The Las Vegas Raiders‘ running game continues to be a significant concern, highlighted by their 41-24 loss to the Washington Commanders on September 21 at Northwest Stadium.
In the loss, the Raiders totaled just 93 rushing yards, with rookie Ashton Jeanty leading the way with 63. The 21-year-old carried the ball 17 times, averaging 3.7 yards per carry.
It’s a modest step forward, but Las Vegas will need a much stronger ground attack if it wants to achieve consistent success. Moreover, Rich Eisen is calling out the Raiders to feed Jeanty the ball to see if Jeanty can replicate the Week 3 performance of fellow rookie running backs Cameron Skattebo and Omarion Hampton.
“You’re seeing what Omarion Hampton just did in Los Angeles,” Eisen said on the September 22 edition of “The Rich Eisen Show.” “It’s like, ‘Hey, we can’t just sit here with Najee Harris out and make sure we’re not running the wheels off this guy. We just have to ease him in. Screw it. Here’s Omarion Hampton—229 scrimmage yards and a rushing touchdown.‘ And by the way, he did it against an offensive line that’s banged up. Cam Skattebo in New York/New Jersey.
The Raiders Need to Get Ashton Jeanty Going
Las Vegas can’t have Geno Smith pass the ball 30-plus times consistently and expect to win. The Raiders need a running game to help the veteran signal-caller. As a result, Eisen believes that the Raiders must get Jeanty going in Week 4 against the Chicago Bears.
Geno Smith can’t throw it ’cause the minute he fades back to pass, there’s somebody in his lap, you need somebody to run it to take that pressure off,“ Eisen added. “And the offensive line wasn’t blocking for him either. There were a couple of times he was wearing Von Miller or wearing Bobby Wagner instead of his uniform. But that’s two losses in a row for the Raiders. And they’ve got a big one coming up against the Chicago Bears. Both teams 1-2. Both teams needing it.
“And this would be a good time for Jeanty to uncork a Skattebo or a Hampton-type performance from rookie running backs. Just to throw those names. And again, it’s unfair that we’re throwing it anywhere near in the direction of just one guy. It is a team game. Pete will tell you that. But like a 25-touch time for Jeanty ’cause it would be helpful. You know, it would be massively helpful.”
Are the Raiders Heading Down a Worrying Path
After the loss to the Commanders, ESPN’s Ryan McFadden highlighted that Jeanty was tackled at or behind the line of scrimmage on 11 of his 17 carries against Washington. That pattern has persisted this season, with Jeanty taking contact at or behind the line on 57 percent of his rushes so far (27 of 47).
Reacting to McFadden’s observation, the New York Post’s NFL reporter Ryan Dunleavy issued a caution to the Raiders, urging them not to repeat the mistakes the New York Giants made with Saquon Barkley.
“This is the old Saquon and Giants story,“ Dunleavy wrote on X. “[The] Raiders should fix it before 5 years go by, and everyone blames the [running back].”
Rich Eisen Issues Urgent Demand to Raiders on Ashton Jeanty