Mike Washington Jr.

Mike Washington Jr. enters 2026 as a rookie running back for the Las Vegas Raiders, drafted in the fourth round with the No. 122 overall pick and signed to his rookie deal. He’s one of the more interesting late-round fantasy stashes because he’s already being viewed as the favorite to open the year as the No. 2 back behind Ashton Jeanty.

The fantasy appeal here is simple: Washington has handcuff upside. Multiple recent fantasy outlets describe him as a late-round pick or bench stash who would immediately gain value if Jeanty were to miss time, while his current projection still reflects a limited role in a healthy Raiders backfield.

His profile helps explain the optimism. Washington’s size-speed blend and college production have drawn attention, and preseason fantasy projections point to a modest but usable rookie workload if things break right, with most of the immediate value coming in early-down work rather than heavy receiving volume.

For 2026 fantasy drafts, Washington makes sense as a final-round target in redraft leagues and a stronger buy in dynasty formats. He’s not someone to depend on weekly while Jeanty is active, but he’s exactly the kind of player who can swing a season if an injury opens the door, so he’s worth stashing wherever roster space allows.