The Ashton Jeanty injury just created one of the biggest fantasy football situations to watch in Las Vegas. Jeanty left Sunday’s practice after landing awkwardly while diving for a pass and needed help getting off the field without putting weight on his right leg.
The Las Vegas Raiders have not announced the severity of the injury or a return timetable. Until they do, there is no reason to panic on Jeanty. If you’re a Jeanty fantasy owner, then I would be concerned.
The Jeanty injury should lead us to start paying attention to rookie running back Mike Washington Jr.
The first reason to focus on Washington is pretty simple. There could be a lot of touches available.
Jeanty handled 266 carries for 975 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie last season. He also caught 55 passes for 346 yards and five more scores. That adds up to 321 touches.
Jeanty entered this season as one of Stadium Rant’s top dynasty fantasy football running backs, largely because of the workload expected for him in that “aggressive” Klint Kubiak’s offense.
If Jeanty misses regular-season time, Las Vegas will have to replace a major part of its offense. Washington would not automatically get left with all of that work, but he has a much clearer path than the rest of the Raiders running back room.
That makes Washington the name fantasy owners need to know while everyone waits for Jeanty’s diagnosis.
The second reason to notice Washington is what he has done with his preseason opportunities. Seriously, have you seen this guy on the field?
Through two games, the rookie has 15 carries for 119 yards. That comes out to 7.9 yards per carry.
Washington ran six times for 63 yards against the Arizona Cardinals, including a 53-yard burst. He came back against the Houston Texans with 56 yards on nine carries while adding two catches for 18 yards.
Washington is not a player suddenly appearing because somebody got hurt. No, this talent was already there.
Las Vegas traded up to select Washington with the No. 122 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, sending picks No. 134 and No. 208 to Atlanta.
Washington also brings some very real production from Arkansas. He rushed for 1,070 yards and eight touchdowns last season while averaging 6.4 yards per carry. He added 28 catches for 226 yards and another score. He then ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The Raiders currently list Washington at 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds. That combination of size and speed is hard to ignore.
The coaching staff’s confidence in Washington is the third reason and probably the most convincing one to notice him.
Washington was already alternating starting reps with Jeanty during Sunday’s practice before Jeanty went down. After the injury, Washington took the remaining first-team running back reps and handled it extremely well.
That changes the conversation in a big way.
This is not fantasy owners just guessing that the second name on a depth chart might get a chance. Las Vegas was already putting Washington on the field with the starters. This is huge, this could be a gold mine for fantasy owners.
Obviously Jeanty is still the centerpiece of this backfield, when he is healthy. Nothing Washington has done changes that.
If Jeanty misses time, though, Washington has already shown that the Raiders is comfortable putting him in meaningful situations.
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Do not draft Washington like Jeanty has already been ruled out for Week 1. We simply do not know that yet.
If you have already put Jeanty on your roster, Washington has now become a priority handcuff that you need to highly consider.
If you do not have Jeanty, Washington is worth considering as a late-round upside stash while his price is still based mostly on projection. This could be a gamble that pays off huge for your season.
That distinction really matters.
There is no reason to pay starter prices before Las Vegas announces what actually happened to Jeanty. Positive medical news could quickly cut into Washington’s short-term fantasy opportunity.
Look at the flip side also. Waiting until Washington is officially named the starter would also mean waiting until everyone else in your league knows exactly what you know.
Washington has 119 rushing yards on only 15 preseason carries. The Raiders traded up to draft him. He was already sharing starting reps with Jeanty before the injury and finished Sunday working with the first team.
That is enough for me.
The Jeanty injury may turn out to be minor. Until Las Vegas gives us that answer, Washington has become one of the most interesting late-round running backs to monitor before Week 1.
What Happened To Ashton Jeanty?
Jeanty landed awkwardly while diving for a pass during Sunday’s practice and needed assistance leaving the field after struggling to put weight on his right leg. The Raiders have not announced a diagnosis or timetable.
Who Would Replace Ashton Jeanty?
Mike Washington Jr. is the running back to watch. He took the remaining first-team running back reps after Jeanty left Sunday’s practice.
Is Mike Washington Jr. Worth Drafting In Fantasy Football?
Washington is worth considering as a late-round upside pick, especially for managers who already drafted Jeanty. His value could rise quickly if Jeanty is expected to miss regular-season games, but there is not enough information yet to draft Washington as a guaranteed starter.
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