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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. The sixth overall pick in 2025 and a Heisman finalist after a record-breaking year at Boise State, Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty is perhaps the biggest no-brainer of any breakout candidate in the NFL .
If you just look at the numbers, Jeanty already looked like one of the better running backs in the league last year. He finished with 975 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns on 266 carries, along with 346 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns on 55 catches.
That's 1,321 yards from scrimmage, which ranked in the top half of the league among running backs, along with 10 total touchdowns. He did all of that despite playing in one of the worst offensive environments in football.
He averaged just 3.7 yards per carry behind an offensive line that allowed an NFL-high 64 sacks and finished dead-last in rushing yards per game (77.5). That cost both Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly their jobs.
Now enters coveted offensive mind Klint Kubiak, who takes over as head coach and brings in an outside-zone rushing scheme that helped the Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl last year.
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The line in front of Jeanty already looks miles better than it did last year. Vegas signed three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum to a three-year, $81 million deal, the biggest contract ever given to an NFL center.
They also added longtime starting guard for the 49ers Spencer Burford and will get back a healthy Kolton Miller at left tackle, who appeared in just four games last year due to a high ankle sprain and hairline fracture that landed him on injured reserve.
The Raiders still have several young pieces developing as well, including guards Jackson Powers-Johnson, DJ Glaze, and Trey Zuhn III, and tackle Charles Grant.
Then there's the quarterback situation. With the first overall pick, quarterback Fernando Mendoza, and bridge veteran Kirk Cousins under center, defenses simply won't be able to load the box against Jeanty the way they did last year.
Brock Bowers is healthy again, and the Raiders have a deep group of receivers with Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech, Dont'e Thornton Jr., and Malik Benson. That alone should lead to a more balanced passing attack, which will only open up the field more for Jeanty.
Kubiak has been blunt about wanting Jeanty to be on the field more this season, repeatedly comparing his intended workload to Christian McCaffrey's — a back who played roughly 83% of San Francisco's offensive snaps and led the league with 413 total touches last year.
With better blocking, a steadier passing game, and a coaching staff committed to making him the focal point of the offense, Jeanty has a legitimate shot to push for the NFL rushing title in 2026.
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