Ashton Jeanty entered the 2026 NFL season as one of the most closely watched young running backs in football. After being selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Jeanty is now in his second professional season and has already established himself as a major part of the Raiders’ offensive identity.
Through four games of the 2026 regular season, Jeanty has recorded 264 rushing yards on 78 carries, averaging 3.4 yards per attempt, while adding 19 receptions for 165 yards and two receiving touchdowns. His workload and versatility continue to make him one of the most important young offensive players on the Raiders roster.
Ashton Jeanty 2026 Stats
Jeanty’s 2026 rushing numbers have been more difficult than spectacular so far, but his receiving production has provided another dimension to his game. Through Week 4, he has averaged 66 rushing yards per game while contributing 41.3 receiving yards per game.
His strongest rushing performance came in the season opener against the Miami Dolphins, when he carried 23 times for 102 yards. He also caught six passes for 45 yards and scored two receiving touchdowns in that 27-13 Raiders victory, immediately demonstrating how valuable he can be when the offense uses him as both a runner and receiver.
The following three games have produced more modest rushing totals. Jeanty rushed for 48 yards against the Los Angeles Chargers, 56 against the New Orleans Saints and 58 against the Kansas City Chiefs, but he remained heavily involved in the passing game.
Against Kansas City in Week 4, for example, Jeanty finished with 68 receiving yards on six catches, including a 28-yard reception. That receiving production helped compensate for a 58-yard rushing performance in the Raiders’ 30-27 loss.
2026 Game-by-Game Performance
Jeanty’s 2026 campaign began with a strong all-around performance against Miami. His 102 rushing yards represented his first 100-yard rushing game of the season, while his two receiving touchdowns showed why the Raiders continue to use him extensively outside the traditional running-back role.
Week 2 against the Chargers was a different type of performance. Jeanty received 21 rushing attempts but managed only 48 yards, averaging 2.3 yards per carry, while adding four receptions for 15 yards.
Against New Orleans in Week 3, he again struggled to generate explosive rushing production, finishing with 56 yards on 19 attempts. However, his three catches produced 37 yards, including a 22-yard reception, helping the Raiders remain unbeaten through three games.
The Week 4 matchup with Kansas City brought another mixed statistical performance. Jeanty gained 58 yards on 15 carries and added six receptions for 68 yards, giving him 126 total yards from scrimmage despite the Raiders falling 30-27.
Ashton Jeanty’s 2025 Rookie Season
Jeanty’s professional career began with the Raiders selecting him sixth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. The selection made him one of the highest-drafted running backs of his class and placed immediate expectations on him to become a centerpiece of the Las Vegas offense.
He responded by starting all 17 games as a rookie and finishing with 975 rushing yards on 266 carries, along with five rushing touchdowns. He was also heavily involved as a receiver, catching 55 passes for 346 yards and five touchdowns.
That gave Jeanty 1,321 yards from scrimmage and 10 total touchdowns during his rookie campaign. According to the Raiders, he became one of only two rookies in NFL history to produce at least 800 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns and five receiving touchdowns in the same season, joining Hall of Fame running back Gale Sayers.
His rookie season was particularly notable because the production came despite significant offensive-line problems in Las Vegas. Jeanty frequently faced defenders in the backfield and still managed to produce nearly 1,000 rushing yards.
The Washington Post reported ahead of the 2026 season that Jeanty had been running behind an injured and ineffective offensive line during his rookie campaign, making his 975 rushing yards even more notable.
Ashton Jeanty’s College Career at Boise State
Before becoming an NFL first-round pick, Jeanty established himself as one of college football’s most dynamic running backs at Boise State. His explosiveness, balance, tackle-breaking ability and receiving skills made him a standout prospect and eventually pushed him into the upper portion of the 2025 NFL Draft.
His final college season was particularly impressive, as he finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting. That performance helped establish him as one of the premier offensive prospects entering the draft.
Jeanty’s college résumé was also important because scouts viewed him as more than a traditional between-the-tackles runner. His ability to make defenders miss and contribute as a receiver gave NFL teams reason to believe he could operate as a three-down back.
Why Did the Raiders Draft Ashton Jeanty Sixth Overall?
The Raiders selected Jeanty sixth overall because they believed his combination of rushing ability, receiving skills and physical competitiveness could transform their offense. A top-six selection is a major investment for a running back, particularly in the modern NFL, so the pick reflected the organization’s belief that Jeanty was an unusually complete prospect.
The decision was based heavily on his production and versatility at Boise State. Jeanty had demonstrated the ability to create yards independently, break tackles and contribute as a receiver, giving him the profile of a player capable of remaining on the field in a variety of offensive situations.
