2 RBs To Target Late in Fantasy Football Drafts

As things hang in the balance with both Ashton Jeanty’s injury timeline (seriously, how do we not have an update by now?) and Josh Jacobs’ legal status (he was formally charged with two misdemeanors on Thursday), drafters have tricky decisions to make this weekend …

I’m indifferent in “scooping the dipperino” on a falling Jeanty or Jacobs—it all depends on the discount you are getting—but I do think both of their backups are screaming targets:

🎯 Raiders RB - Mike Washington Jr.

It’s become very clear that the rook is the next-man-up in Las Vegas and Klint Kubiak has called his development “phenomenal.”

After Jeanty went down Sunday, he took the remaining first-team work, then started Thursday’s preseason finale and ran efficiently (8-49). That’s on top of a strong first two preseason games (119 yards on 15 carries, including a 53-yarder).

How to play it: Washington is our consensus RB48 and every one of our rankers have moved him up significantly over the past few days. I’m willing to be even more aggressive than that, though—I’m fine pulling the trigger in the RB43 range, which is generally Rounds 10 and 11. At worst he’s a great handcuff, and there’s a real chance you get multiple early-season starts.

WHERE TO DRAFT JEANTY & WASHINGTON?

🎯 Packers RB - MarShawn Lloyd

Like Washington, Lloyd has locked up the No. 2 job in Green Bay and now has a clear path for more than that with a potential Jacobs suspension looming.

He’s been getting first-team work whenever Jacobs has been limited, started the preseason opener, and scored an 11-yard receiving TD on the opening drive against Denver.

GM Brian Gutekunst has already said the Packers have been preparing for a Jacobs absence.

How to play it: Lloyd is our consensus RB39 and Dwain has aggressively moved him all the way up to RB32 (which is right in the Blake Corum range). That is the right price, but I think you can be a little patient. I prefer Lloyd to Washington slightly, but I would be targeting both once guys like Kenny Gainwell and Chris Rodriguez are off the board.

Good luck this weekend …

WHERE TO DRAFT JACOBS AND LLOYD?

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It’s here. One of the busiest draft weekends of the year. Time to celebrate. Are you done? OK, time to lock in. Do you have everything ready for your draft? Just to make sure, we made a quick checklist of what you need from Fantasy Life:

And when you’re done drafting, make sure to Sync Your League. Good luck!

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Published Aug 29, 2026, 6:00 AM ET