The Las Vegas Raiders put their fans through a painful 2025 season. Few things stung more than watching No. 6 overall pick Ashton Jeanty operate with almost no help from his coaches or teammates.

The talent was obvious, but the system around him never caught up. That feels like it’s about to change in 2026, and training camp has already offered evidence.

Jeanty isn’t just getting a new scheme under offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. He’s getting a legitimate complement in rookie running back Mike Washington Jr., who by all accounts has had a tremendous camp. The two-back approach, combined with Kubiak’s willingness to move his running backs all over the formation, could reshape what this Raiders offense looks like.

Kubiak is putting running backs everywhere

Washington has already made it clear what Kubiak’s plan looks like. When asked how the running backs are being used in the passing game, Washington said, “Whether it’s in the slot or having us out wide, he puts us everywhere.”

#Raiders RB Mike Washington Jr. on how the RBs are being used in the passing game

"Whether it's in the slot or having us out wide, he puts us everywhere."

— Jesse Merrick – Silver & Black Sports Network (@JesseSBSN) August 11, 2026

That kind of versatility matters for a player like Jeanty. He’s a running back, but he’s a playmaker. You need to get the ball in his hands however you can. We all remember the home run play against the Houston Texans last season, the sideline catch that reminded everyone what he’s capable of as a receiver.

Washington wasn’t used heavily in the passing game at Arkansas, but he can catch too. Having both backs capable of lining up in the slot, running drags, working the flat, or serving as checkdown options gives Kubiak real flexibility.

It’s similar to what the Seattle Seahawks did last season with Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. Kubiak can rotate his backs, keep them fresh, and create mismatches against linebackers who aren’t built to cover slot receivers. At times, it didn’t always look great for Walker in Seattle.

Fans would watch him drive the Seahawks all the way to the red zone only to see Charbonnet get the goal-line carry. Hopefully that dynamic doesn’t repeat itself in Las Vegas, but the broader concept of a two-back system that keeps both players involved is exactly what this offense needs.

What this means for the rest of the Raiders offense

If Jeanty can be used more creatively, the ripple effects are significant. It takes pressure off Brock Bowers. It takes pressure off the quarterback, whoever that may be. If Jeanty is running the ball effectively and serving as a safety blanket in the passing game on screens, checkdowns, and slot routes, defenses can’t load up on any single weapon. The offense should be more efficient than what we saw last season.

We don’t know anything for certain, but it’s easy to say this group should be better. And that’s before factoring in the addition of center Tyler Linderbaum, who could improve the run game on his own. How much better the offensive line performs in the ground game is a question that will take the full season to answer.

Preseason could offer an early look

Training camp has been productive for both Jeanty and Washington, and Thursday’s preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals could give fans their first taste. We all remember what Jeanty did in preseason last year, when a few explosive plays put the league on notice that he was here for the long term. Maybe Washington provides a similar moment against the Cardinals.

Regardless, Raiders fans should feel good about this running back room and the pairing of those backs with a coaching staff willing to use them in creative ways. The talent is there. The scheme appears to be there. Now it’s just a matter of seeing it in live action.