Ashton Jeanty, the Raiders’ No. 6 overall pick from the 2025 NFL Draft, hit a career low in Week 8, logging just two carries in a wild 38-33 victory over the New York Jets. This isn’t just a blip on the radar, it’s a shocking downturn for a player who was a Heisman Trophy finalist and projected as an eventual superstar. Fans thought he was supposed to develop into *the guy*, but he’s seeing his workload shrink every single week.
What Happened in Week 8 and What It Means for the Backfield
The Raiders got into a legit shootout with the Jets, winning 38-33, but Jeanty was barely a factor in the run game. He had only two rushing attempts and just five total touches, which included three catches on four targets. That’s the fewest touches of his young career, period. It’s a stark contrast to how he started the season, kicking things off with a fantastic effort against the Miami Dolphins where he racked up 102 rushing yards, 45 receiving yards, and two touchdowns on a massive 29 touches. Since then, his carry total has just kept diminishing.
Adding to the drama, Week 8 was the first time this season that Mike Washington Jr. started over Jeanty, and Washington set a career high with 38 snaps. Raiders coach Klint Kubiak addressed the snap distribution after the game, saying, “That’s my call. Ashton’s still going to be a big part of our team. He had a huge catch. He’s going to be a huge part of our run game going forward. We just wanted to give Mike a few more opportunities today. I think both of those guys are going to be a huge part of our rushing and passing success moving forward.” While the coach tries to calm things down, it’s clear something is off.
Beyond the Touches: Jeanty’s Efficiency Struggles
It’s not just about the number of touches, either. Jeanty’s efficiency has dropped off a cliff this season compared to his promising rookie year. He’s averaging 0.6 fewer yards per carry in 2026 than he did in 2025. His success rate is almost identical, which is kinda wild, but the overall yardage just isn’t there. And here’s the kicker: he’s on pace to fall short of last season’s five rushing touchdowns, even though the Raiders’ offense is scoring way more points this year.
What’s going on? It could be the offensive system itself. Jeanty is still the highly skilled, almost untackleable ball carrier we remember from Boise State, but this is his fifth consecutive year with a new play caller dating back to his freshman year. His running style seems to clash with Kubiak’s system, and Kubiak has a history of splitting carries rather than leaning on one bellcow back. Interestingly, Jeanty is taking it all in stride, telling ESPN, “We won. It doesn’t matter how I feel about how [many] times I get the ball. Whatever it takes for the team to win, I just want to win. That’s all.” And for what it’s worth, the dramatic reduction in carries wasn’t disciplinary, which at least rules out one kind of trouble.
So, what’s next for Ashton Jeanty and the Raiders’ backfield? Will we see a resurgence, or is this the new normal? With Jeanty’s talent, you have to wonder how long they can keep him on the sidelines, especially if they want to maximize their chances moving forward this season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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