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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.
QB Kirk Cousins will 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. He 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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Coach Says He's Optimistic About Ashton Jeanty for Opener
Coach Says He's Optimistic About Ashton Jeanty for Opener
Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty has yet to return to full practice since suffering his ankle sprain, and the team won't commit to him being ready for the regular-season opener. But HC Klint Kubiak said "yes" (and smiled) Wednesday when asked whether he's optimistic for Jeanty's chances of playing against Miami.
Ashton Jeanty Spotted At Practice With Two Ankles
Ashton Jeanty Spotted At Practice With Two Ankles
Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty was working off to the side with trainers at Tuesday's practice, according to The Athletic's Sam Warren. It's the first time Jeanty has been seen on the field since his ankle injury nine days ago.
Will Mike Washington Steal Work From Ashton Jeanty?
Will Mike Washington Steal Work From Ashton Jeanty?
Raiders HC Klint Kubiak talked about using RB Ashton Jeanty as a workhorse back in May. Since then, Jeanty suffered an ankle injury and RB Mike Washington has impressed in preseason action. That might have Kubiak rethinking his backfield plans.
Kubiak's Comments On Ashton Jeanty Bring More Questions Than Answers
Kubiak's Comments On Ashton Jeanty Bring More Questions Than Answers
Raiders HC Klint Kubiak offered little clarity on RB Ashton Jeanty's ankle injury after Tuesday's practice. "He's on the mend," Kubiak said, via ESPN's Ryan McFadden. "Again, Ashton got hurt in practice, and the whole team took a knee. That says a lot about him being on the mend and counting on him. Really excited about getting him back. I'm a huge believer in the power of prayer."
Ashton Jeanty's Week 1 Status "Up In The Air"
Ashton Jeanty's Week 1 Status "Up In The Air"
Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty's status for the season opener vs. the Dolphins is "still up in the air," according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Jeanty's ankle sprain is "believed to be more low than high," per Rapoport, but it's not a long-term injury. "There is a chance that Ashton Jeanty may not be on the field for Week 1," Rapoport adds.
See whether Mike Washington Jr. is available in your leagues.
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