Washington Commanders News

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Jacory Croskey-Merritt • RB • Commanders

Jacory Croskey-Merritt atop Commanders Running Back Depth Chart

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the current favorite to be his team's starter in the backfield, according to Ben Standig of the Last Man Standig Substack. A seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Croskey-Merritt recorded 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 175 carries across 17 games (seven starts) as a rookie. The Commanders also roster veteran backs Rachaad White and Jeremy McNichols (quadriceps), as well as rookie Kaytron Allen, all of whom could push Croskey-Merritt for playing time. Croskey-Merritt recorded just nine catches on 13 targets last season, so he's unlikely to play a true three-down role in Washington. Still, the 25-year-old is a high-upside rusher who should provide value for fantasy managers as long as he sees regular work in the Commanders' offense. RotoBaller currently ranks Croskey-Merritt as the RB38 for redraft leagues entering 2026.

6 hours ago

Rachaad White • RB • Commanders

Rachaad White Misses Wednesday's Practice With Undisclosed Injury

Washington Commanders running back Rachaad White did not practice Wednesday while dealing with an undisclosed injury, according to Nicki Jhabvala. White has been getting regular work throughout his first camp in Washington and is listed second behind Jacory Croskey-Merritt on the Commanders' current unofficial depth chart. He played all 17 games for Tampa Bay last season, starting eight, and finished with 572 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 132 carries while adding 40 catches for 218 yards. Washington has talked about using multiple backs, and White's receiving ability should keep him involved even if Croskey-Merritt opens the season atop the depth chart. Jeremy McNichols is already dealing with a quad injury, so the Commanders were down another veteran back Wednesday. White's absence is worth tracking now, especially with preseason reps starting to run out.

9 hours ago

Drew Stevens • K • Commanders

Drew Stevens Wins the Kicking Job in Washington

Washington Commanders kicker Drew Stevens has won the kicking job ahead of the 2026 season, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. He essentially locked in his roster spot when the Commanders released fellow kicker Jake Moody on Monday morning. Stevens, an undrafted free agent out of Iowa, made one field goal and one extra point in the Commanders' preseason opener. Back at school last year, he went 22-for-28 on field goals, which led the Big 10. He also went 41-for-42 on extra points. The 22-year-old doesn't have much redraft appeal yet, but that could change once he gets some regular-season games under his belt. In the meantime, we need to see him produce consistent results in the NFL, and we also need to see how many high-value fantasy opportunities he gets in a Commanders offense that has some question marks.

2 days ago

Jayden Daniels • QB • Commanders

Commanders Head Coach Dismisses Recent Jayden Daniels Controversy

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn downplayed the recent controversy involving quarterback Jayden Daniels and LSU when he spoke with reporters Sunday. Asked whether he and Daniels had discussed the matter, Quinn said he "hasn't followed it a lot," according to Ben Standig. He didn't offer an opinion on the dispute itself, instead pointing to the strong camp Daniels has put together and the leadership he's shown. Daniels' representatives recently sent LSU a cease-and-desist letter regarding the school's use of his name, image and likeness after his former No. 5 was given to cornerback DJ Pickett. Daniels addressed the situation Thursday, saying his "sole personal focus" is Commanders football and that he hopes the issues with LSU can be resolved privately. Quinn's answer Sunday stayed in that same football-first lane. Daniels has looked comfortable in Washington's new offense throughout camp, and Quinn previously said the quarterback was ahead of where he expected him to be in taking command of the system.

3 days ago

Jeremy McNichols • RB • Commanders

Jeremy McNichols to Miss a Few Weeks With Quad Injury

Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols (quad) will miss a few weeks, according to Ben Standig. Head coach Dan Quinn provided the timeline Sunday after McNichols had already missed Friday's preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins. The 30-year-old appeared in all 17 games for Washington last season, finishing with 44 carries for 221 yards and a touchdown while catching 25 passes for another 196 yards. McNichols is currently listed alongside rookie Kaytron Allen on the third line of the Commanders' unofficial depth chart, behind Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White. His absence leaves more camp and preseason work available for Allen and undrafted rookie Robert Henry Jr. Both got chances against Miami, with Henry breaking a 22-yard touchdown run and Allen scoring from four yards out. McNichols was already fighting for a depth role in a crowded backfield, so missing multiple weeks at this stage of camp could make that battle tougher for him when he returns.

