Sleeper Series: DeAndre Washington

Methodology and Intro

After writing my redraft team breakdown series, I decided to start a new series as we approach the 2020 fantasy season. Every week, or probably more often than that, I’m going to bring you one fantasy sleeper representing a massive value in 2020 redraft leagues. All the links to previous articles are at the bottom of the article. In the first article, I detailed my methodology behind this series, so go back and read that piece if you haven’t yet!

This time, we’re digging deep. DeAndre Washington is barely on most redraft owners’ draft boards, but I think he provides excellent handcuff value in 2020. Let’s jump into why I’d love to select Washington with one of my final picks in 2020 redraft leagues.

Past Production

Here are Washington’s full NFL stats.

As you can, Washington has never truly been a relevant fantasy running back. The Raiders drafted him in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, but only as a backup to then-starter Latavius Murray. The team also had Jalen Richard in a third-down role, so Washington played as their third running back. However, he excelled in his limited opportunities, and he flashed decently as a rookie.

Unfortunately, Washington lost work in 2017 and 2018. The Raiders signed Marshawn Lynch out of retirement to be their workhorse back. Therefore, Washington managed fewer carries, although he still saw some work in 2017.

Then, in 2018, Lynch went down in the middle of the season, forcing the Raiders to turn to Doug Martin as their starter. Richard also expanded his role as a receiver, taking receptions away from Washington. Because of Lynch, Martin, and Richard, Washington saw few touches in 2018.

Once again, Washington found himself the Raiders’ third running back in 2019, this time behind first-round rookie Josh Jacobs and Richard. However, Jacobs struggled with injuries throughout the season, allowing Washington to see his most work thus far. He wasn’t particularly useful as a rusher, but he played well as a receiver. Washington caught 36 of 41 targets for 292 yards, averaging 8.1 yards/reception.

The Prevailing Narrative

Even though Washington played decently in 2019, the Raiders had no interest in retaining him in free agency with Jacobs and Richard locked on the roster. Eventually, Washington signed a 1-year deal with the Chiefs, worth $1.05 million. At the time, Washington was competition for the backup role to Damien Williams as the Chiefs’ starter. The Chiefs also have Darrel Williams and Darwin Thompson on the team, so it wasn’t clear which player had the edge.

However, the Chiefs chose to draft Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, relegating Washington to third on the depth chart at best. For most of the redraft season, Washington was entirely off the radar. Edwards-Helaire had a third-round value, and Williams settled in as an eighth-round pick. 

Because Washington spent most of the offseason as an afterthought, he’s entirely off the minds of most redraft owners. He’s also never been a fantasy starter to this point in his career, not even for a stretch. Therefore, I can’t blame the casual fantasy owner for perhaps not even knowing who Washington is.

2020 Outlook

Recently, everything changed in the Chiefs’ backfield when Williams opted out of the 2020 season. I covered that decision in a risers and fallers piece, although in the context of Edwards-Helaire’s value, not Washington’s. Now, I expect Edwards-Helaire to be a first-round redraft value, and I have him as my seventh overall player. That increase in value is due to the guarantee that Edwards-Helaire will start from Week 1, unlike previously, when Williams had a chance to open as the starter.

Even though Edwards-Helaire will start for the Chiefs from the jump, I don’t believe he will be a complete workhorse back. Someone else will receive opportunities in the backfield, and there’s also handcuff value if Edwards-Helaire goes down. The Chiefs made an effort to invest in Washington in free agency, so I’d give him the slight edge at the backup role. It might be a bit of a narrative, but Washington played with Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech in 2014 and 2015. We know that Mahomes influenced the Chiefs’ selection of Edwards-Helaire, and it’s not hard to believe that he had a similar influence here.

Both Darrel Williams and Darwin Thompson had their chances to play in 2019, and neither impressed whatsoever. Williams averaged 3.4 YPC and caught 15 of 19 targets for 167 yards while Thompson averaged 3.5 YPC and caught nine of 10 targets for 43 yards. Neither player contributed significantly, as the ghost of LeSean McCoy mostly kept them off the field.

Therefore, I think Washington provides handcuff value and will get some touches in 2020. He’s undrafted, as he’s the RB73 in FantasyPros consensus ADP. I don’t love Washington, but he comes in as my RB59 and 165th overall player. At that stage in drafts, I’m hunting for weekly upside, and Washington is a perfect pick. 

Thanks for reading this article. You can find me on Twitter at @DFF_Karp. I love to interact with anyone in the community, so reach out at any time! I take fantasy questions and help with all formats, so keep sending those questions my way.

Previous Articles: Intro + Hayden Hurst, Sony Michel, Sterling Shepard, Jamison Crowder, Allen Lazard, Brandon Aiyuk, Jerick McKinnon, Jalen Reagor, Chris Herndon