RB · LV
general
Week 9 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Mike Washington Jr. among slew of good RB pickups to consider
Justin Boone takes you through his waiver wire column, providing top pickups for fantasy football in Week 9
Mike Washington Jr.
RB · LV · 23 yrs · exp 0 · Arkansas
Status
- Game status
- Active
Keep Trade Cut (SF TEP)
From latest snapshot · trend vs ~7d prior when data allows.
Value
3,209
Rank
#130
Pos rank
#35
7d trend
—
Value history (90d)
One snapshot point per calendar day (shown in your timezone).
Latest: Sep 7, 2026 · 3,209
News
Stories linked to this player — newest first.
analyst
The Fantasy Football USAGE Report | Week 8, 2026
The Fantasy Football USAGE Report | Week 8, 2026
RB · LV
RB · LV
general
Why is Ashton Jeanty not getting carries? Another Raider emerges as Vegas' top RB in Week 8
This is not how Ashton Jeanty was supposed to develop when the Las Vegas Raiders made him the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft . The former Heisman Trophy finalist projected as an eventual superstar, but to reach that heralded potential, he needs to improve upon his play in 2026. Not only is Jeanty on pace to regress statistically from his promising rookie year, but he is also experiencing a role decrease. The Raiders got into a shootout with the New York Jets in Week 8, yet Jeanty carried the ball just twice in the 38-33 win. He saw a greater workload as a receiver with three catches on four targets than he did as a rusher. The five total touches were the fewest of his young career. Jeanty's downturn in opportunities is a trend. He opened the season with a fantastic effort against the Miami Dolphins and amassed 102 rushing yards, 45 receiving yards and two touchdowns across 29 touches. Since then, his carry total has diminished on a weekly basis. It reached a new low on Sunday when Mike Washington Jr. , conversely, set a career high with 38 snaps. The road game at MetLife Stadium also marked the first time this season that Washington started over Jeanty. "That's my call," Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said postgame of the snap distribution at running back. "Ashton's still going to be a big part of our team. He had a huge catch. He's going to be a huge part of our run game going forward. We just wanted to give Mike a few more opportunities today. I think both of those guys are going to be a huge part of our rushing and passing success moving forward." It is more than just the reduction in opportunities that contributes to Jeanty's underwhelming sophomore NFL campaign. He is not nearly as efficient of a runner as he was last year, either. Jeanty averages 0.6 fewer yards per carry in 2026 than in 2025. His success rate is nearly identical to a year ago, but the overall yardage simply is not there. And he is on pace to come up shy of last season's five rushing touchdowns despite playing on a much higher-scoring offense. It's possible the offensive revitalization (and the coaching behind it) is the crux of this downturn. Jeanty remains the same highly skilled ball carrier who was nearly untackleable at Boise State, but this is now his fifth consecutive year with a new play caller dating back to his freshman year with the Broncos. His running style seems to clash with Kubiak's system, and he now plays for a coach who has a history of splitting carries rather than utilizing a bellcow back. "We won," Jeanty said to ESPN . "It doesn't matter how I feel about how [many] times I get the ball. Whatever it takes for the team to win, I just want to win. That's all." This week's dramatic reduction in carries did not have anything to do with the comments Jeanty made ahead of the game about the Jets' defense, Kubiak said. During a locker room media availability at the Raiders' facility, Jeanty took a dig at individual players on the opposing team. "I think we can definitely get the run game going, get back on track and just really get after these guys," Jeanty said . "Couple guys out that don't really want to tackle, but I'm not going to say names." That remark was widely received as being in poor taste. Former Jets coach Rex Ryan was among those who called Jeanty out for taking a dig at the New York defense. Rex Ryan on Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty saying that there are a couple of Jets who look like they don’t want to tackle: pic.twitter.com/zoXmTnwQpK Jeanty said after the game that the coaching staff gave him advance notice that he would receive fewer touches in Week 8 than in previous games, but he said he did not know whether the comments were the reason behind that decision. While Kubiak said Jeanty's two carries were not the result of discipline, the timing of that role reduction and his comments about the Jets' defense do indicate that they could be related. It is also entirely possible that the coaching staff simply f [... truncated ...]
