Ashtony Jeanty wasn't a huge factor in the passing game in college, but he is showing that skill in the NFL.
Ashton Jeanty was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. That is the type of move that signals the team believes that he can be the franchise running back for the foreseeable future.
It has been an up-and-down rookie year for Jeanty. He has rushed for 635 yards and four touchdowns, but is averaging only 3.5 yards per carry.
He has heard it from the fans, as well as the NFL media. ESPN's Ryan Clark earlier in the season said that Jeanty doesn't have that 'it factor'.
While it hasn't been a smooth year for Jeanty, he has shown the ability to make plays in the passing game as well.
One of the biggest knocks on him coming out of Boise State was his lack of playmaking when it came to catching passes. In 2023 he did have 43 catches, but he had a very simple route tree coming out of the backfield.
He also tended to struggle when the play broke down for the quarterback, as he would often just stand and not work to get open late.
In his rookie year, he has made a big impact in the passing game. He had 43 catches for 251 yards and four more touchdowns, with 20 of those catches coming in his last three games.
Fans had high expectations for Jeanty, and he hasn't quite lived up to them this year. However, it would be extremely unfair to put all the blame on him.
The offensive line has struggled the entire season. It hasn't matter if it was a passing play or a run, there have been far too many times where defenders are in the backfield way too fast.
Also, quarterback Geno Smith has had an up-and-down season, as he is tied with Tua Tagovailoa for the lead league in interceptions with 14.
However, he will never reach his potential until the offensive line improves in a significant way.
Outside of Brock Bowers, there isn't a single receiver that puts any kind of fear into a defense. This allows opposing defenses to load the box, often having one more guy at the line of scrimmage than the offense can block.
Jeanty is on pace for a 1,000 yards of total offense and at least 10 total touchdowns, which is a pretty impressive accomplishment all things considered.
For Jeanty to reach his full potential, then it is going to be up to the Raiders' front office and coaching staff to improve the rest of the offense.