The Las Vegas Raiders‘ run game in 2024 left fans frustrated and analysts puzzled. Averaging just 79.8 rushing yards per game and totaling a league-low 1,357 yards for the season, the Raiders’ ground attack ranked dead last in the NFL. The inability to break big runs or consistently move the chains on the ground plagued the offense all year.
But the front office believes it has found a solution in rookie running back Ashton Jeanty, the electrifying Boise State product who shattered records and tackles alike in college.
Jeanty arrives in Las Vegas with sky-high expectations. Known for his ability to fight through contact and create yardage where most backs would be brought down, he led the NCAA in broken tackles last season and made highlight-reel plays a weekly occurrence.
Now, Raiders fans and team decision-makers alike hope he’ll be the key to rejuvenating an offense that desperately needs balance.
Analysts unanimously back Jeanty as the Raiders’ biggest offseason difference-maker
Among a promising rookie class that includes stars like Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter, Jeanty has emerged as the unanimous pick by analysts to make the biggest impact in Las Vegas. When CBS Sports asked its panel to pick which Raiders rookie would have the most influence in 2025, all signs pointed to Jeanty.
“Ashton Jeanty feels like the easy answer because the rookie leading rusher over the last 10 years averaged about 1,200 yards, and that feels about the sweet spot for Ashton Jeanty,” Ryan Wilson explained. “They obviously upgraded the QB with Geno Smith, and the offense is going to run in large parts through Ashton Jeanty.”
Jeanty isn’t just being looked at as a piece of the puzzle-he’s being talked about as the engine of the offense. And with Geno Smith under center and Chip Kelly now helping reshape the offensive identity, the rookie could find himself carrying a heavy load from the start.
PFF’s Mike Renner added even more weight to the conversation, saying: “What Ashton Jeanty did last year was truly special. I mean, he broke PFF’s single-season broken tackles record by like 40. The guy just could not be taken down.”
The Raiders‘ offensive line remains a work in progress, and while Smith provides more stability than last year’s quarterbacks, he’s still adjusting to a new system. If Vegas leans too heavily on Jeanty without easing his transition to the pro game, it could backfire. History has shown that even highly touted rookie backs can falter if overloaded early.
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