Who Should I Start? Kaelon Black or Mike Washington Jr.


Week 4 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
4.8 27.5 0.1 0.5 4.0 0.0

Kaelon Black News

Kaelon Black's Playing Time At Risk

Friday, October 2, 11:57 PM

San Francisco 49ers running back Kaelon Black saw a healthy 38.5% snap share in the first two games of the season. The 49ers had both contests well in hand early on, allowing them to get Black involved frequently as a means of managing Christian McCaffrey's workload. When the Cardinals proved surprisingly pesky in Week 3, San Francisco leaned on their star at the expense of the rookie, who saw just eight snaps to CMC's 45. That pattern may follow in Week 4, when the 49ers take on the Denver Broncos, who have engineered fourth-quarter comebacks in each of the last two weeks. On the plus side, the Broncos have been soft against the run so far in 2026, giving up the third-highest yards per carry and highest EPA per rush attempt. Black is projected as a borderline RB4/5 for Week 4. Fantasy managers may want to look for an option with more certain playing time before plugging Black into their lineups.


Week 4 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
3.8 21.5 0.1 0.4 3.1 0.0

Mike Washington Jr. News

Mike Washington Jr. Unlikely to See Significant Workload in Week 4

Saturday, October 3, 5:57 AM

Across the first three games of his NFL career, Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. has recorded 15 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown. The 23-year-old has flashed high-end upside, including rushing for a 36-yard touchdown in the Raiders' Week 3 win over the New Orleans Saints. However, his production upside is limited while playing behind star Las Vegas back Ashton Jeanty, who has operated as a true three-down workhorse. In Week 4, the Raiders will take on the Kansas City Chiefs. Kansas City has defended well against the run so far this season, ranking 10th in the NFL in total rushing yards allowed (299). The Chiefs have also been very good at limiting explosive plays on the ground, allowing just one carry of 20 or more yards. Given his limited workload, Washington Jr. needs big plays to be useful for fantasy managers. Washington Jr. remains a high-end handcuff running back option, but he should be left on benches in Week 4.


Kaelon Black vs. Mike Washington Jr.

Still trying to decide between Black and Washington Jr.? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Kaelon Black is projected to score 4.8 points this week while Mike Washington Jr. is projected to score 3.8 points.