The Las Vegas Raiders know their playoff hopes rest heavily on the shoulders of Ashton Jeanty. After a rookie debut that fell short of expectations, the former Boise State star faces questions about whether his college dominance can translate to NFL success.
Can Ashton Jeanty Bounce Back After a Quiet NFL Debut?
If the Raiders expect to have success in 2025-26, they will need a significant contribution from star running back Ashton Jeanty. The sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft will be hoping to turn his fortunes around after a rough start to his NFL career in Week 1 of the 2025-26 season.
The Raiders won their season opener against the New England Patriots 20-13, but Jeanty had a modest debut. He scored his first professional touchdown, a three-yard rush in the third quarter, but was otherwise held to just 38 yards on 19 carries. The performance left fans wondering if the rookie would need time to adjust to the professional level.
Jeanty was drafted by the Raiders after a historic season with the Boise State Broncos in 2024. He rushed for 2,601 yards, second all-time in FBS history, behind only Barry Sanders’ 1988 2,628 rushing yards record.
He also led the nation in rushing touchdowns with 29. Jeanty topped 100 rushing yards in all 14 games, including six games in which he surpassed 200 rushing yards. The consistency he showed week after week made him a nightmare for Mountain West defenses.
The Broncos program built their offense around him, and they were crowned Mountain West champions with a 12-1 record in the regular season. They earned a playoff spot and a playoff bye, but were eliminated after a 31-14 loss to the Penn State Nittany Lions in the College Football Playoff.
Jeanty now holds several school records, including career rushing yards, yards per carry, yards per game, and 100-yard games. His three-year college career included 750 carries for 4,769 yards and 50 rushing touchdowns.
Jeanty’s monumental season also earned him several individual accolades. He was the winner of the Maxwell Award, Doak Walker Award, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, and Bobby Bowden Trophy. He also came second in Heisman Trophy voting, only behind Colorado’s dual-threat player, Travis Hunter.
While his breakout season was extraordinary, it was not unexpected. Jeanty had an impressive 2023 season with 1,347 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. He also had 569 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns, showcasing the versatility that made him attractive to NFL scouts.
Turn on some Migos!!
First career touchdown for Ashton Jeanty as a Raaaaaaaider!! pic.twitter.com/LczP5sWjh0
— Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) September 7, 2025
Getting drafted by the Raiders with the sixth overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft also meant that Jeanty was the second-highest drafted running back in franchise history, behind only Darren McFadden (fourth overall) in 2008. He is also the highest draft pick in Boise State history.
His selection also bucked a trend of running backs falling in the NFL draft. It is the highest a running back has been drafted since Saquon Barkley (second overall) in 2018. The pick represented a significant investment by new head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek in establishing a ground game.
The selection was also the first time the Raiders drafted a running back since 2019, when they took Josh Jacobs. Jeanty will be called upon to replace Jacobs, who left for the Green Bay Packers in free agency. Las Vegas struggled mightily in the run game without Jacobs, managing just 1,357 yards in 2024-25 and finishing last in the league in rushing yards.
