Coach Klint Kubiak has made it clear he expects Ashton Jeanty to shoulder a massive load in 2026, mirroring how Christian McCaffrey logged over 80% of offensive snaps last season. The former No. 6 overall pick rushed for 975 yards and amassed 1,321 yards from scrimmage as a rookie, proving he can handle volume this season in the NFL.

Despite Jeanty’s production, the Raiders finished last in rushing, averaging 77.5 yards per game, 67 first‑downs and only five touchdowns. He posted a 3.7‑yard per carry average, tied for 44th league‑wide, and 26.7% of his runs yielded no gain or loss. Yet he recorded 639 yards after contact, the most by any non‑1,000‑yard rusher in two decades.

The offseason saw Jeanty add boxing, tweak his diet and study film of McCaffrey and Kenneth Walker III to master Kubiak’s wide‑zone scheme. He caught 55 passes for 346 yards and five scores last year, ranking 10th among backs, and expects a role with line play from Kolton Miller, Jackson Powers‑Johnson and center Tyler Linderbaum. Kubiak believes lineman will let Jeanty stay on the field.