Malik Washington — Week 2: Twenty-Three Yards on Third and Nine
2026 NFL Season · Half-PPR Scoring · Monday, Sep 21
Washington caught 4 of 5 targets for 43 yards and two first downs, the longest a 23-yard catch on third and 9 that set up a field goal before halftime, and added a 4-yard carry, three kickoff returns for 69 yards and a 7-yard punt return. Five targets were second on the team to De'Von Achane's six, down from eight in Week 1, in a 35–13 loss to the 49ers.
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14 to three, 49ers, three oh one left in the half, third and nine at the San Francisco 43, a false start having just turned third and four into third and nine. Malik Willis threw deep left to Malik Washington for 23 yards to the 20, all 23 of them in the air. +2.7 expected points added — expected points added is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position — and 5.7 points of win probability, the chance of winning the game after the play against before it. Until the last three minutes it was the most valuable Dolphins play of the day by expected points. Two snaps later Washington took a handoff behind the left guard for four, and the drive ended in a field goal from the five.
The line: five targets, four catches, 43 yards, two first downs, +1.8 expected points on the targets, and one carry for four. The catches: 12 on first and 10 in the first quarter, on a ball caught behind the line; five on the first play of the second quarter; the 23; and three on third and 10 in the third quarter, short of the sticks. The incompletion was short left on second and 13 on the opening drive. 27 air yards, 20 after the catch. Both third-down targets were caught and one converted. A sixth throw his way, incomplete on third and six in the second quarter, came off the books on a roughing-the-passer penalty that kept the drive alive. He was injured on the five-yard catch, and the play-by-play has him back in the game two snaps later. He also returned all three second-half kickoffs, 25, 30 14 yards, and a punt seven.
Five targets were second on the team, one behind De'Von Achane, on 23 Willis throws. Four of the five came before halftime, when Miami threw 13 times. His 43 yards were second on the team to Ryan Miller's 77, which came on one catch.
Back in June the preview called Washington a watchlist — the one returning Miami wideout who had earned targets, a 14 percent share a year ago, and a vacancy above him that nobody had claimed. Week 1 was the volume: eight targets, most on the team, with three catches, six deep throws and a lost fumble, and the episode said the efficiency was the open half. Sunday turned it around. Four of five caught, one deep target and it was the 23-yarder, no fumble, and three fewer targets. Two games, 13 targets, seven catches, 96 yards. He has been first and second on the team in targets, which is the claim on the vacancy so far; two games do not make it a share. Miami is home to the Chiefs on Sunday the 20-seventh.
_Data via nflverse._
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