Malik Washington's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington stuffed the stat sheet Friday in the team's 24-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The rookie wideout showed his versatility in the team's final preseason game, highlighted by his athleticism and field-flipping ability. Washington was the recipient of a Mike White pass on the Dolphins' first play from scrimmage -- a screen that went for a pickup of seven yards. He did leave the game for a few plays on the next possession but returned shortly after that and, on Miami's third drive of the night, took an end around and sprinted up the sideline for a gain of 40 yards. Washington then made his mark on the game again in the second quarter when he took a kickoff from his own 1-yard line to the 46 for an electric gain of 45. He also had one pun return for 28 yards. It was a productive day for the Virginia product as he racked up 120 all-purpose yards -- putting his best on display as we head into the season. As Yahoo!'s WR274 in ADP, he's an afterthought, but the speedy rookie may be an asset if your league puts return yards at a premium. Otherwise, he is a distant depth piece at wide receiver for Miami rather than a target for fantasy managers sans best ball and dynasty formats.

Miami Dolphins rookie sixth-round wide receiver Malik Washington has been turning heads with his play at training camp this summer. Washington is listed as fifth on the team's unofficial preseason depth chart, but that could change quickly. He posted back-to-back strong practices on Tuesday and Wednesday. The 23-year-old from Virginia slipped to the sixth round because he's only 5-foot-8, but he's also fast and has a knack for breaking tackles. Miami's top receivers are Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Braxton Berrios, Odell Beckham Jr. and River Cracraft. If they keep a sixth receiver, it will likely be Washington, Erik Ezukanma or Braylon Sanders. Along with the other wideouts on the bubble, Friday night's preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons will be huge for them. Washington projects to be a slot receiver in the NFL but for now is just one to watch in dynasty leagues.

Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said that head coach Mike McDaniel had been bugging him to draft Virginia wide receiver Malik Washington for multiple rounds. "Your rookie year can be very productive if you're a pro, which I know you can be immediately because you're going to have the opportunity," McDaniel told Washington. The Dolphins ultimately took the wideout in the sixth round of this year's NFL draft at 184th overall. Washington caught 111 passes for 1,384 yards and nine touchdowns in his only season with Virginia in 2023. He could have an immediate role for Miami in his rookie year, and his after-the-catch ability make him intriguing in the Dolphins' explosive offense. However, with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle commanding most of the looks from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, it's hard to envision Washington making a big rookie-year impact in fantasy in 2024.