general
Raiders end losing streak with 38-33 win over Jets
The Dolphins picked up their first win of the 2026 season against the Jets at MetLife Stadium in Week 7 and the Raiders found it to be a hospitable place to play in Week 8. Kirk Cousins threw three touchdowns and ran for another as the Raiders ended their four-game losing streak with a 38-33 win over the Jets. The victory bumps their record to 4-4 ahead of a Week 9 trip to face the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Cousins’s third touchdown pass of the day went to Jalen Nailor with 11:33 left to play in the game and it put the Raiders up 35-30 after they trailed by nine points at halftime. They allowed the Jets to drive the ball to their 13, but their defense was able to come up with a stop that led to Jason Sanders’s fourth field goal of the day. Raiders running back Mike Washington ran for one first down and the Jets used all their timeouts before a Cousins sneak on third down gave them another one at the two minute warning. The Jets were able to stop the Raiders on the next third down and Matt Gay hit a 53-yard field goal with 27 seconds left to play. The Jets got the ball back and a penalty on a Garrett Wilson catch got them into Raiders territory, but Smith chucked one into the end zone from the 35-yard-line and it was picked off by Jeremy Chinn to the end the game. Sanders’s first two kicks also came on Jets drives that got the ball into the red zone and the failure to score touchdowns haunted the Jets a day after Halloween. They churned up 424 yards and scored on their first six possessions, but settling for field goals and a defense that lived down to Ashton Jeanty’s slam of them got them beat on Sunday. Jeanty was little more than a third-down back for the Raiders, but he did have a 45-yard catch to set up one touchdown. Washington ran 25 times for 83 yards and the Brock Bowers/Michael Mayer tight end combo had 12 catches for 145 yards. Two of Bowers’s catches went for touchdowns and Cousins was 19-of-26 for 247 yards on the afternoon. The Raiders scored on six of their nine full possessions and they also got a 95-yard kickoff return from Dylan Laube on their way to the win. The Jets’ defensive shortcomings crushed them on a day when Braelon Allen, Adonai Mitchell, and Garrett Wilson all had big days against an overmatched Raiders defense. There’s a lot to like about the amount of talent on the offensive side of the ball for the Jets, but Aaron Glenn’s defensive acumen is creating no reason to believe he’s the right man for the job. The Jets fell to 2-6 with the loss and they will be in Kansas City next Sunday
RB · LV
RB · LV
general
Ashton Jeanty struggling to find room to run, averaging 3.1 yards per carry
Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty struggling to find room to run, averaging 3.1 yards per carry
general
Puka Nacua active, Trent McDuffie inactive for Rams-Raiders
The Rams will have receiver Puka Nacua when they play the Raiders this afternoon. Nacua is active after suffering a calf injury during the practice week and being listed as questionable. But cornerback Trent McDuffie (groin) is inactive for the second consecutive game. Nacua’s injury was considered minor. It’s a boost to an offense and a team that has been ravaged by injuries. Nacua has 37 catches for 417 yards with one touchdown so far this season. Quarterback Ty Simpson, linebacker Nate Landman, offensive lineman Bill Murray, offensive lineman Keagen Trost, and tight end Max Klare are inactive for Los Angeles. For the Raiders, running back Mike Washington is active after being listed as questionable. Las Vegas’ inactives are defensive tackle Thomas Booker, defensive end Cian Slone, safety Dalton Johnson, defensive tackle Jonah Laulu, guard Bryan Cabeldue, safety Tristin McCollum, and quarterback Aidan O’Connell. Simpson and O’Connell are the emergency third QBs for their respective teams
RB · LV
general
Raiders-Rams inactives: Mike Washington, Quay Walker are playing
Rookie running back was questionable with foot/back injuries
RB · LV
general
Raiders injury news: Mike Washington is questionable to play Sunday against Rams
Rookie running back Mike Washington is questionable to play Sunday due to foot/back injuries
RB · LV
transaction
Waiver: Mike Washington Jr. added, Najee Harris dropped
sleeper-tx-waiver+10 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Mike Washington Jr.. Drops: Najee Harris
RB · LV
general
Mike Washington Jr. not spotted during Las Vegas Raiders’ Thursday practice ahead of Week 7 Los Angeles Rams’ matchup
Mike Washington Jr. not seen at Raiders practice
RB · LV
injury
Mike Washington Jr. — Questionable
Sleeper status change for Mike Washington Jr. (13305). Before: status=Active, injury_status=—. After: status=Active, injury_status=Questionable
RB · LV
RB · LV
general
For Raiders, Ashton Jeanty can play vs Bills, but should he?
