Ashton Jeanty vs. Chiefs run defense
Ashton Jeanty has one more opportunity to put an exclamation point on what’s been an impressive rookie season.
Granted, his season hasn’t necessary gone to plan. The Raiders are sitting at 2-14 while he’s played behind shuffling offensive line rotations due to injuries.
Nevertheless, the Raiders offense found a way to make the No. 6 pick a pivotal piece of their scheme on the ground and in the air. Jeanty’s 1,227 scrimmage yards are the most of any rookie this season, and his 10 total touchdowns are the second-most in the draft class behind the Denver Broncos’ R.J. Harvey. After the Raiders’ Week 11 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, in which Jeanty had only six carries for seven yards, he’s averaged 85 scrimmage yards and 19 touches per game.
Jeanty is 112 rushing yards away from hitting 1,000 for the season, but it will be a tough task against a Kansas City Chiefs defense that’s allowed the 10th fewest rushing yards per game (104.9). Additionally, they’ve posted a 12.1 percent missed tackle rate against designed runs which it the fifth-lowest clip in the league, per Next Gen Stats.
It’s also worth noting that the running back rushed for a mere 21 yards on six carries in their Week 7 matchup against the Chiefs. Needless to say, his volume will need to be much higher to give the Raiders a chance to win this game. In each of the five games Jeanty has rushed for a touchdown this season, Las Vegas has either come out victorious or lost the game by one possession.