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Washington brings an exciting mix of size and speed, but he’s unlikely to show it unless Ashton Jeanty misses time. Avoid the rookie in leagues of 10 or fewer teams, but consider him a late-round stash in 12-teamers and deeper.
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Washington arrived at Buffalo in 2021.
He logged 13 carries for 65 yards in the opener, a 62-point win over an FCS opponent. He appeared only twice more that season before taking a redshirt.
The move paid off in 2022, when Washington’s role started to grow.
Washington led the 2022 Bulls in rushing with 625 yards, but the number needs context. Fourth-year RB Ron Cook Jr. started the first 10 games before an injury knocked him out for the final three.
Across 10 shared games, their production proved similar. Cook edged Washington in rushing yards per game (60.0 to 48.1), while neither back generated much efficiency behind an O-line that ranked 112th in Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade.
| Carries | Yards | YPC | TDs | |
| Washington | 120 | 544 | 4.5 | 7 |
| Cook | 138 | 602 | 4.3 | 4 |
Washington added 23 catches, fourth-most on the team, but the efficiency lagged: just 5.9 yards per catch with three drops and three fumbles, per PFF.
Both RBs returned for 2023, when the backfield didn’t shake out in Washington’s favor.
Washington opened 2023 in a split backfield with Cook, peaking with a 13-carry, 88-yard effort in Week 4. He reached 10 carries only once over the final seven games and failed to break a run for 20+ yards.
Washington’s underlying metrics confirmed the underwhelming season:
Nothing in that season suggested NFL promise. But a transfer to New Mexico State started Washington’s rise.
New Mexico State fielded a rough team in 2024.
The Aggies finished 3-9, ranked 115th nationally in scoring, and cycled through four QBs.
They committed to the run, though. Their 40.6 attempts per game ranked 16th nationally and helped Washington collect 157 carries. But he wasn’t the only backfield factor. Fellow draft prospect Seth McGowan, about 1.5 years older, delivered the better statistical profile:
| Games | Carries | Yards | YPC | TDs | YAC/att | Catches | Yards | |
| Washington | 12 | 157 | 725 | 4.6 | 8 | 3.08 | 9 | 74 |
| McGowan | 12 | 152 | 725 | 4.7 | 12 | 3.75 | 24 | 280 |
Ball security also remained an issue for Washington, who recorded four fumbles and four drops. He at least finished strong, topping 100 yards in two of his final four games, including a 26-carry finale vs. UTEP.
Washington returned for one final college season, this time at Arkansas. And it paid off.
Washington looked like a different back last fall.
He handled a strong 69.9% carry share and turned a career-high 167 carries into several career highs:
Among 69 FBS RBs with at least 150 attempts, Washington ranked top-16 in yards per carry and yards after contact per attempt.
His receiving production returned, too: Washington caught 28 passes, third-most on the team, averaged 8.1 yards per catch, and dropped just one target all year.
Ball security remained the downside (three fumbles). But Arkansas couldn’t keep Washington’s big-play ability off the field, and his 48.3% breakaway rate -- the percentage of his rushing yards generated via runs of 15+ yards -- ranked seventh in the aforementioned 69-RB sample.
Overall, the profile shows a late-breakout RB with dynamic traits but a persistent fumbling issue. The Raiders selected him in Round 4 as the fifth RB off the board.
Washington lands in a tough spot for volume behind Ashton Jeanty, who ranked second in the NFL in carry share (72.1%) and fifth in snap share (77.9%) as a rookie.
The good news: Washington should win the No. 2 job, with Dylan Laube, Blake Collier, and UDFA Roman Hemby offering little proven competition. Laube and Collier combined for 12 carries in 2025, while Hemby is an undrafted rookie.
The Raiders will head to training camp with QB Kirk Cousins as the favorite to start, and he could hold the job into midseason after Kubiak preached patience with rookie Fernando Mendoza.
Cousins spent three seasons with Kubiak in Minnesota, including a strong 2021 campaign with Kubiak calling plays. Cousins threw for 4,221 yards, 33 TDs, and just 7 INTs that year, topping league average in both completion rate (66.3%) and yards per attempt (7.5).