Raiders running backs Ashton Jeanty and Mike Washington Jr. are pictured.Ashton Jeanty wants to play. Klint Kubiak says he will. But the most important question facing the Raiders might be
analyst
Ashton Jeanty Could Be Rested to Recover From Injuries
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (ankle, foot) could be given a game off to recover from his lingering injuries, according to ESPN. The team has reportedly discussed the possibility internally, although Jeanty has pushed to continue playing despite dealing with an ankle injury since August and a more recent foot issue. The 22-year-old was questionable for Sunday's 45-17 loss to New England and needed a pregame workout before being cleared. He finished with just 27 rushing yards on 10 carries, adding three receptions for 50 yards. Jeanty has struggled on the ground through five games, rushing for 291 yards on 88 attempts without a touchdown, although his 22 receptions for 215 yards and two receiving scores have helped his fantasy production. With Las Vegas' bye not arriving until Week 13, the team could decide to rest him before then. Rookie Mike Washington Jr. has rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries and would likely handle a larger workload if Jeanty sits, with Dylan Laube providing additional depth. Nothing has been decided yet, making Jeanty's practice participation ahead of Sunday's matchup against Buffalo particularly important for fantasy managers
RB · LV
RB · LV
analyst
Ashton Jeanty Hopes to Play Sunday, Will Work Out Pregame
Las Vegas Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty (foot, ankle) is aiming to play in Week 5 but will undergo a pregame workout to determine availability. He's dealing with plantar fasciitis and an ankle injury. If he sits, Mike Washington Jr. would see increased work against a tough Patriots defense. If Jeanty plays, he'd be a mid-to-low RB1
RB · LV
transaction
FA: Mike Washington added, Rachaad White dropped
sleeper-tx-free_agent+10 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Adds: Mike Washington. Drops: Rachaad White
RB · LV
RB · LV
analyst
Mike Washington Jr. Has Waiver-Wire Appeal in Week 5 vs. Patriots
Las Vegas Raiders running back Mike Washington Jr. is in line to play a larger role in Week 5 against the New England Patriots. Superstar back Ashton Jeanty (ankle/foot) didn't practice on Friday and is questionable to play, which opens the door for Washington to expand his repertoire. The rookie out of Arkansas had nine carries for 18 yards in a 30-27 loss to the Chiefs in Week 4, which brings him to 24 carries for 120 yards and one touchdown on the season. The Patriots have allowed 104 rushing yards per game and four rushing TDs on the season, which lets Washington take some pressure off of Kirk Cousins and the receiving corps. Washington is a deep-league stash and a Week 5 waiver-wire pickup with Jeanty questionable to play
RB · LV
RB · LV
analyst
Ashton Jeanty Not Seen at Practice on Friday
Ashton Jeanty's status for Week 5 is in question due to an ankle/foot injury, making rookie backup Mike Washington Jr. a potential waiver wire pickup
RB · LV
RB · LV
analyst
Ashton Jeanty Listed as Limited With Pair of Injuries
Ashton Jeanty's status is uncertain due to ankle and foot injuries, potentially impacting his availability for the Week 5 game against the New England Patriots
RB · LV
RB · LV
general
Klint Kubiak: I put Raiders' problems running the ball on myself
The Raiders opened the season with 130 rushing yards in a win over the Dolphins and that was a welcome development after the team finished dead last in rushing during the 2025 season. The past three weeks have suggested that might have had more to do with the opponent than anything the Raiders have done to change their scheme or personnel. They’ve run for 242 yards in those games, which isn’t as bad as they were last season but it’s also not where head coach Klint Kubiak would like things to be in Las Vegas. Among the issues is that Raiders backs Ashton Jeanty and Mike Washington are averaging just 1.8 yards before contact and Kubiak said he isn’t looking at anyone else when it comes to finding ways to “scheme them up better.” “I put it on myself ,” Kubiak said on Monday. “I got to do a lot better job of putting us in better position. We’ve got solid backs, we’ve got a solid offensive line. Myself and the coaching staff, there’s plenty of things we can do better for our players.” A 3-0 start helped downplay any concerns about the way the Raiders have been playing, but Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs put the lagging run game in greater focus and it will continue to be one if a three-game run against the Patriots, Bills and Rams does not go well for Kubiak’s side
RB · LV
analyst
Mike Washington Jr. Remains a Priority Waiver-Wire Option
Four games into his NFL career, Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. has recorded 24 carries for 120 yards and a touchdown. Washington Jr.'s workload has been limited by his RB2 status in Las Vegas behind running back Ashton Jeanty. However, Washington Jr. reached double-digit touches for the first time in the Raiders' Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Jeanty has also struggled with rushing efficiency for the second straight season, averaging 3.4 yards per carry so far in 2026 after averaging 3.7 yards per carry in 2025. For now, Washington Jr.'s fantasy upside is limited as long as Jeanty is healthy. Still, Washington Jr. is a premier handcuff running back option, and he may even work his way into some standalone value if Jeanty continues to struggle. In the vast majority of league formats, Washington Jr. should be rostered by fantasy managers heading into Week 5
Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.