Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and a former Heisman Trophy finalist, saw his role shrink dramatically in Week 8 against the New York Jets. In a 38-33 shootout win, Jeanty carried the ball just twice and caught three passes on four targets for a career-low five total touches.
The reduction continues a trend since a standout Week 1 performance against the Miami Dolphins, when Jeanty posted 102 rushing yards, 45 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 29 touches. Since then, his carry count has declined each week, while fellow back Mike Washington Jr. logged a career-high 38 snaps and made his first start of the season.
Coach Klint Kubiak described the snap distribution as his decision, saying Jeanty remains a big part of the team and that the staff wanted to give Washington more opportunities. Kubiak added that both players will be central to the rushing and passing attack moving forward.
Jeanty's efficiency has also dipped: he averages 0.6 fewer yards per carry in 2026 compared to his rookie year, and is on pace to fall short of last season's five rushing touchdowns despite a higher-scoring offense. The running back has now played under a new play caller for a fifth consecutive year, and his style may clash with Kubiak's system, which has a history of splitting carries rather than featuring a bellcow back.
Jeanty downplayed the reduced workload, stating, "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." His comments before the game criticizing the Jets' tackling drew criticism from former coach Rex Ryan, though Kubiak insisted the reduced role was not disciplinary.
Going forward, Kubiak said the staff will review film and emphasized they have "two runners that we believe in." Jeanty may settle into a receiving-focused role — he scored two receiving touchdowns in Week 1 and topped 50 receiving yards four times in the next seven games — but that would be a departure from the every-down featured back the Raiders envisioned when drafting him. The situation mirrors Kubiak's previous use of Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet in Seattle, with Jeanty potentially filling the Walker role and Washington the Charbonnet role.
