Entering the 2025 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders had numerous roster holes to fill. The club had needs at running back, wide receiver, cornerback, offensive line, and linebacker. Ultimately, in the first round, the Raiders went with the best player available and drafted 2024 unanimous All-American running back Ashton Jeanty from Boise State.
So far, the 2025 6th overall pick hasn’t lived up to expectations. Through three games, Ashton Jeanty has only rushed for 144 yards on 47 carries (3.1 YPC). The 21-year-old has had a rough start to his young career. The low rushing totals are not what fans expected up to this point, but Jeanty is still a vital component of the offense. He currently leads the team in rushing yards and touchdowns. His rushing yards account for 66% of the team’s total.
Tough Schedule
The Raiders currently rank 30th in the NFL with 217 rushing yards. The Raiders’ offensive line has been underwhelming. They have struggled to open up holes for their rookie running back. However, they have gone against some stout run defenses to begin the season. The Raiders have faced a top-10 rushing defense in all three games.
| Team | Rushing Yards Allowed | NFL Rank |
| New England Patriots | 181 | 2nd |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 284 | 7th |
| Washington Commanders | 302 | 10th |
The Time Is Now
The road gets easier for the Raiders’ rushing attack in Week 4. The Chicago Bears have allowed 139.3 rush yards per game—6th worst in the NFL. This season, the Bears have allowed a league-worst 2.50 rushing yards before contact.
According to Next Gen Stats, Ashton Jeanty has gained 45.2% of his rushing yards after forcing a missed tackle, the 2nd-highest in the NFL. The rookie running back has forced 13 missed tackles so far this season, which is the 8th-most among all NFL running backs.
The Raiders’ offensive line should be able to open up more rushing lanes for Ashton Jeanty on Sunday against the Chicago Bears’ 26th-ranked run defense. If not now, when?
–Follow Dan Loya on X @DLoya_NFL