3 days ago

Marcus Mariota • QB • Commanders

Marcus Mariota Suffers Sprained MCL, Likely Out for Rest of Preseason

Washington Commanders backup quarterback Marcus Mariota (knee) suffered a sprained MCL in the team's preseason opener on Friday against the Miami Dolphins that will likely keep him out for the rest of the preseason, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. It's unclear at this time if Mariota's knee injury will keep him sidelined going into Week 1 of the 2026 regular season versus the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Sept. 13. Either way, the Commanders might be in the market for a veteran signal-caller to provide more depth behind starter Jayden Daniels. The other QBs on the roster are Sam Hartman and undrafted rookie Athan Kaliakmanis. The 32-year-old Mariota played a big part in the Commanders' offense a year ago with Daniels only playing in seven games due to injury, although he went 2-6 in his eight starts while throwing for 1,695 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in his 11 total games played.

3 days ago

Kaytron Allen • RB • Commanders

Kaytron Allen Given Large Workload in Preseason Debut

Washington Commanders running back Kaytron Allen tallied 23 carries, 85 rushing yards, and one rushing touchdown during Friday's preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins. He also converted one of his two targets for a one-yard reception. Allen, a sixth-round pick out of Penn State, is presumably competing for the No. 3 role behind Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White and ahead of Jeremy McNichols. More importantly, Allen could be proving to the coaching staff that he deserves consistent touches once the regular season comes around. There's not much pass-catching upside here, but it wouldn't be crazy to say that Allen could become the primary ball-carrier if Croskey-Merritt goes down, while White remains in more of a receiving role. Allen's big preseason showing makes him an instant riser in dynasty leagues, and he could even sneak onto the fantasy radar as an option in the deepest of redraft formats.

5 days ago

Marcus Mariota • QB • Commanders

Marcus Mariota Suffers Knee Injury in Preseason Opener

Washington Commanders veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota (knee) was pointing to his right knee when athletic trainers came out to check on him during Friday's preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. Mariota was sent to the blue medical tent and was replaced by Sam Hartman at QB. The 32-year-old signal-caller played in 11 games and made eight starts in 2025 in his second year in Washington, with starter Jayden Daniels only starting seven games. Mariota went 2-6 in his eight starts, throwing for 1,695 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in his 11th year in the NFL. The Commanders' QB depth behind Daniels would be in serious trouble if Mariota is dealing with a major knee injury, as they only have Hartman and rookie Athan Kaliakmanis on the QB depth chart behind Mariota. He almost certainly will not return to Friday's game against Miami, even if his knee injury turns out to be minor.

5 days ago

Chig Okonkwo • TE • Commanders

Chig Okonkwo Sitting Out With Rest of Starters

Washington Commanders tight end Chig Okonkwo is not suiting up for Friday's preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins, according to The Athletic's Ben Standig. Okonkwo will have to wait at least another week before potentially making his debut with the Commanders after they signed him to a three-year, $27 million deal in free agency earlier this year. In his four seasons in Tennessee with the Titans, the 26-year-old had a total of 194 receptions for 2,017 yards and eight touchdowns on 272 targets across 68 games played. He had a career-high 560 receiving yards and a career-high 56 catches a year ago, despite sharing valuable playing time with rookie Gunnar Helm. The former fourth-rounder from the University of Maryland will have a much higher ceiling in Washington as long as QB Jayden Daniels can stay healthy, and he could be the team's No. 3 target behind receivers Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs. If you decide to wait on the TE position in fantasy drafts, Okonkwo is a nice sleeper to target later on.

5 days ago

Jacory Croskey-Merritt • RB • Commanders

Jacory Croskey-Merritt Sitting Out of Preseason Opener

With the Washington Commanders sitting their key offensive players in Friday night's preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins, second-year running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt will be in street clothes, according to Ben Standig of The Athletic. Rachaad White and Jeremy McNichols (quadriceps) aren't playing either, so rookie Kaytron Allen, Jerome Ford, and Robert Henry should split backfield touches against Miami. Croskey-Merritt led the Commanders' backfield in 2025 after being taken in the seventh round out of the University of Arizona, recording 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 175 carries in 17 games played. The Commanders will give Bill every opportunity to earn a bigger workload in Year 2, but White poses a real threat to JCM, especially in the passing game. Croskey-Merritt must also clean up his ball-security issues in order to take the next step. Going into his sophomore campaign, Croskey-Merritt is best viewed as an RB3/flex target in standard-scoring formats. His next chance to suit up in the preseason will come next Saturday on the road against the Detroit Lions.

