There’s nothing worse than seeing that “breaking news” alert pop up in your notification bar about a player going down during practice. This time, Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty was on such an alert. News broke that the Raiders star running back suffered a knee injury during practice on Sunday, forcing him to leave the field. The major concern was the fact that Jeanty was reportedly unable to put any weight on his knee as he was being carried off the field.

Speculation has already ensued over whether Jeanty will be lost for the season or he’ll just miss some time to recover. No official report has been released with an update on the injury (but we will update this article with the latest news). Until then, what happens next?

Ashton Jeanty Injury Fallout

If Jeanty is gone for the season, the next back to see a major boost in fantasy value is rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. The fourth-round pick from the 2026 NFL Draft from the University of Arkansas was the direct handcuff to Ashton Jeanty heading into training camp. Some even believed that under Klint Kubiak, we could have seen a tandem attack like we saw with the Seattle Seahawks’ running backs Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker.

Mike Washington’s ADP is sure to climb a few rounds from his current 14th-round ADP, according to Fantasyfootballcalculator.com. There is some PPR value with Washington, as he had 28 receptions for 226 yards at Arkansas. However, that’s not enough to get him lots of attention from the fantasy community. What will draw managers his way is the amount of volume coming his way on the ground. Washington averaged 6.1 yards per attempt with the Razorbacks on 167 attempts. If Jeanty is gone for the season, Washington could likely assume more than the 266 attempts Jeanty saw last season.

A Jeanty loss for the season would also boost the skill players like Brock Bowers. Jeanty’s 73 targets return to the Raiders’ target pool, making Bowers the undisputed top pass-catcher in the Raiders’ offense. Bowers’ increased target share without Jeanty on the field may boost him into the first round of fantasy drafts. So far, Bowers is averaging nearly 120 targets per season over his first two seasons. Bowers saw just 86 targets in 2025, as he dealt with various injuries. Even while dealing with injuries last season, Bowers still averaged nearly 15 fantasy points per game.

Another player who could see increased value is wide receiver Jalen Nailor, who was brought in during free agency. Nailor is expected to see a starting role with the revamped wide receiving group and was given a solid check to come to Las Vegas during the offseason. Nailor is going late in fantasy drafts. A dart throw towards the end of your fantasy drafts for a potential WR1 in an offense lacking viable receiving options is worth the chance. Nailor didn’t make too much noise last season with the Minnesota Vikings, but he did have a game or two where he went nuclear. Nailor went bonkers in Week 10 against the Baltimore Ravens, going 5 of 6 for 124 receiving yards and a touchdown. He would put up 23.4 fantasy points that week and finish as the WR4.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, Jeanty’s injury doesn’t force him to miss the entire season. The fact that Jeanty couldn’t put weight on his leg as he left the field doesn’t mean he tore his ACL. It’s better to wait for the official reports to come out and make a decision based on the presented information. To be on the safe side, fantasy managers should look to grab Mike Washington off the waiver wire while they can. In the event Jeanty misses time, you’ll already have the next RB1 on your fantasy roster.

There is a chance the Raiders could bring in another running back via trade to add depth to the position. But any back coming in at this point is at best a depth piece. Mike Washington looks to be the man with Jeanty down, and that means the goal-line work and rushing volume belong to him. That makes Washington a “must-add” player for fantasy football.

UPDATE!

A new report surfaced via ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Ashton Jeanty’s injury. After being looked at by team doctors, it was discovered that the injury was not related to Jeanty’s knee, but to a sprained ankle.

This news is much better than the initial reports that surfaced at the time of the injury. While the expected injury is less than originally thought, there’s still no timetable for his return. The ankle injury is still considered “concerning,” but it’s not believed to be long-term. Anyone’s guess is when Ashton Jeanty will return to the field, with the start of the season fast approaching. There is speculation that Jeanty could miss some time or none at all.

We’ll need the Raiders to elaborate more on the subject in the coming days.

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