Great player, bad pick? Ashton Jeanty, Jeremiyah Love and the high price of drafting a RB in the top 10

The Raiders drafted Ashton Jeanty sixth overall in 2025 because they believed he could transform their running game. Twenty-five games later, they're giving the ball to a fourth-round rookie instead.

Jeanty had just two carries for nine yards in the Week 8 win over the Jets. Mike Washington Jr., the Raiders' fourth-round pick this past April, had 25 carries for 83 yards. Jeanty's workload has declined or remained unchanged every week this season, from 23 carries in Week 1 to two against New York last Sunday.

And according to ESPN's Dan Graziano, the Raiders initially believed Jeanty's preseason ankle injury contributed to his struggles. But he's been healthy enough to practice and play, and the team wants to see more. Las Vegas hopes the reduced workload serves as a wake-up call and is prepared to keep giving Washington more carries if Jeanty doesn't respond. Perhaps just as telling: First-year coach Klint Kubiak wasn't there when the Raiders drafted Jeanty, and he clearly doesn't feel an obligation to play him.

Meanwhile, in Arizona, Jeremiyah Love's rookie season has gone from disappointing to downright frustrating. The Cardinals selected him third overall in April, making him the highest-drafted running back since Saquon Barkley…

Original source: https://www.cbssports.com/