Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and a former Heisman Trophy finalist, is experiencing a significant reduction in playing time during his second season. In Week 8 against the New York Jets, a 38-33 shootout win, Jeanty carried the ball just twice and finished with five total touches — the fewest of his young career — while fellow back Mike Washington Jr. logged a career-high 38 snaps and made his first start of the season.
Coach explains snap distribution
"That's my call," Raiders offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak said after the game. "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."
Jeanty opened the season with 102 rushing yards, 45 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 29 touches against the Miami Dolphins. Since then, his carry count has declined each week. He now averages 0.6 fewer yards per carry in 2026 compared to his rookie year, and his success rate is nearly unchanged. Despite playing in a higher-scoring offense, he is on pace to fall short of the five rushing touchdowns he scored in 2025.
System fit and commentary
This is Jeanty's fifth consecutive year with a new play caller dating back to his freshman season at Boise State. His running style appears to clash with Kubiak's scheme, which has a history of splitting carries rather than featuring a bell-cow back. Jeanty told 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."
The reduced workload was not disciplinary, according to Kubiak, though it followed Jeanty's pre-game remarks about the Jets' defense — "Couple guys out that don't really want to tackle" — which drew criticism from former Jets coach Rex Ryan. Jeanty said the coaching staff gave him advance notice of fewer touches but he did not know if his comments were the reason.
Kubiak indicated the staff will review film and emphasized they have "two runners that we believe in." The Week 8 deployment — Washington on early downs, Jeanty on third downs and passing situations — mirrors Kubiak's approach with Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet during his tenure as Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator. Jeanty fits the Walker role as a space player, while Washington resembles Charbonnet as an inside runner and pass protector.
If Jeanty improves his per-snap efficiency, he could remain highly impactful as a dual threat. However, if his 3.1 yards-per-carry average persists, he may cede further ground to Washington and settle into a passing-game specialist role — a disappointing outcome for a player drafted to be an every-down feature back.