5 days ago

Stefon Diggs • WR • Commanders

Stefon Diggs Won't Make Debut With Commanders on Friday

The Athletic's Ben Standig reports that Washington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs will not suit up for Friday's preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins. Fellow wideout Terry McLaurin will also be on the sideline as the Commanders rest most of their key offensive weapons. The New England Patriots dumped Diggs for salary-cap purposes after their Super Bowl run, even though the 32-year-old led the team with 85 catches, 1,013 yards, and four touchdowns in 17 regular-season starts. Diggs doesn't appear to have much big-play ability left at this point in his career, but he can definitely be a solid WR2 option for quarterback Jayden Daniels in 2026 across from McLaurin, which puts him on the fantasy football radar as a potential WR4/flex target in his new digs in Washington. At some point, Diggs and the rest of the Commanders' starting offense should see some preseason action, potentially next Saturday, Aug. 22, against the Detroit Lions.

5 days ago

Terry McLaurin • WR • Commanders

Terry McLaurin Not Playing on Friday Night

Washington Commanders wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs will be on the sideline for Friday night's preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins, per The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala. The Commanders are also resting quarterback Jayden Daniels and most of their other key offensive starters. It remains to be seen if McLaurin and Diggs will be allowed to suit up for the team's second preseason game next Saturday against the Detroit Lions. The 30-year-old veteran had the worst season of his career in 2025, catching 38 passes on 60 targets for 582 yards and only three touchdowns in 10 starts. It wasn't all his fault, though, as he missed time with injury and was mostly working with backup QB Marcus Mariota when he was healthy. The former third-rounder in 2019 from Ohio State should benefit from the recent addition of Diggs as a prime bounce-back candidate with WR2 upside if both he and Daniels can stay on the field together. Before last year, the two-time Pro Bowler had five straight 1,000-yard seasons and a career-high 13 touchdown receptions in 2024.

5 days ago

Jayden Daniels • QB • Commanders

Jayden Daniels Not Playing in Friday's Preseason Opener

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will not play in the team's preseason opener on Friday night against the Miami Dolphins, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. The Commanders will hold out their key starters on Friday, which also includes receivers Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs, running backs Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White, and tight end Chig Okonkwo. It remains to be seen if Washington will roll Daniels and the starting unit out there for their second preseason tilt next Saturday against the Detroit Lions. The 25-year-old has recently been in the headlines over a dispute with his alma mater at LSU, but that shouldn't distract fantasy managers from the fact that Daniels has top-five fantasy upside at the QB position in 2026 if he can stay healthy. The former second overall pick was unable to do that last year, starting just seven games and throwing for 1,262 yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions. Daniels became a bit more interesting as a high-end bounce-back candidate when the Commanders added Diggs to the fold to give McLaurin help in the passing game.

5 days ago

Dorance Armstrong • DE • Commanders

Dorance Armstrong Suspended One Game

Washington Commanders defensive end Dorance Armstrong has been suspended one game for violating the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy, according to Adam Schefter. The reason for the discipline was not included in the initial report. Armstrong is coming off a torn ACL suffered against Dallas in Week 7 last season, cutting short what had been a strong year for the veteran pass rusher. He finished with 5.5 sacks and seven quarterback hits in only seven games, and his sack total still led Washington for the season. Armstrong opened training camp on the Active/PUP list but passed his physical and returned to the active roster on Aug. 7. Washington added Odafe Oweh and K'Lavon Chaisson during the offseason, and Armstrong is currently listed behind Chaisson on the team's first unofficial depth chart. After missing most of last season because of the knee injury, Armstrong will now also have to sit out one regular-season game.

5 days ago

Terry McLaurin • WR • Commanders

Terry McLaurin's Fantasy Ceiling Could be Capped After Recent Signing

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin may see a reduced target share with the addition of veteran wideout Stefon Diggs. The team signed Diggs to a one-year, $12 million contract, and the former Patriots receiver has shown out in his first few practices with the team. During a joint practice against the Miami Dolphins, Diggs dominated the Dolphins' cornerbacks in one-on-one drills and was a force in team drills as well. With Diggs expected to earn short-yardage work, McLaurin may be forced into a traditional X-receiver role, despite offensive coordinator David Blough stating they want to move him all over the place and get him "10 targets a game." While McLaurin's WR24 ranking seemed like a great value at first, Diggs' addition definitely increases the volatility of his 2026 outlook.

