Fantasy Football Player Notes

Ashton Jeanty is dealing with a sprained ankle. The news came out over the weekend that he sustained a leg injury, and some fears were that it could be a season-ending knee injury. A sprained ankle can still be problematic for Jeanty's 2026 outlook, but it also might not put much of a dent in it if it's more of the low or mild variety. Now that we have that injury news out of the way, let's discuss last season for Jeanty and what his 2026 could look like. Ashton Jeanty will be seen as a disappointment for fantasy managers exiting his rookie season. It wasn't a failure, but you can make the argument that, because of his talent and the hype, it didn't live up to lofty expectations. Jeanty was the RB15 in fantasy points per game, finishing with 321 touches and 1,321 total yards. He ranked fifth in snap share, first in opportunity share, seventh in weighted opportunities, and 15th in red zone touches. Among 49 qualifying backs, Jeanty ranked 16th in missed tackle rate and 17th in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). The ecosystem surrounding Jeanty stunk. The Raiders were 31st in red zone scoring attempts per game and 30th in yards per play. Among those 49 qualifying backs previously, Jeanty had the second-fewest yards before contact per attempt (1.28), and 65% of his rushing yards came after first contact. With Klint Kubiak in town, Fernando Mendoza or Kirk Cousins at the helm, a healthy Brock Bowers, and improved blocking up front, Jeanty could be poised to post a strong RB1 season in his second season.

After the injury scare over the weekend concerning Ashton Jeanty, it was believed that Mike Washington Jr. would go screaming up the draft boards. Initial fears were that he could have sustained a season-ending injury, but it's been confirmed that it is a sprained ankle. The severity isn't known at the time of me penning this update, but the takeaway remains the same for Mike Washington Jr. Washington Jr. is one of the best handcuffs in fantasy. If Jeanty were to miss any time, Washington Jr. would be an immediate volume-driven RB2 in fantasy. He has looked amazing this preseason with an every-down skillset. Washington Jr. tested like an alien during the pre-draft process, leading to his fourth-round draft capital. During his final collegiate season, Washington Jr. broke out, ranking 33rd in yards after contact per attempt and 17th in breakaway rate (per PFF). Washington Jr. has blistering 4.3 speed and the size (6'1", 223 lbs) to be a three-down back if called upon.