiana with grinder-type tailbacks who welcomed contact and typically fell forward for additional yards when eventually brought down.
Hemby, in particular, was the more violent of the two Indiana halfbacks and thrives as a decisive runner in both gap and zone schemes. He’s a reliable back to pound the rock inside and brings added value of pass protector and pass catcher out of the backfield. Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak is installing his preferred wide/outside zone scheme in Las Vegas, but he (alongside offensive line coach Rick Dennison and offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko) adapted to incorporate more gap/power elements into the ground game during their respective times with the Seattle Seahawks last season.
Which makes a running back with Hemby’s profile and traits an attractive option. Jeanty and Washington bring elements of drive through contact as physical power runners who can thrive between the tackles or one-cut and dash outside for yardage.
Unlike Laube and Collier...
