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Is Mike Washington Jr. a must-roster RB handcuff with Ashton Jeanty’s injury concern?

Is Mike Washington Jr. a must-roster RB handcuff with Ashton Jeanty’s injury concern?

NFL DraftKings Fantasy Advice Season Long

Published:

By: Alex Hunter

Ashton Jeanty ($6,500) was questionable for this past Sunday’s blowout loss to the Patriots with ankle and foot injuries, but he ended up suiting up. However, Jeanty struggled in the defeat, averaging just 2.7 YPC and now, ESPN’s Mike Graziano is reporting that the Raiders have discussed giving Jeanty a week off to heal, but the back has pushed to play through his injuries.

Given Jeanty was questionable this past Sunday after missing practice Friday, him sitting this Sunday vs. the Bills is definitely a realistic outcome. Mike Washington Jr. ($5,000) has been Jeanty’s backup this season, but how strong of a fantasy play would Washington Jr. be if Jeanty sits this Sunday vs. the Bills?

Mike Washington Jr.’s Fantasy Outlook for Week 6

Washington has only caught 2-of-4 targets for four yards, but he is a more than capable receiver, catching 28 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown last season at Arkansas.

Jeanty and Washington have seen 88 and 25 carries this season, respectively, while third-string back Dylan Laube has only rushed the ball four times. As you can see, Washington is the clear backup to Jeanty and if the latter is out this Sunday vs. the Bills, Washington would likely garner a workhorse role.

The rookie would likely see a minimum of 15 touches and this is a great matchup vs. Buffalo. The Bills rank 30th in defensive EPA per play and this game’s 53.5-point total on DraftKings Sportsbook is tied for the highest of Week 6. Buffalo games are producing a whopping 61 PPG and Washington would be a must-play for both season-long and DFS formats if Jeanty is inactive.

Washington is only rostered in 38% of leagues on Yahoo and scooping him up off waivers is a wise move if possible. Even if Jeanty plays this weekend, Washington is one of the top handcuffs in the league to stash on your bench, as Jeanty missing some games in the future feels inevitable.

Alex Hunter
Alex Hunter is an avid DFS player and sports handicapper, who has been a proud member of the DraftKings Network team since 2020. He is a data-driven analyst, who earned his bachelor’s degree in communications at Worcester State University and has been in the sports content business for nearly a decade, covering the NBA, NFL and PGA TOUR. Alex is a diehard Boston Celtics fan, who loves to be on the golf course when he isn’t grinding lineups or producing content. For all of Alex’s work or if you need any lineup advice, be sure to follow him @Hunta512 on X.
Disclaimer

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is Hunta512) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.