Rookie running backs post record low yardage

The 2025 rookie running back class combined for just 246 rushing yards in Week 6 of the 2026 NFL season. That total represents the collective worst performance for the group in any single week since they entered the league. Corey Kiner, an undrafted free agent who served as the third-string option for the Patriots, was the leading rusher from that class during that week. The group has exceeded 600 yards in a single week only once since Week 4 of the 2025 season, when they rushed for a then-record 737 yards.

Injuries have removed several key players from the lineup. Ashton Jeanty, Ollie Gordon II, and LeQuint Allen Jr. are the only three 2025 draft picks at running back who have been active in every game for their teams since entering the league. Gordon and Allen have served as backups for most or all of that time. Jeanty played through multiple ailments during the 2026 preseason, including an ankle issue.

Jeanty, the No. 6 overall pick by the Raiders, has converted 372 carries into 1,303 yards, averaging 3.5 yards per attempt. He averages minus-0.27 expected points added per rush attempt, the worst mark among backs with at least 150 carries since the start of 2025. His success rate stands at 32.8%, second to last in the league, and his first downs over expectation is minus-16, the lowest in the league per NFL Next Gen Stats. The Raiders drafted him ahead of offensive tackles Armand Membou and Kelvin Banks Jr., receiver Tetairoa McMillan, and tight end Colston Loveland.

The offense has improved around Jeanty, yet his production has declined. He is hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on 47.2% of his carries. He has gained 91.3% of his rushing yardage after initial contact. Jeanty has no run longer than 20 yards and has five runs of 10 yards or more on 105 attempts. That 4.8% clip is less than half the league average of 10.3% for backs with at least 60 carries. He forces missed tackles on just under 18% of attempts, below the league average of 25%.

Rookie Mike Washington Jr., a fourth-round pick, offers a contrast within the same Raiders offense. Washington averages 4.9 yards per carry behind the same offensive line. He has gained 10 or more yards on 15% of his carries and has recorded rushes of 21 and 35 yards this season. Jeanty has five catches of 20 or more yards, but his struggle to create big plays on the ground complicates his value as a top-10 selection.

Short-yardage conversion remains a persistent issue for Jeanty. Running backs convert about 66% of rush attempts on plays with one or two yards to go. Jeanty has converted 45% of the time, the worst mark among backs with at least 20 attempts in short yardage since the start of 2025. He has lost 26.4% of his carries for no gain or a loss, a league-high figure. His receiving game provides a bright spot, with 34 catches for 312 yards and three touchdowns this season. He averages just over two yards per route run but has dropped five passes, including three in one game against the Chargers.

Omarion Hampton, a first-round pick, has struggled with consistency and durability. An ankle injury cost him two months last season. In 2026, he splits time with Kimani Vidal and Keaton Mitchell, averaging 3.6 yards per carry. He has lost two fumbles and maintains a 37.5% success rate, below the league average of 39.4%. The class includes other notable names such as Quinshon Judkins, TreVeyon Henderson, Bhayshul Tuten, and Cam Skattebo, though their individual trajectories vary.

The Raiders' decision to select Jeanty high in the draft is under scrutiny. The team had limited offensive weapons beyond tight end Brock Bowers. Jeanty’s lack of explosiveness and poor short-yardage conversion rates raise questions about whether he will develop into a high-end contributor. The zone scheme installed by Klint Kubiak typically improves as the season progresses, but Jeanty must show growth before the end of the season to justify his draft position.