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Recent statistic provides best defense yet of Ashton Jeanty

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Derek Hegna | Last updated Sep 25, 2025 11:55 AM ET

Ashton Jeanty is not off to the flying start that many anticipated when the Las Vegas Raiders drafted the running back sixth overall.

Instead of completely revitalizing the running game, Jeanty has instead found himself stuck in the mud. So far, Jeanty has struggled to the tune of 144 yards on 47 carries, averaging 3.1 yards per carry. These are nowhere near the numbers of the top-tier running back the Raiders were promised, and fans are beginning to panic.

However, upon further review, it is hard to say that the struggles are entirely on Jeanty’s shoulders.

One statistic shows that Jeanty is actually doing well in his current situation.

No statistic that has come out about Jeanty’s production is more eye-opening than the one presented by ESPN’s Field Yates, who says that Jeanty actually has more yards after contact than he does rushing yards.

The updated Ashton Jeanty tracker this season:

144 total rushing yards
145 rushing yards after contact pic.twitter.com/PwfAXd233S

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 22, 2025

For those doing the math (and Fantasy Life’s Ian Hartitz has), Jeanty currently leads the league with 101 percent of his rushing yards coming after first contact. To put this into further context, Hartitz’s list only has three other running backs above 90 percent.

It is both a defense of Jeanty and a damning indictment of the Raiders offensive line, especially with ESPN’s Ryan McFadden also pointing out that Jeanty has been hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on over half of his carries.

The problem is that the offensive line has no real solution for change outside of inserting Jackson Powers-Johnson back into the starting lineup. Third-round rookies Charles Grant and Caleb Rogers have both been healthy scratches this season, and International Pathway and practice squad player Laki Tasi is still raw despite an impressive preseason. The Raiders will have to take a long-term approach, getting NFL-ready run blockers next season and continuing to build depth in the trenches.

Unfortunately, it appears as though Jeanty is on his own this season, and his rookie year could end up as a disappointment through no fault of his own.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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