Washington Commanders News

NFC EAST

Jayden Daniels • QB • Commanders

Jayden Daniels has a "Long Way to Go" to Master the Offense

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, who is looking to rebound from an injury-plagued second year in the NFL in 2025, said he has a "long way to go" as he attempts to master the new system of offensive coordinator David Blough, according to John Keim of ESPN. It is the second offensive system that Daniels has had to learn in his first three NFL seasons. Daniels has looked comfortable with his footwork while operating more under center, but he still has plenty to work on. A sprained knee and hamstring and a dislocated left elbow limited him to just seven games in his sophomore campaign, a big change from when he was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2024 while helping the team to a 12-5 record and its first appearance in the NFC Championship game since 1991. Daniels threw for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns, and nine interceptions while rushing for 891 yards and six more TDs on the ground. If the former second overall pick out of Louisiana State University can stay on the field in 2026, he's an obvious high-end bounce-back candidate at the QB position. RotoBaller currently has him ranked as the No. 3 QB for 2026, behind only Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.

12 hours ago

Rachaad White • RB • Commanders | David Blough • QB

David Blough's Offense Could Suit Rachaad White Well

The NFL Network's Mike Garafolo says that new Washington Commanders offensive coordinator David Blough's offense should suit running back Rachaad White well in 2026. White's name came up a few times during Garafolo's visit to the Commanders' mandatory minicamp on Wednesday. The 27-year-old signed a one-year deal with Washington back in March, and although second-year back Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the obvious choice to lead the team's backfield after he led the team in rushing in his rookie campaign in 2025, White will have his chance to compete for a bigger role that he had behind Bucky Irving in Tampa Bay over the last couple of seasons. In his four years with the Bucs, White averaged 3.9 yards per carry and had 2,656 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns, adding 205 receptions for 1,450 yards and 11 receiving TDs. Head coach Dan Quinn has been impressed with White's abilities as a pass-catcher during offseason practices, something that Croskey-Merritt needs to work on. At the very least, White will be an RB3/flex sleeper in PPR leagues, with the potential for an even bigger role if JCM takes a step back in Year 2.

Yesterday

Rachaad White • RB • Commanders

Dan Quinn Likes Rachaad White's Ability as a Pass-Catcher

Commanders.com's Zach Selby writes that Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn likes the competition in the running back room during offseason workouts. Quinn mentioned Rachaad White specifically and his ability as a pass-catcher. It's unclear yet if there will be one designated starter, but multiple players will play a part in the team's rushing attack in 2026. Second-year back Jacory Croskey-Merritt could be the odds-on-favorite for lead-back duties in D.C. after leading the squad with 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 175 carries in 17 games (seven starts) in his rookie campaign. However, the 25-year-old needs to work on his pass protection (he only caught nine passes for 68 yards) and his ball security in order to do so. Meanwhile, White has the most experience as a dual-threat back in the NFL, even if he has averaged under 4.0 yards per carry as a ball-carrier in his four years in the league. In PPR leagues, White will be a sneaky RB3/flex target with upside in his new digs, although his ADP could rise quickly if he begins to gain more steam over Croskey-Merritt in training camp this summer.

Yesterday

Jacory Croskey-Merritt • RB • Commanders

Jacory Croskey-Merritt Returns to Practice This Week

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (undisclosed), who missed voluntary organized team activities due to an undisclosed soft-tissue injury, returned to practice on Tuesday, according to John Keim of ESPN. While Croskey-Merritt has the clearest path to the RB1 role in Washington in 2026 in his second year in the NFL, head coach Dan Quinn has mentioned that the former seventh-rounder out of the University of Arizona needs to show what he can do in pass protection, among other areas. The 25-year-old could also stand to improve his ball security going into Year 2 as he looks to hold off Rachaad White, Jerome Ford, rookie Kaytron Allen, and Jeremy McNichols. Croskey-Merritt averaged 4.6 yards per carry for a team-high 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 175 carries in 2025 in his rookie campaign, but he barely contributed as a pass-catcher with only nine receptions for 68 yards in 17 games (seven starts). Bill's role as the clear lead back in D.C. isn't solidified yet, but he's the best fantasy target in the Commanders' backfield in 2026 as an RB3/flex with upside, primarily in standard-scoring formats.

