1 surprising Raiders player who could make or break 2026 NFL season

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The Raiders’ quarterback competition is one of the biggest storylines entering training camp. Most league observers expect veteran Kirk Cousins to start the season, while No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza continues to develop under Klint Kubiak. Meanwhile, a significant offseason move has generated mixed reactions around the NFL after new center Tyler Linderbaum signed a three-year, $81 million contract. Evaluators are split on whether he truly belongs among football’s elite interior offensive linemen.

While these developments draw attention to the quarterback position and the offensive line, neither player represents the Raiders’ most crucial factor this season, as the surprising answer lies with a player whose production has never been in doubt. The pressure on him comes from the expectations set by a new coaching staff, a rookie franchise quarterback waiting in the wings, and an offense that has significantly less margin for error.

RB Ashton Jeanty

This offseason’s conversation around the Raiders has focused on Fernando Mendoza, Kirk Cousins, and the franchise’s future, which makes it easy to overlook Ashton Jeanty, but no player on the roster has a greater opportunity to influence the season’s direction.

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Jeanty’s rookie campaign did not unfold as many had anticipated. Las Vegas struggled with offensive consistency, often played from behind, and failed to establish the complementary football necessary for a young running back to succeed. Although Jeanty displayed flashes of explosiveness, those moments were frequently overshadowed by an offense that rarely controlled the line of scrimmage or sustained drives consistently. However, everything around him has changed.

The Raiders hired Klint Kubiak to reshape the offense, invested heavily in the interior offensive line, and brought in veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to stabilize the passing game while Fernando Mendoza develops, and while these moves were primarily aimed at strengthening the quarterback position, they also create an environment where Jeanty should finally have the chance to become the centerpiece of a balanced offense, rather than just another talented player trying to overcome challenging circumstances. This is precisely why the pressure falls on him.

Jeanty is no longer entering the season as an intriguing rookie with time to develop, but he is expected to emerge as one of the league’s most productive running backs, someone who can ease the burden on whichever quarterback is under center. Establishing a consistent rushing attack will help keep the offense ahead of schedule, create favorable play-action opportunities, and lessen the pressure on a passing game that could transition from Cousins to Mendoza during the season. So, these responsibilities extend beyond just carrying the football.

Kubiak’s offenses have historically relied on decisive runners who can recognize cutback lanes, remain patient behind zone-blocking schemes, and generate positive yardage even when explosive plays are unavailable. Success is built on efficiency just as much as on highlight-reel runs, requiring running backs to maximize nearly every carry rather than waiting for a single spectacular play to change the game’s momentum, and this running style suits Jeanty’s skill set, but execution becomes significantly more critical as expectations rise.

Additionally, the offensive line should provide a much better environment than what Jeanty experienced as a rookie. Tyler Linderbaum was signed to lead that unit, while continuity elsewhere gives Las Vegas reason to believe that its rushing attack can be one of the most improved areas of the roster. While better blocking doesn’t guarantee elite production, it addresses one of the major reasons for the inconsistency that plagued the offense last year.

A successful Raiders offense starts with Jeanty

Most discussions about the Raiders’ potential often center around the quarterback position. This is understandable, given that Mendoza represents the future of the franchise, while Cousins was signed as a bridge during this transitional period. Quarterbacks typically draw the most attention because they influence every offensive possession, but Kubiak’s offensive philosophy has never relied solely on quarterback performance. His most successful units have always revolved around a strong running game that controls tempo, creates manageable down-and-distance situations, and forces defenses to respect the play-action before attacking deep.

Jeanty is central to that philosophy, in the end, as a productive rushing attack can dramatically alter the offense’s dynamics. Defenses hesitate to commit extra players to obvious passing situations, linebackers are reluctant to drop into coverage, and quarterbacks enjoy clearer throwing windows since second-level defenders first have to respect the running game. These subtle advantages often determine whether an offense can consistently move the chains or finds itself facing third-and-long situations throughout the game. The reverse is equally true.

When the running game falters, the pressure shifts directly onto the quarterback. Cousins would be put into obvious passing scenarios against aggressive defensive fronts, while Mendoza could step into an offense that demands a rookie to generate explosive plays without a supporting, efficient ground attack. Neither of these scenarios aligns with the environment the Raiders envisioned when they rebuilt the offense this offseason, and this places enormous importance on Jeanty’s development.

The Las Vegas Raiders only need him to serve as a reliable offensive foundation that allows all other components of the system to function as Kubiak intends, as consistent gains of four to five yards may not generate the same excitement as deep touchdown passes, but they significantly alter how defenses must play over the course of a game.

Jeanty has already shown that he possesses the vision, balance, and acceleration to become that type of player. So, what remains unanswered is whether he can deliver that level of consistency across a full NFL season, all while meeting the expectations that come with a franchise aiming for a return to playoff contention. They have built an offense that looks significantly stronger on paper than the group that struggled last season, with the quarterback room deeper, the offensive line with improvements, and the coaching staff implementing a system specifically designed for balance, rather than relying on one player to carry every possession.

This makes his role even more critical, as his performance will not only affect the total rushing yards of the Raiders but also influence how quickly Mendoza develops, how effective the other players remain during this year, and how successfully Kubiak can establish the offensive identity he was brought in to create. For a player who has spent most of the offseason away from the national spotlight, Jeanty enters 2026 with significant responsibility, perhaps as much as anyone on the roster.

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