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Zach Ertz Zach Ertz Facing threat from second-round rookie?
Wed, May 1, 2024, 1:53 PM
Rookie second-round pick Ben Sinnott is a threat to take playing time from Ertz, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Ertz signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Commanders early in the offseason, getting about two-thirds of the money guaranteed. It's backup-level money, but with a good chance at a starting job given the lack of veteran competition at TE in Washington. Sinnott looks like a real threat, however, coming in as a second-rounder after putting up a 49-676-6 receiving line his final year at Kansas State and then running a 4.68 40 at 6-4, 250. The rookie could steal enough playing time to make Ertz irrelevant for fantasy even if the 33-year-old gets most of the snaps in clear passing situations early on. |
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Marcus Mariota Marcus Mariota Likely headed for backup role again
Fri, Apr 26, 2024, 8:36 AM
Mariota will be joined by fellow Heisman winner and No. 2 overall draft pick Jayden Daniels in Washington's QB room.
Analysis: The incoming rookie was a four-year college starter (five if you count a COVID-shortened season) and is already 23 years old, making him a strong bet to quickly take over as QB1 in Washington. Mariota presumably knew the Commanders were likely to use the No. 2 overall pick on a quarterback when he signed with them in March, but the team at least traded Sam Howell to Seattle, leaving the 30-year-old unchallenged for a backup role. It remains to be seen how the Commanders divide reps between Daniels and Mariota this spring and into summer. |
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Jeff Driskel Jeff Driskel Joining Washington's QB corps
Mon, Apr 1, 2024, 2:26 PM
The Commanders have signed Driskel.
Analysis: Driskel, who has appeared in 24 regular-season contests (including 12 starts) during his NFL career, last saw game action Week 18 with the Browns when he drew a spot start in place of Joe Flacco, who the team elected to rest ahead of the 2023 postseason. With the Commanders, Driskel adds depth to a QB corps that also includes Marcus Mariota and Jake Fromm and likely will be rounded out by a first-round rookie later this month. |
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Jeremy McNichols Jeremy McNichols Gets chance with Washington
Mon, Apr 1, 2024, 9:21 AM
The Commanders signed McNichols to a contract Monday.
Analysis: McNichols spent most of the 2023 season on the 49ers' practice squad. He did suit up for three regular-season games with San Francisco, but he played exclusively on special teams (20 snaps). This offseason, McNichols will get a chance to compete for a depth role behind Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson. |
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Olamide Zaccheaus Olamide Zaccheaus Moving on to Washington
Thu, Mar 28, 2024, 3:21 PM
Zaccheaus has agreed to a deal with the Commanders, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: In his only campaign with the Eagles, Zaccheaus (who caught 40 passes with the Falcons in 2022) finished the 2023 regular season with 10 catches for 164 yards and two TDs in 17 games. With the Commanders, the 26-year-old will add depth to a wideout corps that is currently led by Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson. In that context, Zaccheaus has some bounce-back potential if he can carve out steady snaps in 2024 behind the team's top duo. |
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Jamison Crowder Jamison Crowder Staying in Washington
Wed, Mar 13, 2024, 5:24 PM
Crowder is re-signing with the Commanders for one season, Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reports.
Analysis: Crowder spent his first four season in Washington (2015-18) and made his way back to the Commanders last fall. He had one big game in a Week 8 loss to the Eagles but mostly served as a return specialist and depth receiver. Crowder turns 31 in August and may not have a guaranteed roster spot heading into training camp this summer. |
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Sam Howell Sam Howell Could be traded soon
Tue, Mar 12, 2024, 3:51 PM
The Commanders' recent contract agreement with Marcus Mariota suggests Howell may be on the trade block, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Analysis: The other interpretation, which seems less likely, is that the Commanders will let Howell compete with Mariota for the starting job rather than drafting a quarterback early this April. The team owns the No. 2 overall pick, with most reports to date suggesting Washington will select either UNC's Drake Maye or LSU's Jayden Daniels. There was a point in 2023 when it looked like the Commanders might have found their franchise QB in Howell, but he then had a 4:12 TD:INT over the final seven games of the regular season while completing only 57.7 percent of his passes for 5.4 yards per attempt. Washington went 0-7 during that stretch. The 2022 fifth-round pick ended up starting all 17 games, but only because backup Jacoby Brissett suffered a hamstring injury in practice shortly after being promoted to the No. 1 spot on the depth chart. Howell should have suitors if the Commanders decide to trade him, given that he has two years left on his rookie contract and averaged 278.3 passing yards and 1.7 TDs over the first 10 games of 2023. That said, the best he can likely hope for is a shot to compete with another player for a starting job. |
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Brian Robinson Brian Robinson New backfield competition
Tue, Mar 12, 2024, 10:45 AM
