Las Vegas Raiders Kubiak Unveils Year‑12 Plan for Ashton Jeanty

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak announced Tuesday that running back Ashton Jeanty will see a dramatically larger role in 2026, moving beyond the limited snaps he earned last season. The coach called the shift an “eyebrow‑raising” plan that pairs a power‑full back style with more pass‑catching duties. Kubiak, who inherited a Raiders offense that ranked 29th in rushing yards per game in 2025, said the new approach is designed to address a glaring statistical deficiency while also creating a versatile weapon for the team’s evolving identity.

The Raiders finished the 2025 campaign with a league‑worst 2.3 yards per carry on inside runs, a figure that trailed even the struggling Jacksonville Jaguars by 0.7 yards. By contrast, the team’s outside‑zone attacks posted a respectable 4.8 yards per attempt, highlighting a stark inside‑run imbalance. In response, Kubiak pointed to Jeanty’s 6‑foot‑1‑inch, 235‑pound frame and his demonstrated vision in short‑area traffic as the perfect catalyst for a new power‑run scheme that will also free up the passing game for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

What does the new Raiders strategy mean for Jeanty?

According to Sporting News, Kubiak wants Jeanty to “do it all” in his second year, handling carries, pass protection, and short‑yard routes. He likened the vision to a hybrid of veteran Christian McCaffrey’s versatility, while noting Jeanty is not yet All‑Pro caliber. The coach detailed that Jeanty’s snap count is projected to rise by at least 30 percent, from an average of 18 plays per game in 2025 to roughly 24‑25 in 2026. Play‑action packages will be specifically designed to stretch linebackers, using Jeanty’s ability to pick up blitzes and then slip into the flat for a check‑down. Kubiak emphasized that the plan is not a gimmick; it is a systematic, year‑by‑year development path that mirrors the league’s most successful two‑dimensional backs.

Jeanty’s background adds weight to Kubiak’s confidence. At the University of Alabama, he rushed for 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore, earning second‑team All‑SEC honors and a reputation as a bruiser who could break tackles in the second level. He entered the 2025 NFL Draft as a third‑round pick (78th overall) after a senior year that saw his production dip to 860 yards due to a lingering hamstring issue. The Raiders selected him as part of a broader front‑seven overhaul that also brought in veteran guard John Miller and defensive tackle Aaron Donald in free agency.

Key details from Kubiak’s rollout

The plan rests on three concrete adjustments that will reshape the Raiders’ offensive playbook:

1. Increased I‑formation usage. Jeanty will line up as the fullback in a traditional I‑formation more often, giving him lead‑blocker duties for the tailback (Josh Jacobs) and creating a physical wedge at the line of scrimmage. This change is intended to open up interior lanes that have been absent since the departure of former lead blocker guard Gabe Jackson.
2. Scripted third‑down windows. Offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi will script at least two third‑down target windows per drive for Jeanty, positioning him in the flat or on wheel routes. The design is to exploit his quick decision‑making and reliable hands, which posted a 92% catch rate on 12 targets in his rookie season.
3. No‑huddle tempo. The Raiders will employ a high‑tempo, no‑huddle approach in short‑yardage situations to capitalize on Jeanty’s ability to read defensive alignments on the fly. By limiting defensive substitutions, the scheme aims to create mismatches against slower linebackers who struggle to contain a runner who can also become a receiver.

Kubiak told reporters the scheme is “clear for Ashton in Year 2” and that staff will monitor his workload to avoid overexposure. The offensive line, bolstered by veteran guard John Miller and the emergence of second‑year tackle Kolton Miller, should provide the necessary push. Moreover, the Raiders’ recent investment in a new run‑blocking analytics platform, acquired from a Silicon Valley startup, will allow real‑time adjustments based on defensive front movements.

Coaching pedigree and league context

Kubiak’s own résumé lends credibility to the ambitious plan. He spent three seasons as the Denver Broncos’ offensive coordinator (2022‑2024), where his balanced attack ranked in the league’s top ten for yards per play and produced a 1,500‑yard rushing season for running back Javonte Williams in 2023. Prior to that, Kubiak served as the offensive assistant for the Houston Texans and as the quarterbacks coach for the Minnesota Vikings, where he helped develop rookie quarterback Kirk Cousins. His father, former head coach Gary Kubiak, famously integrated a power‑run element into the Denver offense that culminated in a Super Bowl 50 victory, a philosophy that Klint appears to be adapting for Las Vegas.

Historically, the Raiders have struggled to develop a feature back. From the era of Bo Jackson to the recent tenure of Josh Jacobs, the team has cycled through multiple running backs without establishing a clear heir‑apparent. The last Raiders player to achieve a 1,000‑yard season was Darren McFadden in 2015, and even that production was hampered by injuries. By committing to a two‑dimensional back in Jeanty, the Raiders hope to break a decade‑long pattern and emulate franchises such as the Baltimore Ravens, who have built sustained success around versatile backs like Ray Rice and later J.K. Dobbins.

Impact and what’s next for the Raiders

Analysts say a multi‑dimensional back forces defenses to respect both the run and the pass, potentially opening play‑action lanes for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. In 2025, Garoppolo posted a passer rating of 84.2 and a 6.3 yards‑per‑attempt average, numbers that could rise sharply if linebackers are forced to stay at the line of scrimmage to contain Jeanty. Fantasy owners should watch Jeanty’s snap count rise, as a larger role could push him into mid‑tier RB2 territory, especially in leagues that value PPR (point‑per‑reception) scoring. Jeanty’s projected 55 receptions in 2026 would place him among the top 15 receiving backs league‑wide.

Critics note that demanding a rookie to handle a full workload may risk injuries, especially given the Raiders’ thin depth at running back beyond Jeanty and veteran Josh Jacobs. Jacobs, now 28, is expected to move to a complementary role, handling short‑yard and goal‑line situations while serving as a mentor in the backfield. The team also signed undrafted free agent Malik Willis, a former wide receiver at Ohio State, to add depth as a slot‑receiver set, further diversifying the offensive attack.

The true test will come in training camp drills, where Kubiak will evaluate whether Jeanty can sustain the increased physical toll. Early reports from the Raiders’ preseason scrimmage at UNLV indicate that Jeanty has already added 15 pounds of muscle in the offseason, a move aimed at improving his ability to absorb contact in the middle of the field. His conditioning numbers, recorded at 4:58 for the 40‑yard dash, remain competitive for a power back, and his bench press max of 225 pounds for 21 reps suggests the requisite strength to execute lead‑blocking assignments.

Looking ahead, the Raiders’ front office is positioning the Jeanty upgrade as a cornerstone for the 2026 NFL Draft, where they intend to target a dynamic offensive lineman in the first round to further solidify the interior push. General manager Dave Ziegler has hinted that the team will also explore trade options for a veteran slot‑receiver, a move that would complement Jeanty’s short‑yard routes and give Garoppolo a reliable check‑down target on third down.

Should the plan succeed, Las Vegas could see a resurgence in its ground game that mirrors the early 2000s “Smash‑mouth” era of the Raiders, a period that produced multiple Pro Bowl running backs and propelled the franchise to two Super Bowl appearances. Conversely, a stalled development could reinforce the narrative that the Raiders are unable to cultivate home‑grown talent, a critique that has dogged the organization since the move to Allegiant Stadium in 2020.

In any case, Kubiak’s Year‑12 blueprint for Ashton Jeanty represents a calculated gamble that intertwines player development, scheme innovation, and roster construction. As the preseason unfolds, the NFL community will be watching closely to see whether the Raiders can turn a promising sophomore into a dual‑threat engine that reshapes both their offense and the broader market for versatile backs.