Who Should I Start? Emari Demercado or Mike Washington Jr.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6 | 16.9 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 5.4 | 0.0 |
Emari Demercado News
Thursday, March 12, 5:58 PM
The Kansas City Chiefs signed former Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado to an undisclosed one-year deal on Thursday, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Demercado had over 1,100 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns (three rushing) in his three years with the team, and he'll now join Kenneth Walker III in KC's new-look backfield going into the 2026 season. The 27-year-old former undrafted free agent out of TCU had a career-high 312 rushing yards on 44 carries in 13 games in Arizona in 2025, but he didn't find the end zone on the ground. Demercado added 13 receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown in an expanded role after both James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee) suffered season-ending injuries. He never held a big role in Arizona's backfield, but he was productive when he touched the ball, averaging 6.5 yards per attempt on 126 carries. Demercado should have more upside as a stash candidate in deeper fantasy leagues while competing for backup duties with Brashard Smith.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2 | 19.2 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 6.1 | 0.0 |
Mike Washington Jr. News
Saturday, July 11, 5:20 AM
Las Vegas Raiders running back Mike Washington Jr. does not need a weekly role to justify his price near the end of drafts. The Raiders traded up to take him 122nd overall after he piled up 1,296 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns on 195 touches at Arkansas, including 28 receptions. He is now listed at 6-foot-2, 228 pounds after clocking a 4.33-second 40 at the combine, and the team viewed him as a natural fit for Klint Kubiak's wide-zone scheme. Ashton Jeanty is not about to lose the backfield. He handled 321 touches as a rookie, and Washington may have to live on scattered change-of-pace work while Jeanty is healthy. The appeal comes from the depth chart behind him. Dylan Laube, Chris Collier, and undrafted rookie Roman Hemby offer little proven NFL production, leaving Washington with a real chance to enter the season as the primary backup. RotoBaller ranks him RB55 and 191st overall in PPR, a price that asks for very little. Washington is not a standalone flex play yet, but he is a worthwhile late-round handcuff for Jeanty managers and a reasonable injury-away bet for anyone taking shots at running back depth.
Emari Demercado vs. Mike Washington Jr.
Still trying to decide between Demercado and Washington Jr.? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Emari Demercado is projected to score 3.6 points this week while Mike Washington Jr. is projected to score 4.2 points.
Latest Fantasy News