6 days ago

Stefon Diggs • WR • Commanders |

Chig Okonkwo • TE • Commanders

Chig Okonkwo Losing Redraft Value With Recent WR Addition

The Washington Commanders signed tight end Chig Okonkwo to a three-year, $27 million deal this offseason, and up until the signing of receiver Stefon Diggs on Aug. 7, Okonkwo was gaining some serious steam on draft boards as he was geared up to be the Commanders' No. 2 pass-catching option. With Diggs now in the picture, Okonkwo's value takes a hit; however, he does still present some late-round fantasy appeal at the tight end position, as quarterback Jayden Daniels enters the 2026 season fully healthy and has supported other pass-catching tight ends like Zach Ertz in the past. In 2024, Ertz was the TE8 on the season with 91 targets, 654 yards, and seven touchdowns. While Okonkwo's production wasn't elite with the Titans, he played in all 17 games in his first four seasons with them and saw 70-plus targets in his final three years with them. RotoBaller ranks Okonkwo as the TE18, and he has some fantasy appeal if you miss out on some of the top-tier guys like Brock Bowers or Trey McBride.

6 days ago

Treylon Burks • WR • Commanders

Treylon Burks Keeping Himself on the Redraft Radar

Washington Commanders wide receiver Treylon Burks is making a better case for himself than he was a few weeks ago, even if the fantasy ceiling is still pretty low. Burks caught just 10 passes for 130 yards and one touchdown in eight games last season, but he has been one of Washington's more noticeable receivers throughout camp. Dan Quinn said Burks came in leaner and has routinely been one of the team's fastest players in practice, especially on deep and in-breaking routes. He backed that up again during Wednesday's joint practice with Miami, making a tough over-the-shoulder catch from Jayden Daniels with tight coverage. The problem is that Washington added Stefon Diggs on Aug. 7, and the first unofficial depth chart now has Burks behind him. Terry McLaurin and Luke McCaffrey are also listed as starters, with several other receivers still fighting for work. RotoBaller has Burks at WR108, which feels right for now. His camp has helped his chances of sticking in the rotation, but he is still more of a deep-league flier than someone to chase in standard redraft leagues.

6 days ago

Jayden Daniels • QB • Commanders

Jayden Daniels Issues Personal Statement Regarding LSU Controversy

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels addressed his dispute with LSU on Thursday and made clear he wants the matter handled away from football. In a statement shared on Instagram and reposted by Adam Schefter, Daniels said training camp has been his "number one focus" and that his "sole personal focus is on Commanders' football." He also said he remains grateful for his time at LSU and hopes the issues between his team and the school can be resolved privately. The statement comes after Daniels' representatives sent LSU a cease-and-desist asking the school to stop using his name, image and likeness, then requested that LSU return its copy of the Heisman Trophy he won in 2023. Washington's own camp coverage has described Daniels as sharp and increasingly comfortable in the offense, including a strong showing in Wednesday's joint practice with Miami. For fantasy managers, this remains an off-field story.

6 days ago

Jayden Daniels • QB • Commanders

Jayden Daniels' Camp Asks LSU to Return Heisman Trophy Copy

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels' representatives have asked LSU to return its copy of the Heisman Trophy he won in 2023, according to Matt Moscona. The request is the latest development in Daniels' dispute with the school over sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett wearing No. 5. Moscona also reported that Daniels personally contacted LSU leadership before fall camp to voice his displeasure with the decision. ESPN previously obtained a cease-and-desist letter from Daniels' attorney asking LSU to stop using his name, image and likeness. Pickett was promised No. 5 during his recruitment, and former LSU coach Brian Kelly said he would not issue it last season without Daniels' approval. LSU's current policy allows a number tied to a retired jersey to remain in circulation at the head coach's discretion. Moscona reports LSU has no intention of returning its Heisman copy.

6 days ago

Stefon Diggs • WR • Commanders

Stefon Diggs the "Missing Piece" for Commanders Offense

Veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs signed with the Washington Commanders less than a week ago, but already he's making his presence felt as a vital piece of the offense being built around exciting young quarterback Jayden Daniels. During Wednesday's joint practice with the Dolphins, Diggs tormented Miami's defensive backs throughout the day, according to CBS Sports' Zachary Pereles, first looking uncoverable in his one-on-one work and then making plays throughout team sessions with savvy route-running and an innate feel for finding the soft spots against zone coverage. In a rotational role with the Patriots in 2025, Diggs reached 1,013 yards on an impressive 2.42 yards per route run, and after practice Daniels spoke of what he's already brought to the offense. "It's awesome, just his feel for space... He's a dawg. He goes out and makes plays. He brings energy, he's a leader, so I'm super happy to have Stefon in that room, not just for the offense but for the whole team in general." Following a long offseason without a team, Diggs fell to the late rounds of 2026 drafts, and with the market slow to adjust, the four-time Pro Bowler could prove to be one of the year's best values at his current ADP of WR48.

6 days ago

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