But that was five years ago, and Cousins has declined since leaving Minnesota. He managed only 6.4 yards per attempt last year and ranked 31st among 33 qualifiers in on-target throw rate.
The O-line should improve vs. last year. LT Kolton Miller and G Jackson Powers-Johnson return from injury-wrecked 2025 campaigns. The Raiders also added Linderbaum, a major center upgrade after his fourth-place finish among 41 qualifiers in PFF run-blocking grade.
Brandon Yeargan, Raiders director of college scouting, called Washington a “really good fit” for new HC Klint Kubiak’s wide-zone run game.
Washington drew 60.8% of his college carries in zone concepts, so there’s some scheme familiarity. But the bigger question is whether he gets enough touches to matter, and Kubiak’s early comments suggest Jeanty will get workhorse usage.
Jeanty’s durability helps make that plan realistic. He missed just one game over three college seasons, stayed injury-free on 397 touches in 2024, and followed with 321 touches over 17 games as a rookie.
Washington will almost certainly need a Jeanty injury to present any 2026 fantasy value.
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Even More Pass-Catching Work Coming For Ashton Jeanty?
Even More Pass-Catching Work Coming For Ashton Jeanty?
ESPN's Dan Graziano heard from multiple people inside the Raiders organization that RB Ashton Jeanty is expected to play an even bigger role in the passing game this season. That would build on last year's 73 targets, 55 catches, and 346 receiving yards, all top-10 marks among RBs.
Ashton Jeanty Set for Christian McCaffrey Usage?
Ashton Jeanty Set for Christian McCaffrey Usage?
New HC Klint Kubiak wants RB Ashton Jeanty to “rarely come off the field, almost similar to Christian McCaffrey,” per beat writer Ryan McFadden.
Is Mike Washington a Premier Handcuff?
Is Mike Washington a Premier Handcuff?
ESPN’s Ryan McFadden believes rookie RB Mike Washington Jr. is in “prime position” to win Vegas’ No. 2 RB job. McFadden points to a thin depth chart and HC Klint Kubiak’s preference for a two-RB system as positives for the rookie.
Roman Hemby To Battle For Raiders' Backup Job
Roman Hemby To Battle For Raiders' Backup Job
The Raiders signed undrafted free agent RB Roman Hemby. Hemby broke out as a sophomore at Maryland, rushing 188 times for 989 yards and 10 TDs. He caught 33 passes that year, the first of three straight seasons with 30+ receptions. His receiving output dipped to 17 grabs for 165 yards at Indiana in 2025. But he paired with Kaelon Black to form one of the nation’s best backfield tandems. Hemby tallied career highs in carries (230) and rushing yards (1,120). Among the 20 RBs invited to the NFL Combine, Hemby ranked 16th in 2025 rushing market share (31.2%), and 11th in yards after contact per attempt (3.36). He ranked 18th in 2025 missed tackles forced per attempt (0.16) and ninth in receiving yards per route run (0.95). He is currently 23 years old.
Raiders Grab a Back-Up RB: Mike Washington Jr.
Raiders Grab a Back-Up RB: Mike Washington Jr.
The Las Vegas Raiders selected Arkansas RB Mike Washington Jr. in Round 4 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Washington spent three seasons at Buffalo before making one-year stops at New Mexico State and Arkansas. He didn’t truly level up until this past fall in Fayetteville. The 6’1, 223-pounder ripped off 6.4 yards per rush and set career highs in carries (167), yards (1,070), and receptions (28). He also posted a sturdy 3.86 yards after contact per attempt, per PFF. Among the 20 RBs invited to the NFL Combine, Washington ranked eighth in 2025 rushing market share (46.3%), and fourth in yards after contact per attempt (3.86). He ranked 13th in 2025 missed tackles forced per attempt (0.20) and eighth in receiving yards per route run (0.99). He is currently 23 years old.
See whether Mike Washington Jr. is available in your leagues.
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