2 days ago

Antonio Williams • WR • Commanders

Antonio Williams Has a Chance to Learn From One of the Best

When the Washington Commanders selected wide receiver Antonio Williams in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, he landed on one of the thinner depth charts in the league with a chance to learn from one of the greatest to ever play his position. The Commanders hired four-time All-Pro receiver Wes Welker as a personnel analyst in 2025 and have made him an offensive assistant for the 2026 season. With Williams expected to operate primarily out of the slot, as he did in college, Welker's guidance could become invaluable after collecting more than 900 receptions in a 12-year career as arguably the most respected slot receiver in the league. New offensive coordinator David Blough is expected to run a variant of the Ben Johnson offense he was a part of as the Lions' backup quarterback, and even if that means a move toward more heavy personnel packages with fewer receivers on the field, the Commanders lack every-down mainstays outside of veteran Terry McLaurin. At 5'11" and 190 pounds, Williams is a willing blocker, and while his more natural position remains at the slot, he'll need to beat out only Luke McCaffrey, Jaylin Lane, and Treylon Burks to earn an early role in two-receiver sets.

2 days ago

Jayden Daniels • QB • Commanders

Can Jayden Daniels Still Become the Dynasty QB1?

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels followed up his 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year-winning season with a disappointing, injury-marred campaign in 2025. Now heading into his third season with improved weaponry and a new offensive scheme, Daniels has potentially become one of the best bargains in dynasty. The Commanders have added tight end Chig Okonkwo, running back Rachaad White, and third-round rookie wide receiver Antonio Williams to round out an offense that expects to have two-time Pro Bowler Terry McLaurin back at full health after missing seven games in 2025. With new offensive coordinator David Blough borrowing elements from the Ben Johnson system that he ran as a backup quarterback in Detroit, Daniels is expected to spend more time under center, which should open up the passing game without diminishing what he can do with his legs. A year after coming off the board as early as first overall in some superflex dynasty startups, Daniels has fallen to RotoBaller's dynasty QB3, but is a good bet to work his way back into the QB1 conversation if he can stay healthy in 2026.

3 days ago

Rachaad White • RB • Commanders

Rachaad White to be Involved in Committee Backfield in Washington?

Zach Selby of Commanders.com writes that new running back Rachaad White is one of several RBs in the Washington Commanders' committee approach to the backfield heading into the 2026 season. White, a third-rounder by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022 out of Arizona State, was relegated to a backup role behind Bucky Irving in the second half of his rookie deal. The 27-year-old has mostly been lauded as a pass-catcher in his four-year NFL career, having hauled in 205 passes (230 targets) for 1,450 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns in 67 total games (48 starts) with the Bucs. White said that Washington's RB room is "loaded" with players who can fit different roles. Second-year back Jacory Croskey-Merritt has the best chance to become the Commanders' lead back, with White as the primary pass-catcher. However, the team also has Jerome Ford, Jeremy McNichols, and rookie Kaytron Allen fighting for roles. White will probably only be worth considering as a late-round option for depth at the RB position in point-per-reception formats in 2026 in his first year in D.C. RotoBaller has White ranked as the No. 41 RB in PPR setups, just two spots in front of Croskey-Merritt.

4 days ago

Jacory Croskey-Merritt • RB • Commanders

Jacory Croskey-Merritt has Best Shot to Become Commanders Lead Back?

Washington Commanders second-year running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who has missed some offseason work due to a soft-tissue injury, has the best chance to become the team's lead back in 2026, according to Zach Selby of Commanders.com. Croskey-Merritt, also known as Bill, has "quickness on the outside and has enough burst to run through creases at the line of scrimmage." The 25-year-old rushed for 805 yards in 2025, third in his draft class, and added eight touchdowns on 175 carries over 17 games (seven starts). JCM must still improve in pass protection, but he showed plenty of patience and decisiveness as a ball-carrier despite not being taken until the seventh round in the 2025 NFL draft. Croskey-Merritt was used sparingly as a pass-catcher as a rookie, hauling in nine passes on just 13 targets for 68 yards. Newcomer Rachaad White will most likely operate as Washington's primary pass-catching back, with Jerome Ford and Jeremy McNichols providing veteran depth. Ball security was another issue for JCM as a rookie, and if those issues resurface in Year 2, he could quickly lose touches to White, Ford, and McNichols. Fantasy managers should consider Croskey-Merritt as an RB3/4 with upside if he proves himself more in passing situations.

