Commanders Fantasy Football Preview: Can Jayden Daniels Star as a Rookie and Help Terry McLaurin and Others to Big Seasons?

It’s time for another NFL team fantasy football preview.

Check back soon for more team previews. Of course, things will change between now and the start of the season, and FantasySP will cover any major changes when those happen.

Here’s all the team previews we’ve already covered:

AFC: Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns

NFC: San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks

Let’s talk about the Washington Commanders now.

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Jayden Daniels Fantasy Outlook

Daniels was drafted with the second pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and is looked to as the future of the Commanders’ franchise. He's expected to start right away.

Daniels was a star in college, especially dominating during his fifth and final season with LSU. He threw for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns and just four interceptions in the 2023 season. He also had 1,134 rushing yards and 10 scores on 135 attempts.

Things aren’t likely to come as easy for Daniels in the NFL, but his dual-threat ability makes him a good fantasy asset. The Washington offense has enough playmakers around that Daniels at least should be able to be an average starting QB.

Daniels is QB15 and going around pick 108 in fantasy drafts so far. He’s got a lot of hype coming into the season, but that feels like a pretty respectable spot for the rookie.

There’s a chance some of the veterans going after him outscore Daniels, but his rushing ability certainly gives the rookie a higher fantasy ceiling. I’m fine taking Daniels near his ADP and would target him if your first fantasy QB is outside the top-four guys.

Running Back Fantasy Outlooks

Brian Robinson Jr. is expected to serve as the lead back for Washington, but Austin Ekeler is also there, so he might carve out a decent role as well. Chris Rodriguez Jr. is a decent third option.

Robinson appeared in 15 games for the Commanders a season ago. He had 733 yards and five touchdowns on 178 rushing attempts. He added 368 yards and four scores on 36 receptions and 43 targets.

Ekeler spent the first seven years of his career with the Chargers - he was never a big-time rusher there, but his pass-catching ability made him a great fantasy option, especially in PPR leagues. In 14 games a season ago, Ekeler rushed for 628 yards and five touchdowns on 179 attempts. He had 51 grabs on 74 targets for 436 yards and one score. He’s gone over 1,000 total yards in four of the past five seasons, and missed two other 1,000-yard seasons by less than 100 yards.

Rodriguez appeared in 13 games in his rookie season. He rushed for 247 yards and two scores on 51 attempts. Rodriguez had 12 receiving yards on two catches and targets.

Ekeler and Robinson are going near each other in fantasy drafts so far. Most sites have their ADPs between 85-100.

It’s hard to know exactly how things will shake out this season, but I think the team will feature both guys instead of having a workhorse back. Both are good receiving options, so it isn’t crazy to imagine both guys reaching 1,000 total yards. At that point in fantasy drafts, there’s less risk involved, and in leagues where RBs are rewarded for catches, I’m all for taking either guy in that 85-100 pick slot.

Rodriguez is a deep league and dynasty option, but someone who likely won’t have a big role unless Robinson or Ekeler are out. I’d focus my attention on another team’s back if you are looking for a lottery ticket.

Wide Receiver Fantasy Outlooks

Terry McLaurin is the top Washington receiver. Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus are looked to as the other starters right now, but rookie Luke McCaffrey might steal Zaccheaus’ spot at some point. Dyami Brown and Jamison Crowder are some other depth options right now.

McLaurin appeared in 17 games and hasn’t missed a game in three seasons. He made 79 grabs on 132 targets last year, going for 1,002 yards and four scores. McLaurin has gone over 1,000 yards in four straight seasons now, and now might have the best quarterback he’s ever had throwing to him.

Dotson had a similar sophomore season to the one he posted as a rookie in 2022. Despite playing in five more games, Dotson had five less yards (518) and three less touchdowns (4). He had 49 catches and 83 targets.

Zaccheaus will be on his third team in the past three seasons. In 17 games with the Eagles last season, he made just 10 grabs on 20 targets for 164 yards and two scores. He had 939 yards and six scores between the 2021-22 seasons with Atlanta.

Brown appeared in 17 games for Washington last season. He made 12 receptions on 23 targets for 168 yards and a score.

Crowder also played in 17 games last season. He went for 159 yards and a touchdown on 16 catches and 20 targets. Crowder had a couple six-touchdown seasons with the Jets in 2020-21, but has just three scores in the past three years combined.

McCaffrey had a couple solid seasons with Rice during his four-year college run. He caught 18 touchdowns over the past two seasons.

McLaurin is the top Washington receiver off draft boards. He’s WR 32 and going around pick 69.

Any time I can snag a team’s probable No. 1 receiver that late in a fantasy draft, I’m all about it. There’s great value here, and not much risk. I’d even consider McLaurin a couple picks before his current ADP.

Dotson is WR62 and going around pick 151, while McCaffrey is WR79 and going around pick 225. The team’s other receivers are pretty far off the fantasy radar.

Dotson has shown flashes over his first two seasons, but is more of a lottery ticket than anything. Late in a standard draft, I’m fine taking that chance.

McCaffrey is who I expect to serve as the team’s slot receiver for most of the season. I’d view him as a waiver wire option in standard leagues to start the season. I do like McCaffrey in deeper leagues and dynasties though, and think there’s some decent upside when taking him.

Everyone else I would treat as a streaming option in all league types. I don’t expect any of them to be standard league options unless some injuries occur ahead of them. One might become a deep league streaming option, but again, I don’t expect it.

Tight End Fantasy Outlooks

Zach Ertz provides a veteran presence for Daniels at the tight end position. John Bates and rookie Ben Sinnott are other options at the position.

Ertz was limited to seven games with the Cardinals last season. He made 27 catches on 43 targets for 187 yards and a score. He’s been a good fantasy asset during his career, but not for several seasons.

Bates has just 508 yards and two scores on 53 catches and 75 targets over his three-year NFL career with Washington. 

Sinnott was a second-round pick of the team, so many expect him to take over as the starter before the end of the season. He made three grabs for 57 yards in the team’s first preseason game. Sinnot caught 10 touchdowns and added a rushing score during his three-year collegiate run at Kansas State.

Because of the uncertainty of who might be starting at TE, I’d view the team’s tight ends as streaming options to begin the season. Ertz could be a solid fantasy asset being a veteran for the rookie QB. But I think Sinnott eventually takes over as the starter, which would make Sinnott a streaming option later in the season. Bates can probably be avoided in all formats.

Ertz and Sinnott are both good deep league draft options, while Sinnott is an even better option in dynasty leagues. Because they might not be valuable all season, I wouldn’t want to reach on either player.

Ertz is going around pick 240, while Sinnott is going around pick 182. Both player’s ADP have been dropping of late, which is exactly what I’m hoping for. If you can snag them a little bit later, I’d be much more comfortable taking them.