Raiders' top pick struggles as rookie running back class hits historic low

The 2025 class of NFL running backs has entered a difficult phase. During Week 6 of the 2026 season, these players combined for just 246 rushing yards. This marks their lowest collective total in any single week since entering the league. A year prior, during Week 4 of the 2025 season, the same group recorded 737 yards, setting a record for rookie rushers in September since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. Since that initial surge, the class has surpassed 600 yards in a single week only once.

Injuries and roster changes have disrupted the progress of many top prospects. Ashton Jeanty, Ollie Gordon II, and LeQuint Allen Jr. are the only three draftees at the position who have been active for every game played by their teams. Gordon and Allen have served primarily as backups during that stretch. Jeanty, drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders, has played through various ailments, including an ankle issue sustained during the preseason.

Jeanty was selected with the No. 6 pick in the 2025 draft, a decision that placed him ahead of offensive linemen and wide receivers. His performance has since drawn scrutiny. Across his first year and a half, Jeanty has converted 372 carries into 1,303 yards, averaging 3.5 yards per attempt. His efficiency metrics lag behind peers. He ranks last in first downs over expectation with a mark of minus-16, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. His success rate stands at 32.8%, the second lowest among backs with at least 150 carries since the start of 2025.

The Raiders' offensive line provided little support during Jeanty's rookie campaign. He averaged only 1.3 yards before contact, the lowest figure in the league. Opponents hit him at or behind the line of scrimmage in 52% of his attempts. Consequently, 93% of his rushing yardage came after he was initially contacted. The offensive scheme has shifted under coordinator Klint Kubiak, who installed a zone-based system. Despite these changes, Jeanty's 2026 statistics have not improved. He has been hit behind the line in 47.2% of his carries this season.

Jeanty struggles to generate explosive plays. He has recorded just five runs of 10 yards or more on 105 attempts this season. That rate of 4.8% is less than half the league average of 10.3% for backs with at least 60 carries. He has not recorded a single run of 20 yards or more. In contrast, rookie Mike Washington Jr., a fourth-round pick, averages 4.9 yards per carry behind the same offensive line. Washington has gained 10 or more yards on 15% of his carries and has produced rushes of 21 and 35 yards.

Short-yardage situations remain a key area of concern for Jeanty. Running backs convert first downs or touchdowns on about 66% of such plays over the past two years. Jeanty has converted only 45% of his attempts in these scenarios. That is the worst mark among backs with at least 20 short-yardage attempts since 2025. This inefficiency contributes heavily to his negative first-down expectation number. He often fails to run through contact or follow blocks to secure the necessary one or two yards.

Jeanty's receiving skills offer a bright spot. He has caught 34 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns this season. He averages more than 2 yards per route run, a strong figure for his position. Kubiak is expanding his route tree to include vertical options. Jeanty scored on a fade route against the Rams last week and caught a 22-yard back-shoulder pass from Kirk Cousins. However, he has dropped five passes this season, including three in a single game against the Chargers. These errors have cost him opportunities in the past, including two interceptions last season.

Other members of the 2025 class have faced similar hurdles. Omarion Hampton, a first-round pick for the San Diego Chargers, suffered an ankle injury that kept him out for two months last year. Upon his return, he split time with Kimani Vidal. Hampton has averaged 3.6 yards per carry in 2026 in a rotational role. He has lost two fumbles this season. His success rate is 37.5%, below the league average of 39.4%. The class's overall trajectory raises questions about whether the most highly touted prospects will meet the expectations set during the draft process.