4 days ago

Jacory Croskey-Merritt • RB • Commanders

Jacory Croskey-Merritt Missing OTAs With Soft-Tissue Injury

According to Ben Standig of Last Man Standig, Washington Commanders second-year running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (undisclosed) is missing valuable repetitions during organized team activities this offseason due to a soft-tissue injury. It's unclear what exactly Croskey-Merritt is dealing with or whether he'll be ready to return for the team's mandatory minicamp that runs from June 16-18. Bill has the opportunity to become Washington's clear lead back in Year 2 in 2026, but to do so, he'll need to improve his ball security and as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. Rachaad White, Jeremy McNichols, and Jerome Ford slot in behind Croskey-Merritt in Washington's RB room, but JCM is the only one of the group with a realistic chance for lead-back duties. The 25-year-old former seventh-rounder out of the University of Arizona worked his way into a big role in his first NFL campaign in D.C., rushing for 805 yards and eight touchdowns on 175 carries while adding nine receptions for 68 yards. Because he won't be guaranteed a three-down role, though, fantasy managers should target JCM as more of an RB3/flex in drafts this fall.

Jun 11

Henry Ruggs III • WR • Commanders

Henry Ruggs III Denied Parole Five Years After Deadly Crash

Ex-NFL wide receiver Henry Ruggs III was denied parole almost five years after he killed a woman in a car crash in Las Vegas, Nevada, according to The Associated Press. Ruggs, who was the Las Vegas Raiders' first-round pick in 2020, drove his sports car at speeds up to 156 mph on Nov. 2, 2021, and slammed into a car, killing driver Tina Tintor and her dog, Max. Prosecutors at the time said Ruggs' blood-alcohol level taken within the required two hours after the crash was 0.16%. He pleaded guilty in May of 2023 to felony DUI causing death and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. Ruggs was sentenced in August of 2023 to a three- to 10-year prison sentence. He'll go before the parole board again three months before his Aug. 24, 2027, mandatory parole release date. The 27-year-old was the 12th overall pick in 2020, and he caught 50 of his 79 targets for 921 yards and four touchdowns in 20 games (19 starts) in his only two years in the league.

Jun 11

Chig Okonkwo • TE • Commanders

Chig Okonkwo has Been Impressive With New Team

Washington Commanders new tight end Chig Okonkwo has been impressive so far this offseason after signing a three-year deal in March in free agency, according to The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala. Okonkwo possesses rare speed and versatility, and he also has a knack for picking up yards after the catch. Zach Ertz is now gone, so the Commanders will move forward with Okonkwo and Ben Sinnott in offensive coordinator David Blough's scheme. Jhabvala writes that Blough's offense will be an "amalgamation of his own football influences," which means that the Commanders could use a "heavy dose of multiple tight end sets" in 2026. The 26-year-old Okonkwo had a career-high 56 receptions for 560 yards on 79 targets in 2025 with the Tennessee Titans, but he had only two touchdowns and averaged 10 yards per catch in 17 games (12 starts). In D.C., he'll have more upside, although fantasy managers can wait and take him late in drafts as a TE2 with upside in his new digs. RotoBaller currently has Okonkwo ranked as the No. 20 fantasy TE for the upcoming season.