Robinson is slated to compete for backfield work with veteran Austin Ekeler, whom the Commanders are set to sign to a two-year contract, Kris Rhim of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Robinson will also lose one form of competition with Antonio Gibson set to sign with the Patriots, but it's seems clear that Washington felt the need to bring in an established pass catcher out of the backfield. Ekeler is coming off the worst season of his career in terms of efficiency, though he did deal with a high-ankle sprain and questionable blocking. Robinson, on the other hand, improved his YPC to 4.1 after managing only 3.9 as a rookie, finishing with 733 rushing yards and five scores across 15 games, in addition to a respectable 36-368-4 receiving line. New offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury could envision Gibson as the preferred option for between-the-tackles work and Ekeler as the go-to-receiving back, but training camp could also go a long way in determining the eventual backfield split. |
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Marcus Mariota Marcus Mariota Links up with Commanders
Tue, Mar 12, 2024, 9:50 AM
Mariota is in line to sign a one-year contract with the Commanders, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: After spending a year as Jalen Hurts' backup in Philadelphia, the 30-year-old Mariota will join a Washington team that has Sam Howell under contract for two more years and owns the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. This signing would seem to hint at a desire to either trade Howell or move down in the draft. In any case, Mariota seems like a good fit with new Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who tends to rely heavily on shotgun formations and avoid play calls with slow-developing routes. Mariota's one-year contract reportedly has a base value of $6 million and can go up to $10 million with incentives. |
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Austin Ekeler Austin Ekeler Headed to Washington
Mon, Mar 11, 2024, 6:11 PM
Ekeler is signing a two-year contract with the Commanders, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: The deal reportedly is worth up to $11.43 million, but with only $4.82 million guaranteed in the first season and a significant portion being incentives. Ekeler turns 29 in May and is coming off a 2023 campaign in which he experienced a massive downturn from his 2021-22 production while dealing with a high-ankle sprain and poor blocking. Even if he can't recapture his peak form, he should be useful as a passing-down back given that he has 3,884 career receiving yards and 30 receiving TDs. The Commanders likely envision Ekeler and Brian Robinson sharing backfield snaps, though it might look quite a bit different than Robinson's split with Antonio Gibson in 2023 (Gibson is signing with the Patriots, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network). The Commanders have a new offensive coordinator (Kliff Kingsbury) and are widely expected to acquire a new quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. |
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Zach Ertz Zach Ertz Gets one-year deal with Commanders
Wed, Mar 6, 2024, 12:57 PM
Ertz and Washington agreed to terms Wednesday on a one-year contract worth up to $5 million, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Ertz replaces Logan Thomas as a capable veteran atop the Commanders' tight end depth chart. He arrives in Washington with existing familiarity with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's scheme from their time together in Arizona, where Kingsbury served as head coach from 2019 through 2022. As a result of ending last season on Detroit's practice squad, Ertz is eligible to ink a new contract before the start of the new league year March 13. Across seven games with the Cardinals last season before he was released in November, Ertz secured 27 of 43 targets for 187 yards and one touchdown. Depending on how Washington addresses its quarterback situation this offseason, Ertz could carry some fantasy value for the 2024 campaign as a volume play. |
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John Bates John Bates Catches 19 passes in 2023
Tue, Jan 23, 2024, 10:32 AM
Bates caught 19 of 28 passes for 151 yards in 17 games during the 2023 season.
Analysis: The 2021 fourth-round pick has finished each of his three pro seasons in the ranges of 22-to-28 targets, 14-to-20 receptions and 500-to-519 snaps. Bates hasn't shown the pass-catching chops to make an impact in fantasy, and he now faces some uncertainty entering the final year of his rookie contract as the Commanders bring in a new coaching staff. |
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Dyami Brown Dyami Brown Quiet year besides Week 10
Tue, Jan 23, 2024, 10:28 AM
Brown caught 12 of 23 targets for 168 yards and a touchdown in 17 games during the 2023 season.
Analysis: The 2021 third-round pick had a quiet year apart from his 35-yard, game-tying touchdown in the final minute of an eventual loss to the Seahawks on Nov. 12. Brown had just two catches for seven yards the rest of the season and played more snaps on special teams than offense in each of Washington's final five games. He'll need to compete for a roster spot in 2024, the final year of his rookie contract. |
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Byron Pringle Byron Pringle Catches 14 passes in 2023
Tue, Jan 23, 2024, 10:24 AM
Pringle finished the 2023 campaign with 14 catches for 161 yards in 17 games.
Analysis: The 30-year-old played all 17 games but drew only 22 targets while mostly operating as Washington's fifth/sixth wide receiver. Pringle played more snaps on special teams (195) than on offense (183) and now is scheduled for unrestricted free agency in the offseason. Around half of his career receiving production came in one season (2021) with the Chiefs. |
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Cole Turner Cole Turner Catches 11 passes in 12 games
Tue, Jan 23, 2024, 10:19 AM
Turner caught 11 of 15 targets for 120 yards in 12 games during the 2023 season.
