You remember the skeptics. They were everywhere last August. People kept saying that Ashton Jeanty only looked like a superhero because he was playing against Mountain West competition. "Wait until he hits an NFL front four," they said. Well, the 2025 preseason arrived, Jeanty put on a Las Vegas Raiders jersey, and the conversation shifted almost instantly.
Honestly, it didn't start perfect. In his first NFL action, he had three carries for negative one yard. Social media did what it does best: it panicked. The "bust" labels were being typed out before the first quarter even ended. But then game two happened.
The Breakout: Ashton Jeanty Preseason Runs That Changed the Narrative
Against the San Francisco 49ers, Jeanty decided to remind everyone why he was the most terrifying human being in college football. He didn't just run; he collided. There was one specific 13-yard gain where he basically treated a 49ers defender like a revolving door. He lowered his shoulder, drove through contact, and didn't stop until he was deep into the secondary.
It wasn't just the power, though. It was the suddenness. You've seen backs who are fast and backs who are strong, but Jeanty has this weird, twitchy balance where he gets hit, stumbles, and then somehow accelerates out of the stumble. It’s like he has a built-in gyroscope.
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By the time he punched in his first preseason touchdown—a gritty, nine-yard scamper that gave the Raiders a lead—the "Mountain West" excuses were dead. He finished that second game with 7 carries for 33 yards. Those numbers aren't "video game" stats, but they were NFL stats. They were proof of concept.
What the Tape Really Showed
If you look closely at the Ashton Jeanty preseason runs, you'll notice he wasn't just getting what was blocked. He was creating. In the NFL, holes close in about half a second. Jeanty’s vision allowed him to see the cutback before the linebacker even filled the gap.
- Yards after contact: In college, he averaged an absurd 5.5 yards after contact. In the preseason, that translated. He was routinely dragging professional athletes for an extra two or three yards.
- Pass protection: This is the boring stuff that coaches love. He wasn't just running; he was stone-walling blitzers. If you can't block, you can't play, and Jeanty showed he’s a three-down back.
- The "Spin" move: He used a disgusting spin move in the Seattle game that left a defensive end grabbing air. It was a 2024 Boise State flashback.
Why People Got Him Wrong Initially
Most folks looked at his 2,601-yard season at Boise State and figured it was just a product of a heavy workload. They saw 374 carries and thought he’d be "washed" or "tired" by the time he hit a pro training camp. But the preseason showed a guy who was fresh.
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Basically, the Raiders didn't draft a "stat stuffer." They drafted a "force multiplier."
The nuance here is that Jeanty's style is actually built for the modern NFL. Teams are moving away from the tiny, 180-pound speedsters and going back to these dense, 215-pound boulders who can catch. Jeanty fits that mold to a tee. He caught three passes in his limited preseason action, and he looked natural doing it. No bobbles. No hesitation. Just a smooth transition from receiver to runner.
What’s Next for the Jeanty Hype Train?
Now that the preseason is in the rearview, the expectations have skyrocketed. He isn't just a backup; he’s the focal point. If you're looking to track his progress or understand how his game will evolve, here are the real-world markers to watch:
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1. Monitor the Snap Share
In the preseason, he was rotated heavily. In the regular season, look for whether he hits that 60-70% snap threshold. If he does, he’s a legit Offensive Rookie of the Year frontrunner.
2. Watch the "Between the Tackles" Success
NFL defenses are faster than anything he saw at UNLV or Air Force. His ability to stay efficient on 1st and 10 will dictate how much the Raiders can use play-action.
3. Fantasy Football Value
If you haven't drafted yet, or you're looking at trade targets, Jeanty is the "high floor" play. His tackle-breaking ability means he doesn't need a perfect offensive line to produce. He's a "yards over expected" machine.
The preseason wasn't about the total yardage. It was about the violence and the vision. Ashton Jeanty didn't just survive his first few NFL carries; he signaled a shift in how the Raiders are going to play football. He’s the real deal, and the tape doesn't lie.
Actionable Insight: If you're analyzing Jeanty for your own roster or just following the league, focus on his missed tackles forced (MTF) metric rather than just rushing yards. This stat was his bread and butter at Boise State (record-breaking 144 missed tackles in a season) and remains the best indicator of his NFL longevity.