What started as a playful way to shake up his company fantasy football league has become personal.
Gerald Kimble went viral for selecting Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty No. 1 overall in his work league. A video of his selection garnered over a million views on several social media platforms.
@_acbarrios first pick of the draft and we’re already off script 🏈😵💫 @ESPN @Barstool Sports @bleacherreport #fantasy #nfl #draft #fyp #footballszn ♬ original sound – Storage
A reach? Kimble admitted it himself, passing on bona fide fantasy football superstar running backs for Jeanty, a fringe top-10 running back in fantasy to begin the season.
But with the virality of the video has come criticism that has left Kimble pining for payback if his bet on Jeanty hits.
“I am all in on the pick, I’ve taken him so many times at this point. I’m really just waiting around and go back to all the sites, people telling me I was nuts, and saying, ‘Hello, look what he did,’” Kimble said of his hopes for Jeanty to have a breakout season.
‘Genius of Jeanty’
Kimble, who has played fantasy football for over 20 years, has seen it too many times.
Consensus top picks don’t turn out. Injuries happen. Veteran running backs’ productivity fall off a cliff.
Jeanty, selected sixth overall in the 2025 draft, enters his second year in the NFL after posting 975 rushing yards and five touchdowns to go along with 55 receptions for 346 receiving yards and five touchdown receptions in a Raiders offense that ranked 32nd in the NFL last year.
A Florida resident and Pittsburgh Steelers fan, Kimble has no ties to Las Vegas or the Raiders, but he is a believer. A new head coach, a new offensive system and a revitalized offensive line are all catalysts that could help Jeanty exceed expectations.
It’s also true that the No. 1 consensus fantasy pick has rarely lived up to the billing.
But while siding with the consensus helps drafters avoid getting the 1.01 wrong, Kimble has accepted the burden of getting it right, fittingly naming his team “Genius of Jeanty.”
A lot will have to go right to prove his team’s namesake true.
Kimble already had a scare when Jeanty suffered a low-ankle sprain on Aug. 23.
In the weeks leading up to the season opener, Kimble had his alerts on for any injury updates as he and Raiders fans alike anxiously awaited clarity on Jeanty’s availability.
Jeanty, a full participant in practice, seems to have avoided disaster, along with “Genius of Jeanty.”
For Kimble, his decision harkens back to an era before AI-assisted draft tools, advanced analytics and the incessant churn of fantasy sports takes on social media — just going with his gut.
“I don’t really care if I’m right or wrong. There’s so many people out there that think they know better,” Kimble said of how his selection of Jeanty will age. “It’ll be fun (to see).”
