Raiders back Laube leads league in kickoff returns

Dylan Laube leads the National Football League in kickoff return average heading into the Raiders' next home game. Through the first nine weeks of the 2026 season, the 5-foot-9, 204-pound running back has accumulated 776 yards on 24 attempts. His current average stands at 32.3 yards per return, a statistic that places him at the top of the league among all players.

Laube, who hails from Westhampton on Long Island, New York, drafted by the Raiders in the final round of the 2024 NFL Draft, has transformed his role over the past year. The league's switch to dynamic kickoff rules has amplified the value of his speed. In Week 8, Laube scored the Raiders' first return touchdown of the season during a win at the New York Jets. He sprinted 95 yards for the score at MetLife Stadium, a venue located roughly 85 miles west of his hometown.

The player has expanded his contributions beyond returns. He has played more than 80 percent of the team's special teams snaps. His stats include four tackles and several near-misses on blocked field goals. Laube also saw offensive action in all but one game this season. In a Week 5 loss to the New England Patriots, he rushed for a career-high 23 carries and scored on a 2-yard touchdown run.

Coach Klint Kubiak has recognized Laube's work ethic by naming him a weekly captain. This honor is part of a new system where Kubiak selects three leaders each week instead of appointing full-season captains. Laube earned the distinction twice in the early season, serving alongside edge rusher Maxx Crosby and running back Ashton Jeanty. Kubiak noted that Laube's consistent performance has raised expectations within the squad.

Opposing teams have begun adjusting their strategies to limit Laube's impact. Some kickoff teams now aim away from him to prevent big returns. The Raiders have utilized this respect in their own offensive schemes. In Week 9 against the San Francisco 49ers, the team executed a designed lateral on a kickoff. Laube pitched the ball back to Dareke Young, resulting in a 25-yard gain.

The Raiders face the Seattle Seahawks on November 15 at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise. The team enters the matchup having lost five of its previous six games. While the offense and defense have struggled, special teams has provided a steady element of reliability. Laube continues to emphasize his role in setting the team's energy during practices and games.

"I know my role on this team," Laube said after a recent session. "And it's to bring that momentum out." He described the kickoff as the most critical play in football because it initiates the game, a half, or a drive. For Laube, that responsibility defines his presence on the field.

Laube has become a central figure in the special teams unit under first-year coach Joe DeCamillis. His ability to create plays from static situations has drawn attention from opponents and teammates alike. The Raiders will look to that unit for a spark when they host the Seahawks this weekend.