Three Commanders To Roster This Fantasy Football Season
Washington isn't new to the fantasy scene, as some players on this list were somewhat fantasy-relevant last season, but it's hard to not have a positive outlook on their offense. With an improved offensive line, new face calling plays, and a dynamic QB behind center, Washington could have some fantasy-relevant production.
Here are three-ish players that I think you should roster this fantasy football season.
Brian Robinson Jr./Austin Ekeler
I'm going to start off with a two-for-one here and kick off the list with both Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler. Now I know what you're thinking: Why should I roster a RB who, while talented, got his workload cut in half? Or why should you roster the aging past-prime RB?
Well I have a few reasons that could help you see the vision. Commanders' new offensive coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury, has already come out and said that they would like to run the ball...a lot more than the previous regime did last year. Despite the "Air Raid" philosophy making its way to DC, the offense wants to head towards a more balanced and efficient system.
They plan to utilize play action, which keeps the defense honest. That was not the case for them last year as their predictable pass-heavy nature made it easier for defenses to cheat. With Jayden's legs, it should also help open up the running lanes, especially in the red zone.
Plus, there is evidence of Kliff supporting two fantasy-relevant RBs. I like to use 2021 as a model for Kliff because that's when it seemed like he had things working at its best (before Kyler's injury).
In 2021, James Conner had 202 carries and only 752 rushing yards, which led to an inefficient 3.75 yards per carry. Yet, he still finished as the RB5 in PPR and standard formats. How? He scored 18 TDs (15 rushing, 3 receiving) and added 37 catches and 375 yards in the air.
Chase Edmonds was also relevant in 2021, as he had seven games of 12.5+ PPR points while only playing 12 games. He had 116 carries and ran for 592 yards, averaging an efficient 5.1 yards per carry.
I would not be surprised to see this dynamic with Ekeler in Conner's role and Robinson in Edmond' But it also wouldn't surprise me to see those reversed. Both are capable receivers out of the backfield with Ekeler being notorious for it, and they could think Robinson is the better runner at this stage of their careers.
Either way, this could be a solid pairing in best ball leagues, as their price is pretty cheap. Ekeler has an ADP of 121 on Underdog, while Robinson Jr. has an ADP 111. Plus, they have the upside of possibly bringing in more catches and TDs than expected.
Terry McLaurin
This seems like a running theme of Scary Terry being delivered a new passer in hopes of maximizing Terry's talent. However, this seems to be a new scenario because Washington hasn't had a QB of this talent in a while. Not to mention, this time the QB and offense both play within Terry's strengths of his vertical ability and his underrated YAC ability.
I'll reference 2021 again for Kliff: DeAndre Hopkins had 35 catches for almost 500 yards in the 8 games before his absence, he also had 7 TDs. He was essentially averaging 5 catches for 61 yards and a TD per game, which results in about a 17 points per game average in the fantasy world.
That kind of ceiling for Terry would be magical. Now keep in mind that season Arizona also had six other players who had at least 35+ catches that season. Mouths were being fed but the stars still ate.
Terry is coming off a "disappointing" season where he still recorded over 1,000 yards despite a questionable scheme and a nagging toe injury he suffered before the season. If 1,000 yards and 5 TDs is the floor for Terry, prepare to watch him possibly have a DJ-Moore like career season.
FantasyPros currently has him ranked at WR30 based on his average draft position. That honestly isn't too bad, as it puts him right behind George Pickens and Tee Higgins. People seem to realize that even in the worst situations, Terry is still able to produce at a high level.
Look for Terry and Jayden to get married on the deep ball. With Daniels' ability to float the ball deep and Terry's ability to beat almost anyone on a "Go" route, I expect to see magic happen.
Jayden Daniels
And now for the man you've all been waiting for: the number two overall pick, Jayden Daniels. Many are enamored with the Heisman winner's talents, and they have a right to be.
Daniels put his legs on display for the world to see, but that was never in question for him. The main concern for him was his ability to be as gifted a passer as he was a runner. I think it's safe to say he's worked quite a bit on that and made the necessary improvements with room to grow.
His deep ball but might be just as coveted as his rushing ability. Brian Thomas Jr. and Malik Nabers might be able to vouch for him on that. He may not have Malik and Brian Thomas this season, but he does have a skilled group of WRs in Pro Bowler Terry McLaurin, 2022 16th overall pick Jahan Dotson, and now rookie WR Luke McCaffrey.
According to FantasyPros.com, Daniels currently has an ADP of 107 in standard QB fantasy leagues, which puts him at QB17 and ranked between Trevor Lawrence and Aaron Rodgers, respectively. That seems like a solid outcome for a rookie.
This is based off of the following FantasyPros 2024 statistical projections for Daniels this season: 3,539 passing yards, 21 passing TDs, 574 rushing yards, and 5 rushing TDs. That sounds like it is perfectly within his range of outcomes (barring injury).
They also have him throwing 17 interceptions, which is something I can't see happening. Daniels has been cautious of taking care of the ball for the vast majority of his career, as he only has 20 interceptions in his entire five-year college tenure.
I think the sky is the limit for Daniels in Kingsbury's offense, and he's already been impressing at OTAs...and that's only with his passing ability. They haven't seen anything yet.
Thanks for reading this completely unbiased article and feel free to follow me on X @CommanderSZN. Be on the lookout for my next piece!
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