Analysis: There was some spring/summer chatter about Turner potentially supplanting Logan Thomas as Washington's top tight end, but it never came to fruition even after the second-year pro caught seven passes over the first three weeks of the season. Turner caught just four balls the rest of the year and was even a healthy scratch at times, so he'll need to compete for a job in 2024 even if Thomas is released to help clear cap space. |
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Jamison Crowder Jamison Crowder Finishes year with 16 catches
Tue, Jan 23, 2024, 10:16 AM
Crowder finished the 2024 season with 16 catches for 159 yards and a touchdown on 20 targets and 35 punt returns for 278 yards.
Analysis: The 30-year-old slot receiver rejoined his original NFL team (2015 fourth-round pick) after a three-year stint with the Jets (2019-21) and four games with the Bills in 2022. He ended up playing all 17 games, mostly working as a punt returner but also coming up with a 7-95-1 receiving line Oct. 29 against the Eagles when injuries thrust him into the lineup on offense. Crowder drew six targets the following week and then only five more the rest of the season. He's scheduled for unrestricted free agency again this offseason, with punt returns and a backup slot role representing his best path to sticking around in the NFL for another year or three. |
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Derrick Gore Derrick Gore Gets three touches in six games
Tue, Jan 9, 2024, 7:58 AM
Gore played six games for the Commanders in 2023 and took three carries for 23 yards.
Analysis: Gore spent much of the season on the practice squad and got a few chances to work as Washington's No. 3 RB. He ended up playing 24 snaps on offense and 88 on special teams, and he'll try to find a similar depth role somewhere in the NFL for his age-29/30 season in 2024. |
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Logan Thomas Logan Thomas Rebounds in age-32 season
Tue, Jan 9, 2024, 7:55 AM
Thomas caught 55 of 79 targets for 496 yards and four touchdowns in 2023.
Analysis: Thomas suffered an Achilles tear in 2021 and then had only 323 yards and one touchdown in 14 games last season. He bounced back some in his age-31/32 campaign, missing just one game and ultimately posting a receiving line pretty similar to teammate Jahan Dotson's. Many expected QB Sam Howell to really focus on getting the ball to Dotson and Terry McLaurin, but the target distribution ended up fairly wide in Year 1 under OC Eric Bieniemy (who is still with the team... for now). Thomas has one year left on his contract, scheduled for a non-guaranteed $5.34 million base salary and a $500,000 roster bonus due on the third day (March 15) of the league year. If he does return to Washington, it'll likely entail an extension or pay cut to lower his $8.315 million cap hit (per overthecap.com). |
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Antonio Gibson Antonio Gibson Posts career lows in contract year
Tue, Jan 9, 2024, 7:44 AM
Gibson finished 2023 with 65 carries for 265 yards and a touchdown and 48 catches for 389 yards and two touchdowns on 59 targets.
Analysis: The 2020 third-round pick added one target, two catches and 46 receiving yards to his 2022 career highs in those categories and also averaged a new personal best of 8.1 yards per catch, but it didn't work out for fantasy with his rushing numbers falling off a cliff. After averaging 214 carries for 916 yards and nine TDs over his first two seasons, Gibson dropped to 149-546-3 in 2022 and then all the way to 65-265-1 in 2023. He didn't get many carries even when Brian Robinson missed time with a hamstring injury in December, instead sticking in the passing-down role while Chris Rodriguez (ankle) took over as the lead runner for a few weeks. Gibson doesn't have the best instincts or vision as a ballcarrier, but it's possible another team could make better use of his rare combination of size and speed (he ran a 4.39 40 in 2020 at 228 pounds). The 25-year-old will be a free agent in March if he doesn't re-sign with the Commanders before the start of the new league year. |
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Curtis Samuel Curtis Samuel Scores five TDs in contract season
Tue, Jan 9, 2024, 7:35 AM
Samuel finished 2023 with 62 catches for 613 yards and four touchdowns on 91 targets and seven carries for 39 yards and a touchdown.
Analysis: Samuel was one of five Commanders to catch four TD passes and otherwise finished second to Terry McLaurin in the major receiving categories. Second-year pro Jahan Dotson was a disappointment as the No. 2 receiver and took a step back from his rookie season, whereas Samuel's 2023 receiving numbers were nearly identical to those from 2022 (62-613-4 receiving line). A lack of rushing opportunities was the biggest change for the 27-year-old, as he got just seven carries under new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy after taking 37 the previous season. Bieniemy wasn't fired along with head coach Ron Rivera, but it's nonetheless possible Samuel ends up in a new offense for 2024 given that he's reached the end of his three-year contract. Groin and hamstring injuries limited him to 84 snaps in the first season of the deal, but he then missed just one game the past two years while handling snap shares of 71.4 percent (2022) and 55.5 percent (2023). Samuel shouldn't have too much trouble finding teams that are interested in signing him as a No. 3 receiver |
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