Klint Kubiak is known for running the football. Last season, under his play-calling, the Seattle Seahawks ran almost 50% of the time, and with a strong young core of running backs, Las Vegas Raiders fans can expect the same for their team during the 2026 NFL season.
That’s why the Raiders were looking at the running back class in the 2026 NFL Draft. All of it came to fruition when they traded up to get Mike Washington Jr. out of Arkansas in the fourth round of the event. Washington ran for 1,070 yards and 12 touchdowns his senior year with the Razorbacks.
Washington is expected to form a 1-2 punch with Ashton Jeanty, and that is already showing this preseason. Washington has burst onto the scene with explosive plays during the first two games of the preseason.
He is averaging 7.9 yards per carry and, according to Pro Football Focus, has 106 yards after contact and has forced six missed tackles. Kubiak clearly has a plan for Washington Jr., and Raider Nation is seeing it being executed on the football field.
Raiders' Mike Washington Jr. is displaying his knack for explosive plays
At the NFL Combine, Washington Jr. ran a 4.3-second forty-yard dash, which had him rising up draft boards, between that and his size. After two preseason games, he has put together two runs of over 30 yards, showing exactly what the Raiders were looking for when they drafted him.
During the first preseason game, Washington Jr. got excellent blocking on a duo run. The whole offensive line and receiving group put together high-level blocks to open a huge hole for Washington, and he made the right read, broke a few tackles and took it almost the length of the field for 53 yards.
The blocking on this Mike Washington Jr run.
— Marcus Johnson (@TheMarcJohnNFL) August 14, 2026
Grant, Mafi, and Meredith set it up.
Jack Bech with the crack opens it up late, and Washington Jr does the rest. pic.twitter.com/4pjdAWrgtC
Against the Texans, it was more Washington Jr. making the play than the offensive line creating a hole for him. While nobody on the line gets beat, Washington Jr. doesn't have much room to run at first. However, he stays patient and eventually finds an open hole, exploding for a 33-yard gain.
The Raiders want to make sure Washington Jr. is getting in space so he can use his speed. While this duo run isn't designed to get him to the perimeter, he reads it well enough to bounce it outside quickly. He then displays great balance to stay inbounds while breaking tackles to get nine yards.
He is also showing that he can be effective in the passing game as well. On the play below, the Raiders design a screen pass to Washington Jr. out in space. It ends up being an easy nine yards for the Raiders to help get the team on schedule.
He has also been able to catch checkdowns from Mendoza, with two receptions for 18 yards this preseason.
Washington Jr. has been impressive, to say the least, and the Raiders hope it continues into the regular season. While Jeanty will be toting the rock for most of the game when he gets back to being healthy, if Washington Jr. continues to create explosive runs, it could help the Raiders become one of the NFL's best rushing teams.
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