Jun 10

Terry McLaurin • WR • Commanders | David Blough • QB

Terry McLaurin to Have More Versatility in David Blough's Offense

The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala writes that "no one sounds happier" about new offensive coordinator David Blough's scheme than Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin. In his seven seasons in Washington, McLaurin has played for three other offensive coordinators with 13 starting quarterbacks. And in many of those circumstances, there have been plenty of questions as to why McLaurin wasn't involved more. But in Blough's offense, the 30-year-old said he'll "be used all over." "I think the multitude of formations and route combinations is going to give all of us flexibility to move around the formation, keep the defense on their toes, and have a lot of routes that may look similar at the stem but different at the top," McLaurin said last week. The former third-rounder in 2019 out of Ohio State couldn't get off the ground in 2025 due to injuries to both himself and QB Jayden Daniels, and he finished with career lows across the board in catches (38), yards (582), and touchdowns (three) in just 10 starts. Scary Terry could make for a great value pick for fantasy managers in 2026, though, with WR2 upside in a new scheme as he looks to bounce back in his eighth year in the NFL.

Jun 10

Rachaad White • RB • Commanders

Rachaad White to Inherit the Primary Pass-Catching Role?

In his four years with the Buccaneers, Washington Commanders running back Rachaad White never caught fewer than 40 passes in a season, and with a one-year free agent contract bringing him to the nation's capital for 2026, the belief is that he will inherit the primary pass-catching role that was intended for Austin Ekeler over the past two seasons. Ekeler signed a two-year deal in 2024, but a serious concussion in 2024 and an early Achilles injury in 2025 limited him to just 14 games with the Commanders. That said, he still gathered in 40 total receptions in his abbreviated stint and saw at least three targets in nine of those 14 games. 2026 sixth-round pick Kaytron Allen never caught more than 18 passes in any of his four collegiate seasons, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt was limited to nine grabs as a rookie, leaving Jerome Ford and Jeremy McNichols, neither of whom is a roster lock at this point, as the most credible obstacles to a dedicated receiving role for White.

Jun 10

Jacory Croskey-Merritt • RB • Commanders

Jacory Croskey-Merritt Continues to Work Off to the Side During OTAs

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (undisclosed) continues to work on the side field during OTAs this week, according to Ben Standig of The Athletic. It has been the case during all three sessions open to the media this week. It's unclear what Croskey-Merritt is dealing with, but he'll have another chance to get back on the field with the rest of his teammates during mandatory minicamp from June 16-18. After being taken in the seventh round last year, the 25-year-old saw 175 rushing attempts for 805 yards (4.6 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns while adding nine receptions for 68 yards as a pass-catcher in 17 games (seven starts). Ball security and improving as a pass-catcher are things that Bill needs to do in Year 2 to hold off the likes of Rachaad White, Jerome Ford, Jeremy Nichols, and rookie sixth-rounder Kaytron Allen. At the very least, JCM should be Washington's early-down back in an offense that should improve if quarterback Jayden Daniels can stay healthy after an injury-plagued season. RotoBaller has Croskey-Merritt currently ranked as the No. 43 fantasy RB going into the 2026 season.

Jun 9

Terry McLaurin • WR • Commanders

Terry McLaurin A Short-Term, High-Ceiling Dynasty Trade Target

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin has played 26 games with quarterback Jayden Daniels over the past two seasons, and in those contests, he's averaged more than 12.2 half-PPR points per game. With injuries to both players limiting them to only nine games together in 2025, it's easy to overlook their chemistry from Daniels' 2024 rookie season, when they connected for 13 touchdown receptions. With both coming into 2026 with a clean bill of health, and new offensive coordinator David Blough not mincing words about his plans to run the offense through McLaurin, a reminder of that chemistry could be coming in short order. The Commanders added receiving depth through free agency with tight end Chig Okonkwo and running back Rachaad White, and spent a third-round pick on slot receiver Antonio Williams, but none of whom threaten to supplant McLaurin as the team's primary target-earner. Even at 30 years old, the eighth-year veteran could soon prove a bargain at his current ranking of RotoBaller's dynasty WR38.

Jun 9

Antonio Williams • WR • Commanders

Antonio Williams Poised for Dynasty Breakout in Washington?