The early returns supported that evaluation. Although his 2025 rushing average was only 3.7 yards per carry, he still accumulated 1,321 scrimmage yards, and his 55 receptions demonstrated that the Raiders were comfortable making him part of the passing offense.
Ashton Jeanty Highlights
One of Jeanty’s defining strengths is his ability to create yards after contact. During his rookie season, he forced 71 missed tackles, which the Raiders noted ranked tied for fourth among NFL running backs in 2025.
That statistic helps explain why traditional rushing averages do not always fully capture Jeanty’s impact. A running back can post a relatively modest yards-per-carry figure while still consistently turning difficult plays into positive gains through balance, acceleration and contact strength.
His receiving ability has also become a major part of his highlight reel. In the 2026 opener against Miami, Jeanty caught two touchdown passes from Kirk Cousins, including a 13-yard score.
Against Kansas City in Week 4, he produced another eye-catching reception, making a 28-yard catch and run. The Raiders’ official site also highlighted his ability to stay in bounds while gaining significant yardage down the sideline against the Chiefs.
Jeanty’s Role in the 2026 Raiders Offense
Jeanty’s role has remained substantial despite the arrival of new offensive personnel. The Raiders entered 2026 with Kirk Cousins at quarterback and rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. providing another option in the backfield.
The Raiders described Jeanty in the offseason as the “steady anchor” of the backfield, emphasizing that the game was beginning to slow down for him as he gained experience. Jeanty himself said that improved understanding of defensive structures, blocking schemes and coverage concepts was a major focus entering his second season.
That development could become particularly important as the season progresses. Jeanty does not need to dominate rushing attempts in every game to have a major offensive role because his receiving ability allows the Raiders to move him around and create mismatches against linebackers and defensive backs.
His Week 4 performance against Kansas City illustrated that point particularly well. Even with only 15 carries, he contributed 68 receiving yards, giving him a significant overall impact in the passing game.
Ashton Jeanty Career Stats
After four games of his second NFL season, Jeanty has played 21 regular-season games and started every one of them. His career totals currently stand at 344 rushing attempts for 1,239 yards and five rushing touchdowns.
As a receiver, he has 74 career receptions for 511 yards and seven touchdowns. Combined, that gives him 1,750 yards from scrimmage and 12 total touchdowns through the opening four games of the 2026 season.
Those numbers demonstrate how quickly Jeanty has become an important multi-purpose offensive player. His rushing efficiency has not yet reached the level his draft position might suggest, but his ability to contribute as a receiver gives him additional value.
The larger question for the remainder of 2026 is whether the Raiders can create better rushing conditions around him. Jeanty’s second season is taking place with changes to the offensive line and offensive system, making his development closely connected to the team’s broader offensive progress.
Ashton Jeanty’s 2026 Outlook
Jeanty’s 2026 statistics show a player who remains heavily involved but has not yet produced consistently explosive rushing numbers. His 264 rushing yards through four games are below the pace many expected from a sixth overall pick, while his 165 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns highlight the versatility that made him such a highly regarded prospect.
The encouraging part for Las Vegas is that Jeanty is still receiving significant opportunities. He has already recorded 78 rushing attempts and 19 receptions, meaning the Raiders clearly view him as one of the foundational pieces of their offense.
If the offensive line improves and Jeanty begins turning more of his carries into chunk gains, his statistical profile could change quickly. His rookie season showed that he can handle a substantial workload, and his early 2026 receiving production suggests the Raiders can continue using him as a dual-threat weapon.
Ashton Jeanty Career Update in 2026
At just 22 years old, Jeanty remains in the early stages of his NFL career. He has already accumulated more than 1,200 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards, while starting every regular-season game he has played.
The Raiders’ 3-1 start through Week 4 also provides a positive team context for his development, even though the latest game ended in a narrow 30-27 loss to Kansas City. Jeanty contributed 126 yards from scrimmage in that game, showing that his impact can remain substantial even when his rushing numbers are limited.
His immediate career trajectory will depend on whether he can improve his rushing efficiency while maintaining his effectiveness as a receiver. The combination of those skills remains the central reason Las Vegas invested the sixth overall pick in him in 2025.
Final Takeaway
Ashton Jeanty’s 2026 season is developing into an important second chapter in the career of one of the NFL’s most highly drafted young running backs. Through four games, he has 264 rushing yards, 165 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns, while continuing to receive a major workload for the Raiders.
His 2025 rookie season established the foundation, with 975 rushing yards, 346 receiving yards and 10 total touchdowns. His 2026 campaign is now focused on turning that promising production into greater efficiency and more explosive rushing performances.
For fantasy football players, Raiders fans and NFL analysts alike, Jeanty remains one of the league’s most intriguing young offensive players. His combination of volume, receiving ability and tackle-breaking talent means that even when the rushing numbers are modest, he has multiple ways to influence a game.
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