Mike Washington Jr., the rookie fourth-round pick for the Las Vegas Raiders, just vaulted onto the fantasy football radar in a HUGE way after lead back Ashton Jeanty went down with an ankle sprain last month. This kid was barely on anyone’s radar heading into his first NFL season, stuck behind Jeanty on the depth chart, but that’s all ancient history now. With Jeanty’s Week 1 availability still questionable after being sidelined for weeks, Washington is a must-add player in almost every league format out there.
Rookie RB Mike Washington Jr. Is About to Explode
Ian Rapoport from NFL Network revealed Jeanty’s ankle issue is “more high than low,” but that still means a prolonged absence, and it completely opens the door for Washington. If Jeanty is officially out, Washington instantly becomes an RB1 for Week 1. Think about it: Jeanty racked up a massive 321 touches last year on his way to an RB11 finish as a rookie. That’s a huge chunk of volume, and Washington is set to take the lion’s share of it. Dylan Laube might be in the mix, sure, but the opportunity for Washington is staring us all in the face. This is exactly why you’ve gotta be quick on the waiver wire right now, because this rookie’s gonna be a fantasy stud.
Don’t Forget About Daniel Jones in Indy
Over in Indianapolis, Daniel Jones is another guy who needs to be snatched up immediately if you’re looking for quarterback help. Yeah, fantasy managers are a little gun-shy after he ended the 2025 season on IR with an Achilles tear, with his production totally dropping off. But let’s not forget what this guy did for the first half of last year. Jones was an absolute fantasy revelation, scoring 22-plus points in five of his first eight games. He rated as the QB5 through 10 weeks of play, and proved he had a stable floor, hitting 15.8 points or more in all but one game before the injury. If he bounces back from that Achilles and keeps his mobility, the veteran is a solid play in 2026. The Colts kick off their season with a decent matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, a team that gave up an average of 17.7 points per game to opposing signal-callers last year. Plus, Alec Pierce is back after an extended offseason absence, so Jones has all his key weapons. If you’re streaming QBs or just want some depth, grab Jones now. He’ll be one of the hottest Week 2 waiver wire targets if he balls out in the opener, so don’t get left behind!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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