There is no doubt that when the Las Vegas Raiders selected Ashton Jeanty with the sixth overall pick, fans were excited, as the running back was being compared to Saquon Barkley, who the year before surpassed 2,000 rushing yards and won the Super Bowl by defeating none other than Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs. Comparisons may be uncomfortable, but they are part of being a star in this league.
What is certain is that after 11 weeks in the NFL, Ashton Jeanty has not lived up to what is expected from a first-round pick. And perhaps not all of it is his fault-the Raiders have many issues, including an offensive line that has been one of the main reasons for the low production of the former Boise State standout.
To make matters worse, this week the Raiders will host the Cleveland Browns, who will start Shedeur Sanders- a quarterback strongly linked to the Raiders in the first round before the team ultimately decided to trade with the Seahawks for Geno Smith, in addition to selecting Jeanty. For that reason, next Sunday’s matchup will have plenty of storylines.
Ashton Jeanty is aware that he has not delivered the expected results
The Las Vegas Raiders are one of the worst teams of the season, losing seven of their last eight games. Without question, they have been a disappointment-especially considering the high expectations surrounding the new project led by general manager John Spytek, head coach Pete Carroll, and quarterback Geno Smith, particularly after Smith’s solid final years in Seattle.
In Jeanty’s case, he has not performed at the level expected this season, averaging just 3.7 yards per carry and surpassing 100 yards only once, in Week 3. In the recent loss against the Dallas Cowboys, Jeanty had six carries for just seven yards, averaging 1.2 yards per attempt-an unacceptable number in the NFL, particularly for a player of his talent.
Jeanty was asked about the Raiders’ poor season and his adjustment to the NFL, something he acknowledged has not been easy: “Yes, every week is a different challenge no matter who you play. There are great players across the league, so preparation has to be elite, and you also have to continue adjusting to the speed of the game.”
For the upcoming matchup, the mission remains difficult for Jeanty, as he will face the highly physical Cleveland Browns defense. A game that could be one of the most watched of the season-not because of either team’s record, but because it marks Shedeur Sanders’ debut as a starter.
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