Mike Washington Jr. | Arkansas | 6’1”, 223 lbs | Jul 3, 2003 (22 years)

Mike Washington Jr. was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders, becoming the 5th running back and 122nd overall player in the 2026 NFL Draft.

COLLEGE PRODUCTION

*Statistics Pulled from Sports Reference

In 2025, Washington Jr became the 16th player in Arkansas history to run for 1,000 yards in a season and the first Razorback to rush for 100+ yards in consecutive games against SEC opponents since 2015. Additionally, he finished Second-team All-SEC in 20205. Washington Jr. is projected to be a 2nd-round selection by NFL Mock Draft Database, and Lance Zierlein has a player comparison of Chris Carson.

FILM

STRENGTHS
Washington Jr. has both NFL size and speed. Throughout his collegiate time, he showed improvement at each school, most notably this past season when his production popped off. His blend of imposing size and impressive straight-line speed is what first catches your eye. But Washington Jr. is fast and plays with loose hips and agility, which allow for a smooth change of direction, and is capable as an inside and outside runner. He also reads blocks and moves fluidly through lane development inside, and his size allows him to run through corners and safeties in run support. Additionally, Washington Jr. has the size that allows him to run through tacklers and fall forward for additional yardage. What will also help keep him on third downs is his pass-catching ability, as he can do damage with big plays on swing passes with his dynamic playmaking abilities.
WEAKNESSES

The first noticeable red flag with Washington Jr. is that fumbles have been an issue over the last two seasons, and he has the size to be an effective pass protector, but he is missing the consistent commitment. Additionally, he’s not very sudden in tight spaces and is a step slow to see the hole and go when it opens. Washington Jr. also lacks the sudden acceleration for ideal escapability in small spaces. These are nothing that can’t be corrected, but must be cleared up to reach his full potential. 

Dynasty rookie draft season is here. DFF annual subscribers get exclusive access to our Dynasty Rookie Guide — analytic model scores, film reviews, and trait breakdowns for every key prospect. Click the image above to become an annual subscriber today and make every pick count.

ATHLETIC TESTING

At the Combine, Washington Jr., measured 6’ 1” and 223 lbs. His arms measured 33 5/8” with a hand size of 9 1/4”. For someone his size he checked in with an impressive 40-yard dash time of 4.33 the fastest by any running back at this year’s NFL Combine, 39” vertical jump, a 10’ 8” broad jump, and a 1.51 10-yard split. He finished with an NFL NextGen Stats composite score of 70, ranking him 8th amongst running backs in the class and projecting him to be an average NFL starter. Washington Jr. is an extremely talented athlete with game-changing speed, which makes him a very intriguing prospect who has all the raw athletic tools to succeed at the next level with further development.

Rapid Reaction to Draft Capital: Average

Rapid Reaction to Landing Spot: Average

Mike Washington Jr. was selected with the 122nd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders.

FANTASY INSIGHTS

I rank Washington Jr. as the 3rd running back in this year’s running back class for projected future Dynasty value, but his landing spot is less than ideal. He might become one of the most valuable handcuffs if an injury were to occur, but being the RB2 to star running back Ashton Jeanty, who figures to get the bulk of all the touches, is not the scenario we all were hoping for. 

Expect Washington Jr. to now be taken in the late second round or maybe even early third round of Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Drafts. I’m a believer in his talent and upside, but he doesn’t have a clear path to touches besides being a full-time backup for when Jeanty needs a rest, as his landing spot definitely decreases his value. However, this will make him a smart buy for a Dynasty manager looking to roster some of the most valuable handcuffs. 

Thank you for tuning in to DFF’s 2026 NFL Draft Coverage! As we break down every fantasy-relevant pick, make sure you have the tools to dominate your rookie draft with the DFF Dynasty Control Room. Engineered by Experts. Trusted by Champions.

Sync your Sleeper leagues, manage your portfolios, track your startup and rookie drafts in real time, find winning deals with the Trade Finder, analyze your roster with the League Analyzer, lock in value with the Dynasty Trade Calculator, and so much more. Whether you’re preparing for rookie draft season or looking to secure another key piece for a contending run, the DFF Dynasty Control Room gives you the edge to win big.

Click the image below to try it out for FREE for a limited time only!

Thank you for taking the time to read this article, and I hope you gained some valuable information. If you have any questions or you’d like additional insight and analysis, please follow me on Twitter/X at @MonicasHubby. #DFFArmy #AlwaysBeBuilding