The Las Vegas Raiders made headlines by selecting Ashton Jeanty with the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, hoping to revamp their running game. Fast forward to now, and Jeanty finds himself sidelined as the team leans on fourth-round rookie Mike Washington Jr., who outperformed him in a recent Week 8 victory over the New York Jets with 25 carries for 83 yards compared to Jeanty’s two carries for nine yards.

Jeanty’s declining workload has raised questions, especially with reports suggesting that his preseason ankle injury was a factor in his struggles. However, as he has returned to practice, the Raiders are contemplating whether this reduced playtime will motivate him. First-year coach Klint Kubiak, who was not involved in Jeanty’s drafting, seems to have no qualms about prioritizing Washington over him.

Meanwhile, the situation for Jeremiyah Love of the Arizona Cardinals is equally concerning. Drafted third overall, Love has managed only 268 rushing yards and one touchdown in six games, averaging a mere 3.5 yards per carry. His season took a downturn as he heads to injured reserve with a high ankle sprain, marking his second injury of the year.

The central question emerges: How exceptional must a running back be to justify a top-10 pick? The Raiders and Cardinals face scrutiny for their choices, especially when considering other impactful players available at those picks.

Key Takeaways:

• Ashton Jeanty has seen a drastic drop in carries, raising concerns about his future.
• Jeremiyah Love struggles to find consistency and now faces injury issues.
• Both teams face the dilemma of whether they made the right choice, as history shows many drafted running backs do not meet lofty expectations.

Statistical analysis reveals that only 54.7% of first-round running backs from 2000 to 2023 have surpassed 3,000 scrimmage yards in their first three seasons, and fewer than one in seven have reached 5,000. This raises further doubts about the wisdom of investing heavily in running backs early in the draft, especially when potential franchise-altering players are available at other positions.

As the Raiders and Cardinals navigate these challenges, the pressure mounts for Jeanty and Love to prove their worth, or risk being labeled as costly missteps in a critical draft strategy.