Harold Fannin Jr. or Mike Washington Jr.: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 1 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Start Fannin: his receiving role is safer than Washington's contingent backfield upside

Fannin wins because his TE1 role is bankable: he plays nearly every offensive snap and commands a substantial share of the passing game. The gap is modest for a flex comparison, but it matters more at tight end, where Fannin's established receiving role outweighs Cleveland's modest scoring outlook. Washington has the better game environment, and Las Vegas says he has earned more opportunities (raiders.com 2026-09-10), but he remains a rookie RB2 whose value hinges on Jeanty's absence. That role volatility is the actual risk behind the model's close call.

What flips it: Jeanty is ruled out and Washington is confirmed for a feature-back workload.

Sources: raiders.com · Sep 10, 2026

AI editor

In standard scoring this is a coin flip.

Harold Fannin Jr.

Harold Fannin Jr.

TE5CLEvs JAX

Projected Points

Start
Mike Washington Jr.

Mike Washington Jr.

RB50LVvs MIA

Projected Points

Sit

Harold Fannin Jr.’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
-163 / +127
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 36.5
-113 / -113
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+360
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Mike Washington Jr.’s market

RUSH YDS
O/U 30.5
-114 / -110
ATD
Anytime TD
+425
CLE@
JAXSun, Sep 13, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
MIA@
LVSun, Sep 13, 4:25 PM ETView the game →

Why Harold Fannin Jr.

Start

TE1 and high-volume receiving target. Move tight end and mismatch chess piece with YAC ability.

Start — every-week TE start at consensus TE5: 16.5 implied team total caps the ceiling, 22% target share in 2025.

  • Established TE1 usage gives Fannin a safer floor than Cleveland's low scoring outlook suggests.
  • His mismatch and YAC ability can turn steady receiving work into difference-making PPR value.

Why Mike Washington Jr.

Sit

Rookie RB2 in change-of-pace role. Complementary back behind the feature runner with no NFL sample yet.

Sit — bench-tier RB at consensus RB50: 7.4 PPR projected vs MIA.

  • Las Vegas' lead-back path is Washington's appeal, not his current RB2 label.
  • A favorable script helps if his expanded role holds, but Jeanty's return could sharply reduce his workload.

Latest on Washington

Role

Mike Washington Jr. has earned more opportunities in the Raiders' offense.

Rookie Mike Washington Jr. is ready for what comes nextraiders.com, SI.com (Onsi Fantasy) · Sep 10, 2026
Role

With Ashton Jeanty working back from injury, Mike Washington Jr. is being counted on heavily at running back until Jeanty returns.

SI.com (Raiders on SI) · Sep 5, 2026
Role

Kubiak said Ashton Jeanty is "still on the mend" from his ankle injury, and rookie Mike Washington Jr. is expected to see a substantial role if Jeanty cannot play, after Washington ran 23 times for 168 yards (7.3 YPC) in the preseason.

NBC Sports · Aug 28, 2026

Head-to-head stats

MetricHarold Fannin Jr.Mike Washington Jr.
Projected points
Consensus rankTE5RB50
Opponent vs positionJAXno ranking yetMIAno ranking yet
Target share22%(2025)—
Reception share24%(2025)—
Implied total · spread16.5+7.522.3-3.0
Depth chartTE1RB2
Snap share76%(2025)—

Signal breakdown

  • 11.1 vs 7.4 projected PPR pointsHarold Fannin Jr. +
  • Rank 5 vs 50Harold Fannin Jr. +
  • Matchup (DvP composite)even
  • Implied 16.5 vs 22.3 team pointsMike Washington Jr. +
  • No injury designationseven
  • Snap shareeven

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