After recording over 1,500 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns across his final two collegiate seasons at Clemson, wide receiver Antonio Williams was selected in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders. In Washington, Williams could be poised to make an immediate impact in a wide receiver room that lacks established NFL difference-makers behind veteran wideout Terry McLaurin. Williams profiles as a slot receiver who thrives with the ball in his hands in open space. That skill set could make him the perfect replacement for former Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr., who collected 802 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns across 16 games with Washington in 2025. Perhaps most importantly, the Commanders appear to be in desperate need of a reliable pass-catcher to step up behind McLaurin and tight end Chig Okonkwo. Williams' main competition for targets and playing time entering training camp looks to be wide receivers Treylon Burks, Dyami Brown, Luke McCaffrey, Jaylin Lane, and Van Jefferson. With a strong showing this summer, Williams' dynasty value could be in position to skyrocket over the course of his rookie season.

Jun 8

Stefon Diggs • WR • Commanders

Win-Now Dynasty Managers Have a Buy-Low Window on Stefon Diggs

Veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs was a key piece in the New England Patriots' run to the Super Bowl last season, hauling in 85 catches for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns on 102 targets across 17 games. However, Diggs was released by New England in March and is currently without a home for the 2026 season. While the 32-year-old is no longer the player he once was at his peak, Diggs proved with the Patriots that he can still be a productive pass-catcher and is sure to land a deal somewhere in the next few months. Without knowing what his role will look like with his next team, Diggs' fantasy value is tough to project. Still, his extended track record as a useful PPR wideout should give fantasy managers confidence in his production floor for 2026. For dynasty managers in win-now mode, now might be the best time to buy low on Diggs.

Jun 6

Ben Sinnott • TE • Commanders

Can Dynasty Managers Comfortably Drop Ben Sinnott?

Washington Commanders tight end Ben Sinnott remains the No. 2 option on the depth chart, which hurts his fantasy outlook in dynasty leagues. Sinnott had patiently waited for an opportunity to handle more volume while he was behind Zach Ertz, catching just 16 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns over his first two NFL seasons. Just as it seemed like he was trending up with Ertz hitting free agency this offseason, the Commanders brought in new competition in the form of Chig Okonkwo. Given that Okonkwo is pretty safely penciled into the No. 1 tight end role, Sinnott will remain the backup option. That doesn't bode well for his fantasy value, especially since the Commanders ranked right near the league median in terms of 12 personnel usage last year. Sinnott has fallen to TE55 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings, which means he can be dropped in most leagues.

Jun 4

Kaytron Allen • RB • Commanders

Kaytron Allen in the Right Situation to Overcome Poor Draft Capital?

With rookie running back Kaytron Allen lasting all the way to pick No. 187 of the 2026 NFL Draft before the Washington Commanders selected him in the sixth round, he landed in as ideal a situation as can be found for a late Day 3 pick. No running back on the roster handled more than 37% of their team's carries last season, with the Commanders' leading rusher, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, himself a seventh-round pick in 2025. No stranger to working in a committee, Allen set the all-time Penn State rushing record while playing all four of his collegiate seasons alongside 2026 fifth-round pick Nicholas Singleton. In Washington, he will be battling veteran Jeremy McNichols for the third spot in a rotation alongside Croskey-Merritt and free agent signee Rachaad White, and with White potentially making McNichols' pass-catching role redundant, the edge could go to the rookie. At RotoBaller's dynasty RB40, Allen is not a flashy pick in the middle rounds of rookie-only drafts, but he has one of the clearer paths to immediate fantasy relevance, which is not a luxury to be overlooked in a generally unexciting draft class.

Jun 3

Rachaad White • RB • Commanders

Rachaad White: Prime Dynasty Buy-Low Candidate Ahead of Possible Bounce-Back Campaign

After spending the first four years of his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, veteran running back Rachaad White signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Washington Commanders in March. White's market cratered after an uninspiring final year in Tampa in which he recorded 790 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns on 172 touches. However, the 27-year-old could have a golden opportunity to revitalize his career in 2026 with the Commanders. As currently constituted, the Washington backfield looks like an open battle for playing time between White, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Jerome Ford, Jeremy McNichols, and Kaytron Allen. Even if the high-upside Croskey-Merritt takes hold of the lead rushing role, White's extended track record as an above-average receiver out of the backfield should allow him to carve out a significant role with his new team. In dynasty formats, fantasy managers may want to consider buying low on White ahead of a possible bounce-back season.

May 29

Washington Commanders News

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