Ashton Jeanty arrived in Las Vegas as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 draft out of Boise State, carrying some of the loudest fantasy-football hype of any rookie running back in years. What followed was, by the Raiders' own description, a challenging rookie season — unsurprising, given he was running behind a struggling offensive line on a team that finished 2-13 with the league's worst quarterback play.

Flashes worth building on

Even in a difficult context, Jeanty managed to show the traits that made him a top-six pick: vision, contact balance, and the ability to create something out of nothing. The Raiders' evaluation staff has pointed to those flashes as reason for optimism heading into a second season with a completely different setup around him.

A complication in camp

That optimism comes with a caveat. Jeanty reportedly left an August practice with a sprained ankle, an unwelcome injury scare just as the new coaching staff is trying to establish its offensive identity in training camp. The severity wasn't immediately clear, but any absence at this stage of the calendar is worth watching closely.

What Year 2 needs to look like

Between a retooled offensive line - headlined by free-agent addition Tyler Linderbaum at center - and a rookie quarterback in Fernando Mendoza who should, in theory, make defenses respect the pass more than they did a year ago, Jeanty has a real chance at a cleaner runway in 2026. Health will be the first hurdle to clear.